Challengers still leading money race Challengers still leading money race (October 29, 2004)

Three of four candidates reject firefighters' money

By Jon Wiener

Margaret Abe-Koga had retained her fund-raising lead among the six candidates running for city council, with a total of $15,012 through Oct. 16, according to disclosure reports they filed with the city last week.

But Stephanie Schaaf, who jumped out to a large early lead in fund-raising this summer, closed the gap with a $3,500 loan to herself after the filing period ended, bringing her total to $16,634. Schaaf, who has limited campaign contributions to $250 and said she rejected money from special interest groups, appeared to have slowed down in recent months, slipping behind several opponents before the loan.

Wednesday was the last day to accept contributions, and Schaaf's total brought her within a few dollars of the voluntary spending limit of $16,882. Every candidate but Tom Means, who has raised the least amount of money, signed the pledge to abide by the limit.

Abe-Koga, who raised just $1,245 in the first half of the month, is planning to count the approximately $2,800 she spent on a mailer she sent to residents from her 2002 campaign for County Board of Education toward her campaign expenditures. Under that formula, Abe-Koga has already raised more money than she can spend within the voluntary spending limit.

"I've actually asked people to stop sending me checks," she said. "I've told people that I've raised my amount."

Laura Macias had raised $8,617, more than two-thirds of it in early October. Her funds included a $2,500 loan to herself. Macias' contributors included County Supervisor Liz Kniss, Council member Mary Lou Zoglin and the Mountain View firefighters union, which gave her $500.

Macias, who said she is aiming to run a low-budget, high-efficiency campaign, was the only candidate to accept money from the firefighters. The three other candidates the group endorsed, Schaaf, Nick Galiotto and Matt Pear, refused similar donations.

"I think they've paid their penance," said Macias, in reference to negative publicity the union received for improper reporting of its political activity in the 2002 campaign. "To me, it's a double message to say, 'I'll accept your endorsement, but I'll take somebody else's funds.'"

Pear, the city's current mayor, raised $14,455.60 by the filing deadline. Pear said he saved money by reusing signs from his 2000 campaign.

Galiotto, who is also an incumbent, raised $14,189.42, including $900 from his son Jerry. Galiotto received large donations from two political action committees, $600 from the state Retired Public Employees Association and $450 from the California Association of Realtors.

Galiotto has garnered support from both sides of the contentious historic preservation issue, receiving small donations from Mountain View Preservation Alliance co-founder Jean McCloskey as well as members of the Byer and Spencer families, homeowners who helped form the opposing Mountain View Neighborhood Preservation Association.

Tom Means raised $5,835.98, according to his disclosure statement.

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

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