Outside groups exert financial impact on Burbank campaigns

Large expenditures by independent expenditure committees threatens to overshadow direct campaign spending by Burbank City Council candidates, with the groups providing a total of $40,504 in support of two candidates -- Emily Gabel-Luddy and Christopher Rizzotti.

Gabel-Luddy, the sole incumbent in the race, received $7,891 from the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, Local 18 while Rizzotti, a Realtor, got $32,613 from the National Assn. of Realtors, about $18,000 more than he spent on his own campaign.

Independent expenditure committees are prohibited by law with coordinating with the targeted candidate, and both Gabel-Luddy and Rizzotti have said they have had no contact with the respective groups.

The figure amounts to more than three-fourths the amount spent -- combined -- by the seven Council candidates. That combined figure, according to records provided by the Burbank City Clerk’s office, is $49,760 as of Feb. 7. The total only includes money raised, and does not include money loaned to candidates -- most often by him or herself.

All figures have been rounded to the nearest dollar.

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