In the race for cash in the special mayoral election, former assemblyman Nathan Fletcher and Councilman David Alvarez — both Democrats — remain neck and neck, according to the latest campaign filings.
Alvarez and the independent committees that support his candidacy have reported raising at least $1,716,355 from the start of the race through Nov. 13.
Fletcher and the independent committees backing him have reported raising at least $1,764,992 in that period. Of that amount, $183,000 — including $33,000 in non-monetary contributions — was transferred from one independent committee to another, essentially counting the funds twice.
City Councilman Kevin Faulconer — the race’s lone Republican — and the independent committee supporting him reported receiving at least $1,239,274 in contributions in that period.
Former City Attorney Mike Aguirre did not file a disclosure report. When reached by phone Friday evening, Aguirre said that his campaign’s treasurer had informed him that only candidates who raise at least $10,000 must file. A voicemail left with the treasurer was not returned. According to his last comprehensive disclosure report, Aguirre had reported raising $5,455 through Nov. 2.
The updated numbers come from the latest campaign disclosure statements, filed Friday with the San Diego City Clerk.
These reports were more limited than those previously filed. Nevertheless, they likely encompass nearly all contributions received by candidates and other committees.
Unlike the previous disclosures on Oct. 10 and Nov. 7 that required political committees to list the total amount of money they’d raised and spent for the relevant periods of time, this disclosure only mandated that the campaigns and other committees list contributions from donors who had given at least $100 to the campaign. Additionally, Kevin Faulconer and Nathan Fletcher both listed all contributions, regardless of how little an individual had given. Campaigns were not required to list their expenditures.
INTERACTIVE: Look up donors, committees and see who is in the lead for cash in the San Diego mayoral election.
The detailed breakdowns follow:
David Alvarez
David Alvarez’s campaign committee raised $31,147 between Nov. 3 and Nov. 13 from donors who had given at least $100 to the campaign. Three independent committees supporting Alvarez’s campaign raised a combined $82,459 in that same period. The majority of that amount — $68,959 — was raised by Working Families for a Better San Diego, a pro-Alvarez committee sponsored by the San Diego and Imperial Counties Labor Council.
Independent committees established to support or oppose candidates may accept contributions of unlimited size. They are barred from coordinating strategy with candidates’ campaigns.
Working Families for a Better San Diego also submitted a form detailing all independent expenditures made between Nov. 3 and Nov. 13. That disclosure revealed that the committee spent $184,537 over that period of time. Of that amount, $114,059 was spent on a field program and $60,000 was spent on television airtime.
Nathan Fletcher
Nathan Fletcher’s campaign committee received $71,241 in contributions between Nov. 3 and Nov. 13 from all donors. Like Kevin Faulconer, Fletcher listed every individual who had donated to his campaign, including those who had given less than $100.
Two independent committees supporting Fletcher’s candidacy received a combined $239,000 in contributions. Of that amount, $150,000 was a donation from one pro-Fletcher committee (Restoring Trust in San Diego) to another (Neighborhoods for Nathan Fletcher).
Kevin Faulconer
Kevin Faulconer’s campaign committee received $137,115 in contributions between Nov. 3 and Nov. 13 from all donors. As he has done with every filing deadline, Kevin Faulconer went a step further than the required disclosure and listed every individual who had donated to his campaign, regardless of how little was given.
San Diegans to Protect Jobs & the Economy, the independent committee supporting Faulconer’s candidacy reported, receiving $50,000 in contributions from donors who had given at least $100 in that period.
Questions, tips or suggestions? Email reporter Joe Yerardi at joeyerardi@inewsource.org or call him at 619.594.5321. Follow Joe on Twitter at @JoeYerardi.
