Campaign Spending Counts as Election Issue

In this affluent community of 52,000, it could cost almost a dollar per citizen to win one of three City Council seats up for grabs in November. The price tag to compete could reach as high as $35,000.

Although a trifling sum for a state or federal election, the high cost of winning a local council seat that pays $600 per month is being criticized by candidates who are planning more modest campaigns.

“There are some very rich people in this community [but] I’m not one of them,” said candidate William Wood, a telecommunications technician trainer.

About half of the 10 candidates indicated they will be spending $5,000 or less. The other half said they will amass at least $15,000 for the November election.

Linda Lindholm, a city planning commissioner, regards fund-raising as a necessary evil and plans to raise about $35,000 in order to be competitive.

“I think it will cost too much to get elected in Laguna Niguel,” said Lindholm, a city planning commissioner. “If you’re running for office, it should be on your qualities and experience, not your checkbook.”

Less well-financed candidates say their main weapon against more moneyed opponents will be good old-fashioned shoe leather.

“I’m not going to put out flashy posters, I refuse to do it,” said Ron Halpern, a consultant on bankruptcy and legal matters. “I’ll knock on doors and lay out my message and if I get elected, I’ll do what I say I’m going to do.”

Councilman Thomas W. Wilson, an incumbent who plans to spend from $15,000 to $20,000 on his reelection bid, said $8,000 in personal loans he made to his campaign seven years ago are still unpaid.

“If I don’t raise enough to satisfy [the loan] during this election, I’ll just forget about it,” he said. “However, I have always found it a disturbing trend that candidates have to spend more and more to get elected, whether it’s a state, federal or local election.”

The flap over fund-raising has become a dominant theme in an election where no other single issue has come to the forefront.

Some candidates are concerned about a proposal to convert the El Toro Marine Corps Air Station into a commercial airport and Greg Cox, who owns an X-ray company, said the current council isn’t fighting the county’s conversion plans hard enough.

“I think interest in the El Toro airport is fading away,” Cox said. “I’ve been to all the meetings and rallies and as a councilman, I’d be up there beating at the county’s door to point out all the flaws in this plan.”

Other candidates, including incumbent Councilman Mark Goodman, feel that there is a critical need to find land for youth sports. Goodman said he has helped the council designate space for athletic fields and is working to find a site for a skateboard park. Incumbent Councilwoman Janet Godfrey decided not to seek reelection.

Some candidates say the city poorly handled its approval of the Binion project, a 22-home development that has been challenged in court with some success.

In June, a judge asked the city to submit more information in order to justify its approval of the proposed hilltop housing tract.

“The council changed the rules of the game . . . to accommodate this one particular project,” Wood said. “I’m not suggesting that the council is taking us to hell in a handbasket. I’m saying there is room to do better.”

Cox said the city has been slow to build needed public facilities.

“We’re not looking to the future, we need better planning,” he said. “We’re planning for a City Hall and we still need more sports fields.”

But in the minds of residents, there is nothing wrong with Laguna Niguel, incumbents Wilson and Goodman say.

“They’re happy with the low crime rate and how beautiful it is here,” Goodman said. “I can run on my record.”

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Ten Into Three

Ten candidates, including two incumbents, are seeking three City Council seats at stake in Laguna Niguel. Meet the hopefuls:

Joe Brown

Age: 69

Occupation: Financial investment executive

Background: Director of the California State University Institute, a state organization promoting achievements of state university professors

Major issue: Expand a group he organized called Citizens Speak, which encourages the community to discover and deal with important city issues

Greg Cox

Age: 49

Occupation: Owns X-ray company

Background: Former member of the Redondo Beach utilities commission

Major issue: Provide better leadership on the City Council

Mark Goodman

Age: 42

Occupation: Runs business consultation firm

Background: Council incumbent; former traffic analyst at Orange County Transportation Authority

Major issue: Ensure safety and quality of children’s education by supporting schools

Ron Halpern

Age: 47

Occupation: Consults on bankruptcy and real estate legal issues

Background: Volunteers for Head Start to supply food and clothing for the disadvantaged

Major issue: Increase city’s tax base and local jobs by offering incentives for businesses to locate in Laguna Niguel

Linda Lindholm

Age: 44

Occupation: Public administration

Background: Laguna Niguel planning commissioner

Major issue: Deal with scarcity of youth athletic fields; work out a system of shared use between youth sports organizations

Randall Aaron Morton

Age: 45

Occupation: Author/legal assistant

Background: Not available

Major issue: Could not be reached for comment

Melvin Thomas

Age: 56

Occupation: Attorney, certified public accountant

Background: Has audited accounts of school districts in Southern California

Major issue: Stop influence of special interests in local and county government

Mimi Krogius Walters

Age: 34

Occupation: Financial services executive

Background: Chairwoman of city investment and banking committee

Major issue: Make sure law enforcement services are well funded

Thomas W. Wilson

Age: 56

Occupation: Retired aerospace worker

Background: Incumbent city councilman

Major issue: Ensure the safety of citizens by continuing to fully fund police services

William Wood

Age: 53

Occupation: Telecommunications technician trainer

Background: Led community attempts to get county Measure M “super street” funding for improvements to Street of Golden Lantern, a major South County road

Major issue: Strongly supports city opposition to a proposal to convert the El Toro Marine Corps Air Station into a commercial airport.

Source: Individual candidates