DANA POINT : Pro-Headlands PAC Led Spending in Race

A political action committee backed by owners of the coastal Headlands property led the campaign spending in the recent City Council race, according to financial statements filed this week.

The Concerned Taxpayers of Dana Point spent $19,075 to support three candidates in the June race, according to the final report on campaign contributions.

Two of the committee-backed candidates, Harold Kaufman and Karen Lloreda, won seats on the council, but the third, William Shepherd, came in fifth in the close race for the three open seats.

The committee was formed by M.H. Sherman Co. and Chandis Securities Co., owners of the Headlands property since the 1940s. Chandis Securities, a company that oversees the financial holdings of the Chandler family, is a major stockholder in Times Mirror Co., which publishes the Los Angeles Times.

The landowners’ plan to build a 400-room hotel and 370 homes on the 121-acre Headlands property was a major issue in the council race. A city referendum on the $500-million development plan will be held in November.

Another pro-Headlands development committee, Dana Point United PAC, spent $9,353 backing the three candidates.

Among the field of 12 candidates, Shepherd, Kaufman and Lloreda were the leading spenders, reporting expenses of $8,686, $8,303 and $8,169 respectively. Witold Muller, who finished ninth among 12 candidates in the race, was the next-highest spender with $6,127 in expenses.

Toni Gallagher, who finished first in the race, spent only $2,604.