LIVERMORE — This city of fewer than 100,000 residents is seeing almost half a million dollars flow into and out of its mayor and council elections.
And a hefty sum — $343,655 — has been spent by just one group, a local political action committee called “Friends of Livermore Committee 2018, Sponsored by Friends of Livermore,” to support some candidates and oppose others. According to the latest campaign financial disclosure statements filed with the city, the group currently is $281,176 in debt after all that spending, although it can collect contributions even after the election. Jeanette King seems to be the biggest donor in the effort, pitching in $40,000.
The campaign filing shows that the group spent $61,068 on behalf of Rosmary Bartsch, who isn’t even actively running for council. Although she will appear on the ballot and has stated she will serve if elected, she told this news organization she dropped out of the race and isn’t actively campaigning for herself. She has not raised any funds either.
Friends of Livermore also has spent $57,627 to oppose council incumbent Bob Woerner through ads and campaign literature.
Friends of Livermore sent out a notice last month saying it was supporting Bartsch and retracting its previous endorsement of council candidate Alan Brent Siler, also a newcomer in this election.
“We have learned that Bren (sic) Siler’s values do not align with ours, and are rescinding our endorsement of him. WE (sic) have informed him of this decision,” the announcement read.
Before opposing him, the group spent at least $59,922 on his behalf.
Another community advocacy group, Unify Livermore, has sprung up in recent months. Although the nonprofit has not directly spent any money in the council campaign, it announced Friday that it filed a formal complaint with the state Fair Political Practices Commission (FPPC) claiming that Friends of Livermore may have had inappropriate communication with Bartsch while campaigning for her.
Political action committees are not allowed to coordinate campaigns with those they support, said Asa Strout, Unify Livermore’s CEO.
“Unify Livermore wants to make sure that every candidate is given a fair chance to run for their elected position in Livermore. We will not sit back and let a wealthy Political Action Committee inappropriately influence our local elections,” he said in a written statement.
Friends of Livermore also has raised big bucks in the past, including more than $200,000 in 2016 for and against council candidates.
The other big spenders this election cycle include another political action committee, Livermore Forward, whose full title is “Livermore Forward: Supporting Woerner for City Council and Marchand for Mayor 2018.” The group has raised $20,200 so far for the two candidates.
John Marchand, the incumbent mayor, meanwhile, has raised more than his opponent, challenger Joshua Laine, in his campaign “Marchand for Mayor 2018.” The mayor has raised $39,244 so far and spent just $16,933. Laine has raised $500, and spent $506, according to his campaign finance forms.
Patricia “Trish” Munro is the second-highest individual campaign spender, having paid out all but $266 of the $28,496 raised so far, according to her finance forms.
Candidate Neal Pann raised $12,870 and spent $13,584 spent so far; Woerner raised $9,588 and spent $7,749; and Siler spent $3,416 and raised $2,200.
The election is Tuesday.