Outside Money Takes Over Our Election

Total spending so far in our election $205,660; 71% of that from out of town sources.

Reports turned in to the City Clerk as of Monday, Nov. 5, showed that three PAC committees have spent a total of $68,660 in out of town money (so far) in our election. This added to the out of town money contributed directly to our candidates brings our grand total of out of town money (so far) to $145,660. This is 71% of all the money spent.

The three independent PAC groups are:
United Workers for Local Govt. = $24,300 (trade unions, police, fire)
Benicia Local Govt. Accountability Coalition = $24,560 (links to Seeno)
Calif. Citizens for Excellence in Govt. = $19,800 (links to Valero)

In addition to the outside money poured into our elections by the Independent PACs, keep in mind that Council candidate Scott Strawbridge received $64,400 in contributions, of which $61,000 was from out of town (95%), mostly from trade unions and some corporations.

An additional $15,200+ in out of town money was contributed to the other candidates.

Thus, the total out of town money contributed to all candidates for Council and Mayor was over $76,200.

Add to that the total of $68,660 in out of town money (so far) spent by the three independent PACs.

Grand total out of town money (so far) in our election = approx. $145,660

Grand total In town contributions to candidates & mayor approx. = $60,000

In town contrib. per candidate:
Whitney $4100 + 7085 = 11,185
Patterson $5073 + 5610 + 7350 = 18,033
Ioakimedes $4073 + 6177 = 10,250
Campbell $10690 + 4719 + 844 = 16,253
Strawbridge $2795 + 1410 = 4,205

Total spending so far in our election = $205,660; well over 2/3 of that ($145,660) from out of town (71%).

"This is about whether a small town can own its own elections or whether outsiders own our elections."
(Elizabeth Patterson, Contra Costa Times article, 11/4/07)