MISSION VIEJO : November’s Campaign Most Expensive Ever

About $130,000 was raised last year in what was the most expensive November political campaign in city history, according to financial disclosure statements filed recently.

Not only were the seven candidates successful in finding contributors, but they also dipped freely into their own pockets to finance their campaigns. More than $67,000 in self-loans was listed.

The successful drive run by Councilman Lawrence H. Smith brought in the most money. Smith saw $31,558 come into his campaign coffers, $18,676 from his own bank account.

First-time Councilwoman Sherri M. Butterfield and incumbent Susan Withrow raised $18,134 and $16,892 respectively.

In addition, Families for a Quality Mission Viejo, a political action committee run by former council member Sharon Cody, raised $7,254 that was spent in support of Withrow, Butterfield and unsuccessful candidate Tom Potocki.

A key factor in the races was the amount of money spent at the end of the campaign.

Cody’s PAC spent nearly all of the money it raised, $7,071, in the final week before the election. Withrow put out $9,980 and Butterfield spent $7,812 between Oct. 23 and the Nov. 8 election. Potocki spent $8,733 during the same period.

Combined, the candidates and PAC outspent their opponents, Smith, Larry Gilbert, Karen Irvine and Neil Lonsinger by almost $10,000 in the final two weeks, $33,596 to $24,120.

During the 1994 campaign, Gilbert raised $16,450--all but $200 coming from self-loans. Lonsinger’s entire $12,487 war chest came from his personal funds. Irvine raised $8,532, of which $6,348 came from her husband, Bill Irvine.

Potocki received $16,766, of which $11,008 came from personal loans to his campaign.