Campaign disclosure forms covering the first half of 2014 came due yesterday, giving political nerds their first chance to break down exactly what happened during the primary. (i.e. How much money was raised and spent in the first half of the year.) The documents also shed a little light on how several races will go as we head toward November.
We’ll limit our look here at the races that matter in San Jose:
MAYOR'S RACE
District 3 Councilman Sam Liccardo forms show he outraised and outspent Dave Cortese in the first six months of the San Jose mayor’s race, but he still finished second to the county supervisor. That’s not a surprise. Polling showed Cortese had a solid hold on first place from the start, and Liccardo’s main concern was getting into the top-two runoff ahead of Madison Nguyen.
Sam Liccardo
Liccardo’s decision to opt out of the voluntary expenditure limits—unlike Cortese—means he’s not limited in how much his personal campaign can spend in the runoff. He also could receive support from an independent committee that is being organized by Silicon Valley Leadership Group CEO Carl Guardino and other Silicon Valley execs.
This outside backing will be offset to some degree, if not completely, by Cortese’s support from the South Bay Labor Council and the county Democratic Party. Even though the DCC has been strapped for cash, one political insider told me that deficit could be rectified by a just a few phone calls to the party’s top brass and local legislators who are in no danger of losing incumbency. The manpower that organized labor has in hitting the streets to talk with voters also can’t be ignored.
Dave Cortese
What stands out in the latest financials is Liccardo’s $220,000-plus in cash on hand. While Cortese certainly has some money—more than $58,000 on hand as of July 1—playing catch-up on nearly a quarter-million dollars means Liccardo has a bit of a jump going into the fall. Stay tuned.
Total raised for first half of 2014: $541,639.98
Total spent for first half of 2014: $646,335.87
Cash on hand: $58,445.98
Unpaid debts: $ 5,000
Total raised for first half of 2014: $517,779.27
Total spent for first half of 2014: $ 789,270.57
Cash on hand: $220,024.48
Unpaid debts: $ 6,422.29
DISTRICT 1
Paul Fong continues to amaze in the role of debt juggler. He now has three open campaign accounts: a State Assembly officeholder account, a 2008 State Assembly campaign account and a 2014 San Jose City Council account. Two of those three accounts are in the red, but Fong probably isn’t worried—another race is always on the horizon when elected offices are pit stops and you vote exactly how people tell you to.
Fong continues to avoid interest on the $100,000 debt (in-kind contribution?) he owes campaign consultant/lobbyist Richie Ross gave him to run his 2008 Assembly campaign. His assembly committee paid off just $18.48 in accounting fees the first six months of this year, leaving him with a $108,143.70 debt. As for his council committee, Fong managed to go more than $21,000 into debt as of July 1.
Nancy Warren, of accounting firm Warren and Associates, continues to do his treasury accounting for all three accounts and bill him almost entirely for a later date. Thankfully, Fong’s officeholder account still has $8,352.70 in cash on hand for knock around money—because you never know when you’ll need to pay for a favor at a later date.
Charles "Chappie" Jones, the second-place finisher in District 1, ran a much more frugal campaign, saving more than $16,000 going toward November. Jones is still mostly unknown, but he’ll receive a more thorough vetting between now and the runoff as we interview remaining candidates. We’ll also let you know if Fong ever agrees to an interview rather than his high-paid consultant firm, Terris Barnes Walters, shielding him from scrutiny.
Total raised for first half of 2014: $74,787.35
Total spent for first half of 2014: $97,133.71
Cash on hand: $3,511.81
Unpaid debts: $21,196.35
Charles "Chappie" Jones for City Council:
Total raised for first half of 2014: $ 75,862.06
Total spent for first half of 2014: $ 70,323.17
Cash on hand: $16,159.81
Unpaid debts: $643.55
DISTRICT 3
For a first-timer, Raul Peralez had an excellent finish in the downtown council primary. (Yes, there are other areas in District 3 but the council doesn’t draw its clout from King Road or north of Gish.) Peralez has a strong story about his family and upbringing, a policeman’s pedigree and the full backing of organized labor and the county party. He stayed well within his budget on the way to a first-place finish and had more than $14,000 cash on hand as of July 1.
He’ll need that money, as the mayor’s race cuts into financial support for other labor-endorsed candidates. Challenger Don Gagliardi has some serious corporate backing and he managed to come out of June with almost $52,000 cash on hand—although he has $10,000 in debt from a loan he gave himself. If the paperwork is accurate, it appears he’s already forgiven a separate $10,000 loan.
