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Political newcomers in the Mountain View City Council race are dominating the early battle for campaign donations, according to recent public filings. At the top of the pack are Parks and Recreation Commissioner Thida Cornes and Human Relations Commissioner Lucas Ramirez, each of whom have raised just over $20,000.
Cornes, who began her campaign more than a year ago, had a considerable head start. She had raised more than $12,000 in 2015 when most candidates were still on the fence about entering the contest. Most donations to her campaign were relatively small, in the $100 to $250 range, from residents in Mountain View and neighboring cities.
By last month, Cornes had grown her war chest to almost $21,000, drawing from a base of small donors as well reporting as one large $1,500 contribution from the Prometheus Real Estate Group.
As of the latest campaign finance report, Ramirez trails just behind Cornes with more than $20,000.The most recent report covers the period ending June 30, but Ramirez’s campaign announced his total contributions now surpass $24,000 from donations made in July.
Like Cornes, Ramirez is drawing most donations from smaller contributions of less than $250. Among his notable benefactors, Ramirez received contributions from State Sen. Jerry Hill, State Sen. Bob Wieckowski, Santa Clara County Supervisor Joe Simitian, and Mountain View councilmen Mike Kasperzak and Lenny Siegel.
Running for re-election, Councilman Chris Clark reported having more than $17,000 to help retain his seat. The first-term councilman loaned his campaign $10,000, and he also received donations of $1,000 or more from Prometheus, the California Apartment Association and the California Real Estate political action committee. His campaign also received $2,500 from venture capitalist Sam Altman, president of Y Combinator.
Former councilwoman Margaret Abe-Koga’s campaign to rejoin the council has just over $16,000, about half of which is rolled over from her 2012 bid for a county supervisor seat (she withdrew from the race). Like Clark, her campaign received big donations from Prometheus and the CAA. Abe-Koga also received a $2,500 contributions from the Mountain View Firefighters union.
Councilman John McAlister’s re-election campaign reported having just over $7,000, coming from a similar base of large donors including Prometheus, the CAA and the real estate political action committee. Kasperzak gave a $250 donation to his council colleague.
Planning Commissioner Lisa Matichak’s campaign currently has $5,000, which comes from a personal loan she made.
As of this week, six candidates have announced they are competing for four open seats on the Mountain View City Council. Incumbent councilmen Mike Kasperzak and John Inks are prohibited from running again due to the city’s two-term limit.
The City Council race could be gaining a seventh candidate. Serge Bonte, a software engineer who has been active in city politics, has taken out papers for a council run. As of this week, Bonte said he was still mulling whether to pursue a council seat.
Mountain View’s other big political issue, rent control, filed an update in the latest campaign reports. The Mountain View Tenants Coalition, the backers of a proposed cap on apartment rents, reported raised nearly $13,000. Top donors include Maria Marroquin, executive director of the Mountain View Day Worker Center, and Edith Keating with the Peninsula Interfaith Action Network.
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Wow! I am very impressed with Lucas Ramirez! Not only has he already raised a staggering $24,000, the maximum amount allowed, but he seems to have taken no money from any kind of special interest group–only community leaders and regular Mountain View people like us. No unions, no apartment association, no developers, no PG&E. Has anyone even done that before in Mountain View history? Thida’s outreach to the community is very impressive too.
It is clear the incumbents are all in the pocket of landlords and the Apartment Association, as well as Margaret. That’s disappointing. Maybe Mountain View is finally ready for meaningful change–leaders like Thida and Lucas.
Please educate me which current or future council members support granting 3-4 parking permits and one guest permit to those who live in or near OMV. I understand there is a groundswell of support to let only those residents that live in detached homes vote themselves unabashed city street parking. Should (you) be another type of resident living in an apartment, condo or planned unit development, within the same area, you would not be allowed to participate/vote or receive these ~free permits.
Once the city starts allowing harmful exceptions, they create a fertile ground for class (resident) discrimination.
It would also be helpful to know those that support VTA buses traveling down the proposed slimmed down “Grand El Camino”
This will help the other ~90% (the not so fortunate) of residents decide on their representation.
