Abe-Koga has raised most in council race Abe-Koga has raised most in council race (October 08, 2004)

Challenger Schaaf not far behind

By Jon Wiener

City council candidate Margaret Abe-Koga leads the race in money raised, with $13,676, according to finance forms filed with the city clerk on Tuesday.

Stephanie Schaaf has raised the next most with $12,740.28.

Mayor Matt Pear received $11,967.64 in donations. Nick Galiotto, the other incumbent in the race has contributions totaling $9,415.45.

There are six candidates running for four open seats in the Nov. 2 city council election. All of the candidates except Tom Means agreed to a voluntary spending limit of $16,882.

The majority of Abe-Koga's funds have come from individuals, a number of whom gave her $500 donations. Elected officials including County Supervisor Liz Kniss and Council member Mary Lou Zoglin are among her supporters.

Abe-Koga disclosed the use of nearly $2,800 from a separate campaign account to send out literature related to her county office to local residents. She said she would also count that expense toward her city campaign (see story, P.8), bringing the total of her city funds close to the spending limit.

Schaaf raised most of her money prior to July, pulling in just $2,600 in the last three months. None of her donations have exceeded $250.

A Green Party member who was the local chapter's endorsement chair in the last council race, Schaaf accepted $250 from the Green Party of California.

Schaaf, who said she would not accept any money from interest groups, said there is no conflict.

"The Green Party's rules for donation are the same as mine," she said, adding, "The Green Party is not going to put pressure on me to vote a certain way."

Pear's major donors included the Tri-County Apartment Association, the Mountain View Housing Council, and Diana Wang, owner of Crystal House on Castro Street. Each contributed $500 to his campaign. Los Angeles-based California Real Estate Political Action Committee chipped in $450.

Galiotto personally loaned his campaign $3,000 on top of the $5,800 he raised from outside sources. The Tri-County Apartment Association and Mountain View Housing Council gave Galiotto $500 each. Galiotto, a retired police captain, also received a contribution of $600 from the Peace Officers Research Association of California.

The two other candidates in the race have raised less than $5,000.

Tom Means raised $4,906. His primary contributions come from a $2,060 loan he gave himself and $500 from the Mountain View Housing Council.

Laura Macias has raised $4,045. One of her largest donations was $500 from the Tri-County Apartment Association; other significant contributions came from family members.

Disclosure reports are posted on the city's Web site within five business days of the filing deadline. The next filing deadline is on Oct. 21.

E-mail Jon Wiener at jwiener@mv-voice.com

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