Fundraising, outside spending continues in Burbank general election campaign
During the last stretch before Tuesday’s general election in Burbank, fundraising continued among the four candidates competing for two seats on the Burbank City Council, recent reports show.
City Council incumbent Dave Golonski raised $3,410 over the most recent reporting period spanning March 24 to April 3 from 22 sources, boosting his total since the start of the campaign to $18,983.
He received $250 each from the Los Angeles League of Conservation Voters, Disney Worldwide Services and Warner Bros. Entertainment. Former Burbank City Manager Mary Alvord also donated $100.
Incumbent Jess Talamantes received $3,212 in contributions, raising his total to $18,269. He spent $480 this period, which includes a $250 contribution refund to Scott Scozzola, director of golf at DeBell Golf Club.
The refund was to “eliminate any potential conflict of interest,” Talamantes said. Roughly two years ago, the council approved a $2-million bailout of the city-owned enterprise.
On a recent mailer, the union-sponsored group that’s campaigning to unseat Talamantes criticized Scozzola’s donation to Talamantes.
The group – Burbank Residents Opposed to Jess Talamantes Slashing Public Safety – reported receiving another $5,000 this period from the Local 770 United Food and Commercial Workers
Union political action committee. The PAC had previously poured $20,000 into the opposition campaign.
Talamantes received contributions from 21 sources this period, including $250 from both the California Credit Union League political action committee and the Walt Disney Co. He also received $100 from Glendale Mayor Frank Quintero and $150 from Sharvash Odadjian, bassist for System of a Down, who previously donated the same amount to incumbent David Gordon.
Gordon raised $1,220 this period, which includes $250 from the Walt Disney Co., raising his year-to-date total to $14,424.
The seven-year councilman spent $2,945 this period on automatic phoning, campaign mailings and postage, raising his total spending to $12,609, his report shows.
Challenger David Nos collected $395 this period, including $250 from Warner Bros. Entertainment, raising his total contributions to $7,483.
This period, Nos spent $609 on phone banks, fliers and window signs. In total, he has spent $5,804 on the campaign.
Meanwhile, fundraising and spending slowed down among those contending for the two seats on the Burbank Unified school board, but outside groups continued to pour thousands into the race.
The Los Angeles County Democratic Party Issues and Advocacy Committee spent $1,902 to support candidate Steve Ferguson, records show.
The Alliance for California’s Tomorrow, A California Business Coalition spent $28,067 on mailers and other services to support candidate Charlene Tabet, according to records filed Monday.
The Sacramento-based Prosperity political action committee is bankrolling the campaign, having poured $22,000 last month into the group’s coffers. Another $3,000 comes from the Paskenta Band of Nomlaki Indians.
The Burbank Teachers Assn. Fund for Children in Public Education spent $17,726 over the most recent reporting period, receiving $4,200 from the California Teachers Assn. for Better Citizenship, records show.
Meanwhile, school board candidate spending and fundraising activity was minimal. Neither Tabet nor fellow candidate David Dobson raised or spent any money this period.
Ferguson raised $497 from a handful of sources, but did not report any spending.
Incumbent Larry Applebaum did not file an expenditure report, according to the city clerk’s office.
-- Alene Tchekmedyian, alene.tchekmedyian@latimes.com