Ventura Mayor Is Top Fund-Raiser

With strong support from the local education community and various business owners and boosters, Mayor Jim Friedman has emerged as the top fund-raiser going into the final week before the Nov. 2 City Council election.

Friedman has raised $27,310 in the campaign in which 12 candidates are vying for three council seats, according to finance statements released this week. That includes a $10,572 loan he carried over from his successful 1995 council bid.

Although the Ventura Chamber of Commerce didn’t endorse Friedman, its president, Clark Owens, and vice president, Dan Lyon, were among the mayor’s contributors. Owens and Lyon are also members of the chamber’s political action committee. Friedman is a past chamber president but was passed over by the business group for three other candidates.

Owens said his $50 contribution to Friedman’s campaign does not reflect a disagreement with the chamber’s decision to endorse county land-use planner Carl Morehouse, businessman Doug Halter and Councilman Ray Di Guilio.

“It’s a personal choice of mine, but I completely support the decision of the PAC and the position of the chamber,” Owens said.

Owens, who would not say what he likes about Friedman’s platform, also plans to donate funds to the Di Guilio, Halter and Morehouse campaigns, but he would not say how much.

Friedman also received about $500 in contributions from local educators.

Pediatrician Bob Ryan is the second-leading fund-raiser in the council race, garnering $23,254 since launching his campaign. During the most recent filing period that began Sept. 19 and ended Oct. 16, Ryan raised $5,800--$2,000 of which he contributed to himself. He received about $1,250 from other physicians, dentists, psychologists and nurses.

Di Guilio has raised $19,245, including $11,500 in loans. His supporters include attorneys, Realtors, ranchers and Avenue Cable President John George.

Halter has raised $16,323, with several contributions from real estate and development interests.

Morehouse has raised $17,875, including $7,600 in loans. His backers include a number of county employees as well as Ventura lawyer Richard Francis, the architect of the SOAR growth-control ordinance.

Other totals show Paul Thompson, a California Highway Patrol officer, has raised $20,551, including $17,311 in loans. This includes $10,000 he made to his own campaign during the most recent filing period.

Restaurant owner Charlie Gartman has collected $2,450 in contributions, while Diane Underhill, another business owner, has raised $2,067. Candidate Brian Lee Rencher raised $2,070. Financial disclosure forms for Roger Jewett, Lynn Doyle Cogdill and Ed Ryan were not available Friday.