Pomona to Cap Donations After Election

Big Bucks Scarce--The Pomona City Council recently set a ceiling on individual campaign contributions of $1,000 for mayoral and $500 for council candidates, but deferred enforcing the limits until after the March 2 election on the theory that rules should not be changed while contests are under way.

But market forces seem to be imposing limits of their own.

None of the candidates listed contributions of more than $1,000 in the latest campaign statements to be filed with the city clerk, and donations as large as $500 were rare.

“It’s the recession,” said Councilman Tomas Ursua, who has collected less than $7,000 for his mayoral campaign--including $3,000 of his own money and $1,000 from the consulting firm of former city redevelopment official Doug Dunlap.

Two years ago, Ursua had raised $15,000 by this point on his way to amassing $30,000 in his unsuccessful bid to unseat Mayor Donna Smith. Ursua said campaign contributions were easier to pick up two years ago. This time, he said, potential contributors tell him times are tough.

But, Ursua said, he is also “pacing himself” on his fund-raising efforts. Two years ago, he was running against an incumbent and had to wage a hard campaign just to force a runoff.

This time he is the only elected official on the mayoral ballot, and it is widely believed that if he does not win outright March 2, he will probably finish among the top two in the eight-candidate race. That would place him in a runoff April 20, and he would have time to raise more money.

Fund Leader--Planning Commissioner Eddie Cortez is the clear fund-raising leader in the Pomona mayoral race, but most of his money has come out of his own pocket.

Cortez reported $24,158 in campaign contributions as of mid-February--including $21,300 in personal loans. Nearly half of the money was unspent by Feb. 13. Cortez said he is saving for an anticipated runoff.

None of the other mayoral candidates have raised more than a few thousand dollars.

Paul D. Geiger reported $2,377 in contributions and Ramon P. Romero reported $1,855, all from his own pocket. Candidate David Smith failed to file a report by last week’s deadline.

James Wilkins, James Reynolds and Kevin (“Mr. P”) Ausmus did not file detailed reports because they declared their intention to spend less than $1,000 each.

Ausmus may have to amend his report. The singer, who is campaigning to become the rock ‘n’ roll mayor of Pomona, said a windfall inheritance has infused money into his campaign and he is going to saturate the Pomona cable television system with 30-second spots.

The ads, Ausmus said, range from the “fairly serious” to one so weird he can’t describe it. As of early this week, Ausmus was the only candidate who had bought regular cable commercials, although Smith, Reynolds and Romero paid to be interviewed on a half-hour “infomercial.”

Council Races--Pomona Councilman Boyd Bredenkamp reported raising $3,515 this year. He is in a tough fight for reelection against Cristina Carrizosa, a bilingual resource teacher, in Council District 3.

Meanwhile, Carrizosa missed last week’s deadline to file her campaign statement. She and other candidates who fail to file on time face a fine of $10 a day until they submit their reports.

District 5 Councilman Ken West reported $1,803 in contributions, while his opponent, Elliott Rothman, filed a declaration that he expects to raise less than $1,000.

Employees Split--The San Bernardino Public Employees Assn., the union that represents 285 Pomona city employees in clerical and blue-collar jobs, has endorsed Cortez for mayor and Bredenkamp for council.

The endorsements put the union in opposition to the Pomona Firefighters Assn., which has endorsed Ursua for mayor and Carrizosa against Bredenkamp.

Tom Ramsey, spokesman for the city employees union, said members who interviewed candidates were impressed with the sincerity and personableness of Cortez. He said Bredenkamp earned the endorsement because he always has been willing to listen to the employees’ point of view, even if he did not always vote their way.

Ramsey said that the union will back up the endorsement with a donation but that the amount has not been determined.

Ursua, West and Marco A. Robles, who is running unopposed in Council District 2, reported receiving $500 each from the political committee of the firefighters union.

Short Subjects--Sen. Frank Hill (R-Whittier) will hold a town hall meeting at 7 p.m. March 18, at Arcadia City Hall to hear opinions on state issues from constituents and report on developments in Sacramento. . . . Former Presidential Press Secretary James Brady will speak at Cal Poly Pomona at noon Friday during a luncheon for Project Turnabout, a program to help students with learning disabilities prepare for college.