Raul Peralez for City Council:
Total raised for first half of 2014: $65,901.95
Total spent for first half of 2014: $65,012.51
Cash on hand: $14,750.48
Unpaid debts: $0
Don Gagliardi for City Council:
Total raised for first half of 2014: $142,078.68
Total spent for first half of 2014: $103,977.28
Cash on hand: $51,897.55
Unpaid debts: $10,000
DISTRICT 7
Tam Nguyen stunned nearly everyone except himself in taking first place in the District 7 primary. While his e-filing can't be found online, the City Clerk's office sent forms by email showing that he has more than $10,000 on hand. He also has $16,800 in debt from loans he gave himself, but Nguyen told me earlier in the summer he expects to throw a similar amount of his own money into the runoff, which he thinks will help him reach the necessary number of votes.
Esparza’s low-budget campaign didn't stop her from a strong second-place finish in the primary. She ended June with $2,971.56 cash on hand after paying off most of $3,500 loan she gave herself while forgiving $538.77
Total raised for first half of 2014: $43,156.00
Total spent for first half of 2014: $33,646.85
Cash on hand: $10,666.15
Unpaid debts: $16,800.00
Maya Esparza for City Council:
Total raised for first half of 2014: $20,803.48
Total spent for first half of 2014: $20,569.23
Cash on hand: $2,971.56
Unpaid debts: $0
UPDATE: A previous version of this post suggested there may be inconsistencies in how Maya Esparza's campaign calculated cash on hand. The campaign on Friday amended a form for the first filing period of 2014 and the matter has been resolved.
Vote: Raul Peralez /Cortese for a better San Jose
By better San Jose you mean a corrupt city run by Cindy Chavez, Steve Preminger, and that disgraced attorney Ben Field. Yeah, vote for them and that’s what you’ll get.
Can’t get any worse under lying, cheating, stealing as Chuck and his band of clowns have done. Oh did I mention that includes Sammy the clone.
Oh and if I am not mistaken Cindy does not run the city of San Jose, I believe she works for the county.
Some serious naiveté if you think Cindy Chavez isn’t controlling Cortese and Ben Field. She’s the puppet master of the whole labor cabal.
Some serious voter thoughts if you think Sam is a better mayor. He is an idiot and a Chuck clone. So we will suffer the same ole thing, hello the next Oakland. Hum, 23 homicides today because we no longer have a police department. Thank You Measure B voter.
Vote Dave
There is a reason why Dave got trounced by Cindy in 2006. As much as she is wedded to labor, at least she is more ethical than Cortese.
Cortese as a mayoral candidate endorsed Xavier Campos reelection bid and it seems like that is the judgment you look for in candidates.
What you criticize Liccardo on is backing things that have been voted on by the city, and not Cortese shady backroom deals.
Transparency is a work that doesnt exist in Corteses dictionary.
Did you want me to vote for Xavier Campos / Cortese in the first round, Retired? :-)
Vote for how you want. But be a man / women and tell me what council person you work for. I worked for the city for 30 years.
Comment however you want, “Retired.”
But be a man/woman and post under your real name instead of always hiding behind an alias.
Rich Elder
We get it – you are a wealthy older man, we already knew that Retired…..tell us your real name :-)
Or people can vote for Liccardo , Reeds protege . Who is well on his way to emulating reeds Lying , Cheating and stealing ways
You inspired me Disgusted. I have some video editing to do set to music.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cS4LCoh0VGQ
Robert. I guess taking money from Rural Metro and voting for their contract is completely ethically fine. Cortese’s playing with people’s lives for campaign contributions.
And voting to cut our fire and police isn’t playing with people’s lives?
That would be your cousin wrecking our city’s pension system and causing the problem in the first place. The city couldn’t afford to pay for officers. It’s called a recession.
Chuck voted for those pensions as well. What Dave didn’t vote for was the glut of RDA loans taken out (for stadium property) after he went on to become a CBOS.
Sorry but you’re are , well lets keep it clean.Never mind!
Dave for mayor.
Dear Mr. Retired:
> Dave for mayor
Dave is the leader of your tribe. Got it!
Dave is wise and strong. Got it!
Dave will put some slop in your supperdish. Got it.
Dave will collude with Latin American human traffickers and help channel desperate, diseased 30-year old illegal alien “children” to the left’s urban voter plantations in America. Got it!
So tell us why anyone who is NOT a public employee unionista should “Vote for Dave”?
And, by the way, can you show that the Dave campaign or anyone else believes that your obsessive and mindless plumping for “Dave” has gained “Dave” even one actual vote from a franchised American citizen voter?
Can you even provide any evidence that the “Dave” campaign knows that you exist and thinks you are helping them?
It’s probably just as realistic to believe that you’re working for the “Sam” campaign and just trying to make the “Dave” campaign look like a bunch of “mind numbed robots”.
You…
Tired of you..
Doesn’t matter how many times you change your name..
You…
Dave is the best for San jose Mayor. Thank you Mr / Ms SJoutsidethebubble. Sounds like our votes cancel each other out. God Bless this Country. Hope the other 10% bother to vote.