VENTURA : Top Fund-Raisers in Council Race Listed

A real estate broker, a former banker, an incumbent councilman and a high school teacher have become the top money-raisers in the Ventura City Council race, according to campaign finance reports filed Thursday.

Real estate broker Clark Owens has raised $20,216, including $5,991 in non-monetary gifts, such as donated office space for his campaign.

Rosa Lee Measures, a former banker who manages her family’s trust fund, took in the second-highest amount. She has raised $19,434, which includes a $6,000 loan from the trust fund.

Councilman Jim Monahan, who is running for a fifth term, reported $18,503 in contributions from a variety of sources, including local unions and developers.

Steve Bennett, a Nordhoff High School teacher who ran an unsuccessful write-in campaign in 1991, has raised $17,867, including a $2,000 personal loan to himself. He has pledged not to accept any donations of more than $100.

Other council candidates reported raising funds for the Nov. 2 election as follows:

Virginia Weber, an educational grant administrator, reported $14,844. Incumbent Councilman Todd Collart reported $13,324, including a $4,000 personal loan. Nancy Cloutier, who owns the Ventura County & Coast Reporter, reported $12,990. Incumbent Councilman Gary Tuttle reported $12,348, including a $750 personal loan. Richard Massa, who owns a medical supply company, reported $5,746. Charles Kistner, a small business owner, reported $4,114, which includes a $3,200 personal loan. Carroll Dean Williams and Brian Lee Rencher reported receiving and spending less than $1,000. Ken Schmitz, a certified public accountant, told city officials that his financial disclosure form would be postmarked by midnight Thursday.

Neil Demers-Grey, a secretary, did not file his disclosure form by 5 p.m. Thursday and could not be reached for comment.