McClintock Repays Half of War Chest

Shortly after filing a report that showed him financially outpacing his political rivals, Assembly candidate Tom McClintock repaid about half of the money that has poured into his campaign account so far this year.

The repayment of $75,000 in loans brought immediate criticism from one Republican rival that the loans were used to artificially inflate McClintock’s campaign figures and scare off donations to other candidates.

“This is an old trick,” said Steve Frank, another Republican candidate vying for the 38th Assembly District seat being vacated by Assemblywoman Paula Boland (R-Granada Hills).

But Tony Strickland, McClintock’s campaign manager, denied the accusation and said McClintock returned the money after a public opinion poll showed that he had a 4-1 lead over his nearest rival.

“We decided we don’t need those funds to win,” Strickland said. McClintock wanted the $75,000 to be used in other campaigns, he said, to help secure the Republican majority in the Assembly and capture control of the state Senate.

The money came to McClintock’s campaign as a $50,000 loan from Assemblyman Bernie Richter (R-Chico) and a $25,000 loan from Sen. Maurice Johannessen (R-Redding). McClintock had earlier helped both lawmakers in their own election campaigns.

The McClintock campaign also received a $20,000 loan from Taxpayers for Better Education, a political action committee pushing for a state tax “voucher” to subsidize parents who send their children to private schools.

Strickland said that McClintock has not repaid that $20,000 loan, but may end up doing so. “We really don’t need to get a big huge campaign debt, when we don’t need to use the money,” he said.

Aside from the loans, McClintock raised $41,753 during the first six weeks of this year--more than any other candidate this year in the district that includes Simi Valley, Fillmore and portions of the Conejo, San Fernando and Santa Clarita valleys.