Ramos, Clark hold fundraising lead in Mountain View City Council race

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As Election Day approaches, the Mountain View City Council race is hitting its final stretch with a big range in fundraising and spending strategies. There are nine candidates in the race, competing for the chance to fill four seats that are up for grabs on Nov. 5.

Several contenders took an early lead in fundraising efforts and have sustained the momentum in the weeks leading up the election. Candidates have ramped up their spending in the past month, although all are keeping below the voluntary expenditure limit, which is capped at $30,495 this year.

Independent expenditures also are starting to come in for candidates. SEIU Local 521 has injected $21,460 into the race with campaign mailers in support of Mountain View City Council member Emily Ann Ramos and Human Relations Commissioner Erik Poicon.

The Mountain View Professional Firefighters Political Association PAC has contributed about $1,230 in door hangers for Mountain View Mayor Pat Showalter; former Mountain View City Council members Chris Clark and John McAlister; and Mountain View Whisman School District trustee Devon Conley.

Emily Ann Ramos and Chris Clark

Mountain View City Council member Emily Ann Ramos is out in front with fundraising efforts, bringing in close to $35,000 this year.

Since September, Ramos has picked up support from the Silicon Valley Young Democrats ($500), Democratic Activists for Women NOW ($500) and the Santa Clara County League of Conservation ($100). She also has received $1,500 from local trade and service unions.

Ramos has spent nearly $20,000 on the campaign, with a bulk of the expenditures going towards campaign literature and mailings, postage and online advertisements.

Former Mountain View City Council member Chris Clark is right behind Ramos, raising about $33,200 this year. Clark seeded his campaign with a $25,000 loan.

Clark has picked up $1,000 contributions from the Mountain View Professional Firefighters PAC, California Real Estate PAC, and Tod Spieker, a prominent real estate developer.

Clark has spent about $20,300 in total with a large part of his expenditures going towards campaign literature, mailings and paraphernalia.

Pat Showalter, IdaRose Sylvester, Erik Poicon and Nicholas Hargis

In the middle of the pack is Mountain View Mayor Showalter, although she has a slight edge over other candidates and has raised about $26,500 this year.

Since September, Showalter has received contributions from the Mountain View Professional Firefighters PAC ($1,000), Democratic Activists for Women NOW ($500) and Local 393 Plumbers and Steamfitters PAC ($250).

Showalter has spent nearly $11,300 in total on the campaign, with money going towards campaign literature, mailings and online advertisements.

Not far behind, Human Relations Commissioner IdaRose Sylvester has raised about $25,700 this year, with part of it financed from a loan of about $6,600.

Early in the campaign, Sylvester received contributions from several state and local officials and recently picked up $500 from Democratic Activists for Women NOW.

Sylvester has spent about $12,800 in total with a bulk of her expenditures going towards postage, delivery and messenger services and campaign literature, mailings and paraphernalia.

Human Relations Commissioner Erik Poicon is neck-to-neck with Sylvester, raising about $25,300 this year. Poicon continues to receive a lot of support from trade and service unions, which have contributed $6,500 to his campaign since September.

Poicon has spent about $18,500 in total with most of it going towards campaign literature and mailings, consultants and phone banks.

Nicholas Hargis, a congressional aide for U.S. Rep. Anna Eshoo, rounds out the middle of the pack and has raised about $24,200 this year. Since September, Hargis has received a $100 contribution from the Santa Clara County League of Conservation.

Hargis has spent about $23,300 in the race so far, with most expenditures going towards campaign literature and mailings, advertisements and paraphernalia.

Devon Conley, John McAlister and José Gutiérrez

Mountain View Whisman School District trustee Devon Conley has raised about $16,300 this year.

In the past month, Conley has picked up support from the California Real Estate PAC ($1,000), Mountain View Professional Firefighters Local 1965 ($1,000) and Democratic Activists for Women NOW ($500).

Conley has spent about $12,600 in total, with expenditures going towards digital advertising, campaign literature and print ads.

Former Mountain View City Council member John McAlister is not far behind Conley with about $14,200 raised for his campaign. Since September, McAlister has received $1,000 contributions from the California Real Estate PAC and Mountain View Professional Firefighters Local 1965.

McAlister has spent about $7,900 on his campaign, with a lot of money going towards flyers and consultants.

Former Mountain View Whisman School District trustee José Gutiérrez has raised about $6,800 for his campaign, which is partially financed by a $2,500 loan. Gutiérrez has spent about $2,400 in total, with minimal spending since September.