Pro-Tax Hike Group Has Big Edge in Funds

The Yes on Measure R committee maintained an overwhelming fund-raising advantage over opponents of the sales-tax increase, raising more than $1.2 million through June 10, according to campaign finance reports released Friday.

By contrast, the main anti-Measure R campaign had collected about $57,500, much of it from auto dealers.

With just 10 days to go before the election, both sides have raised significantly less money than predicted. Pro-tax forces hoped to collect $3 million, while the anti-tax side hoped for at least $300,000.

But campaign officials said they are continuing to bring in donations at a healthy pace in the closing days of the campaign.

“We are fighting this until the end,” said Stu Mollrich, a consultant for the Yes on Measure R campaign. “We have been aggressively trying to raise money every day.”

Pro-tax forces received substantial contributions from several well-known California firms, including $50,000 from Walt Disney Co., $50,000 from Rockwell International, $25,000 from Union Oil and $25,000 from Chevron Corp.

Insurance companies, credit unions and other financial institutions also helped fill the campaign coffers. AMBAC Indemnity Corp of New York contributed $60,000, Boston Safe Deposit & Trust Co. gave $25,000 and ITT Hartford gave $40,000.

The Irvine Co. has contributed a total of $150,000, leading several other land developers. The Yes on Measure R committee also is being fueled with money from public employee unions, including the California Teachers Assn., which has donated $190,677 in cash and services.

The campaign doubled the size of its war chest between May and June. Mollrich said most of the money will pay for mailers and some radio advertising.

The finance reports indicate that Measure R is supported by a “very broad range of business interests,” Mollrich said, including major employers as well as entertainment, aerospace and high-tech firms.

The contributions from big-name corporations help disprove claims made by some tax opponents that Measure R is being backed only by land developers, he added.

“If you look for a common reason, it’s that these people take a long-term view of life in Orange County,” Mollrich said.

The main anti-Measure R campaign, Citizens Against the Tax Increase, received $37,000 of its $57,565 in contributions from auto dealers, who fear they will lose sales to other counties if the half-cent tax increase is approved.

Other big donations included $5,000 from South Counties Oil Co. and $5,000 from the Republican Central Committee.

Mark Thompson, a campaign consultant for Citizens Against the Tax Increase, downplayed the importance of his opponents’ massive fund-raising advantage.

“I think that with less than two weeks to go, most voters have made up their minds where they are,” Thompson said. “I think the undecideds have slimmed down considerably.”

Polls have consistently found Measure R trailing. A recent Times Orange County Poll found that among likely voters, 50% opposed Measure R, 37% supported it and 13% were undecided.

The ballot measure would raise the county sales tax from 7.75% to 8.25% for 10 years. It is the cornerstone of County Chief Executive Officer William J. Popejoy’s bankruptcy recovery plan.

Times political writer Peter M. Warren contributed to this story.