Mountain View is a wonderful, complex city with big issues ahead. I don’t want “political rookies” leading the city. I want seasoned policy makers leading Mountain View. Margaret Abe-Koga has a proven track record of city and regional leadership…and she also has run a small business and volunteered for community nonprofits. She gets my vote.
While it may be true the “rookies prove powerful in council fundraising”, it’s premature and misleading (hopefully unintentional) to state “rookies prove powerful in council race”.
Unless there’s some hidden pre-polling, nobody has yet proven powerful in the race. As of yesterday, no candidate has even completed filing official paperwork for the ballot, let alone expressed positions on each of the 5-10 “hot” topics in this year’s election (as defined by the residents, not necessarily this website).
Margaret Abe-Koga has a record alright – of promoting wasteful spending and nut-case projects such as bus-only lanes on El Camino Real. She should run again for hospital board. At least then she could say she has NO RECORD of messing up hospital district!
Let’s not forget our current mayor was a “rookie”, too. Things can happen!!!
Both “rookies” have been very involved in our community and served as commissioners. Both have attended every important City of MV meeting over the last couple of years. We need knowledgeable people with fresh ideas and perspectives. And definitely another female council member!
As someone said the last time an article like this was posted, it would be nice to have reporting on candidates’ positions rather than just how much money they’ve raked in. I resent the implicit “money = power” equation.
@Neighbor: “I do not think that candidates with donations from the apartment lobbies come with an open mind.”
I think someone with a donation from a real-estate developer has an open mind about the benefits of building housing. That counts as a plus in my book.
The VTA loves Abe-Koga. That’s all you need to know about her. She’s a former VTA board member. Look how poorly VTA serves Mnt View! A vote for her is a vote for the so called El Camino Rapid Transit Bus Lanes.
Don’t get me going on her failed exercise business. And her playing quid pro quo with the Fire Department; ugh! How much more will she bankrupt Mnt View to pay for outrageous retirement plans?
It looks like almost all the candidates are already close to the voluntary limits for the race.
It would be great to see how many, if any, have signed the pledge and whether they intend to stay within the limit or if this will be another campaign where those with the most money win.
Will Mountain View go back to being a Democracy or have we become a Plutocracy?
MV already voted its support for the bus lanes. It’s only a few trump lovers that oppose it. It’s sad that a few of our neighbors are afraid to make it easier for the less affluent to travel to and through our city.
Actually, Ms. “VTA and MV,” the Mountain View City Council majority has never supported bus-only lanes on ECR but three of them expressed general support for a restricted lane one night last Spring and all three later changed their tune. One ran for state assembly and barely finished fourth. The VTA will next fail to get its tax increase measure passed. Congratulations. You lose.
We should adopt a local tax measure and support undergrounding Caltrain. Screw VTA. More Caltrain please.
It’s revealing to see who is getting funded by Prometheus and the California Apartment Association: Cornes, Clark, Abe-Koga, and McAlister. These candidates will not get my vote. From what I’ve seen over the last few years, Clark and Abe-Koga in particular have pretty solid records of voting however developers want them to.
The City Council has for years been effectively controlled by developer/landlords, and they will be spending whatever they think it takes to keep it that way. Just wait for the “dark money” funding from Prometheus and the CAA to start rolling in, as it did for Rosenberg and Showalter in the last election.
Thanks to the Voice and Mark Noack for this article. Please keep following the money.
To MV neighbor: Both candidates that the Voice Called “political rookies” have been on commissions and involved in substantial community work. I hope you’re not saying that the prerequisite for a council seat is a prior council seat.
One of the main issues before council in the coming years will be housing affordability, particularly rental housing. I strongly prefer candidates that can come to that issue with an open mind and I do not think that candidates with donations from the apartment lobbies come with an open mind.
I am equally #Impressed With Lucas – I met Lucas Ramirez yesterday and his knowledge of local affairs, along with his sincerity and concern really impressed me. He has my vote.