Ventura Council Candidates Set Fast Fund-Raising Pace : Elections: Campaign is shaping up as one of the city’s most expensive. Nearly $74,000 has been collected so far, with five weeks to go.

Nearly $74,000 has been pumped into the campaigns of the Ventura City Council candidates so far, setting the stage for what could become one of the most expensive races in Ventura history.

In the previous council race two years ago, candidates had collected less than $55,000 with five weeks left in the campaign. And four of this year’s candidates have not yet filed reports, so the $74,000 figure could rise.

Two pro-growth candidates have grabbed the largest share of donations so far.

By Friday, 10 of the 14 candidates running for four council seats had submitted financial disclosure forms as required by state law. Many of the contributors were not identified because they gave less than $99. Altogether, more than $26,000 of the money raised in the campaign so far has come from anonymous donors.

Two pro-growth candidates have raised the most money so far.

Real estate broker Clark Owens tops the list. From January through Sept. 18, Owens amassed $15,651. Many of his contributions came from local real estate companies and developers.

Owens received $495 from Ron Hertel, a developer who wants to swap land with the city so he can build houses on a city-owned parcel that is zoned for future park use. Owens’ campaign also received $1,000 from the Ventura County Economic Development Assn.

Councilman Jim Monahan, a welding contractor who favors growth, received $12,336 from local developers, car dealers and other businesses. He received almost $300 from Aaron Raznick, a Woodland Hills-based developer who plans to build a residential project in Ventura. Monahan’s fund also includes $1,000 from M&M; Management Co., a real estate firm based in Ventura.

Virginia Weber, an educational grants administrator running on an anti-crime platform,, reported the next highest amount, $10,171. She is the daughter-in-law of Jack Weber, whose car dealership donated $1,000 to her campaign. Weber also received many donations from people identified as local housewives and doctors. She loaned $1,090 of her own money to the campaign.

Rosa Lee Measures, a former banker considered pro-growth, was a close fourth at $10,155. She received a total of $6,000 from her trust fund and her husband’s trust, to be repaid at 7% interest. She received a $500 donation from Don Carlton, a local real estate agent, and $500 from Marshall Milligan, president of Ventura-based Bank of A. Levy.

Nancy Cloutier, publisher of the Ventura County & Coast Reporter, received $9,554 in contributions, including $300 from Martin V. Smith, an Oxnard-based developer, and $500 from Victor Sampson, a Chatsworth-based restaurateur who made an unsuccessful bid earlier this year to buy the Harbortown Marina Resort in Ventura. Raznick, the developer, also donated to Cloutier’s campaign, contributing $120.

Ken Schmitz, a certified public accountant, reported $7,636 in contributions. He loaned his campaign $1,000 of his own money and received $5,319 from in-kind contributions, including office rent and signs.

Councilman Gary Tuttle, who is running for reelection, has taken in $3,869. He loaned himself $750 and received $200 from the Voters Coalition of Ventura, a grass-roots environmental group.

Another incumbent, Todd Collart, reported $3,621 in donations. He loaned himself $1,500 and also received $200 from the Voters Coalition.

Neil Demers-Grey, a gay rights activist and secretary, reported $994 in contributions. His biggest donation, $200, was from Dan Gaffaney, who owns a local nightclub.

Carol Dean Williams, a local gadfly, reported receiving less than $1,000 in donations.

All of the candidates have spent some of their campaign contributions. The most common expenses were for postage, signs, pamphlets, and political consultants.

Other candidates who have not filed financial disclosure forms are Steve Bennett, a Nordhoff High School teacher; Charles Kistner, a political consultant; Dick Massa, owner of a medical supply company, and Brian Lee Rencher, a Ventura College student.

City Clerk Barbara Kam said the rest of the forms may be arriving by mail and will be acceptable if they are postmarked by the deadline. After a 10-day grace period, any candidate who does not disclose records of campaign finances could be subject to a $100 fine, Kam said.