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Money a big factor for Redlands council candidates
REDLANDS, Nov 03, 2009 (Redlands Daily Facts - McClatchy-Tribune Information Services via COMTEX) --
The city's next municipal election is a year away and candidates interested in three City council seats first need to garner something more important than votes -- money.
Mayor Jon Harrison, Mayor Pro Tem Pat Gilbreath and Councilman Mick Gallagher will be up for re-election in November 2010. The office of the city clerk will also be up for grabs as a city-appointed interim clerk will have to run in 2010.
Councilman Pete Aguilar said money is only one factor of many that add up to a successful municipal campaign.
"You can win an election without money and you can have money and still not be successful," he said.
Aguilar, who raised more than $63,000 during the 2007 election and won, said money isn't the most important factor.
"Communicating to voters, at any level, is the key to winning campaigns," he said.
But money, Aguilar said, helps candidates communicate.
City Clerk Lorrie Poyzer said Redlands does not have a restriction on how much money a candidate can raise or what they have to spend the money on.
Carole Beswick, who served on the City Council from 1983 through 1991, said name recognition plays a large role in what candidate gets elected. To gain that name recognition, candidates often spend their campaign funds on yard signs, direct mailers, political consultants, or other items they feel will give them an edge on Election Day.
"(Money is spent on) whatever people feel they
have to have to win," she said.
Redlands does not have a restriction on how early candidates for public office can start raising money for their campaign funds, and some council hopefuls have gotten a head start.
Retired county treasurer Dick Larsen announced an interest in the Redlands council in early October. When he retired as county treasurer, Larsen had more than $140,000 left in his campaign fund. He moved the remaining money to a committee he created to explore a possible council run for him in November 2010.
The committee is required by the Fair Political Practices Commission, he said.
The FPPC has rules restricting how much money candidates for state offices can raise during a given election. But because Larsen has expressed interest in a City Council seat, the state rule doesn't apply.
"There's no state law that addresses the local issue," Porter said.
To see more of the Redlands Daily Facts, or to subscribe to the newspaper, go to
http://www.redlandsdailyfacts.com. Copyright (c) 2009, Redlands Daily Facts,
Calif. Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services. For reprints,
email tmsreprints@permissionsgroup.com, call 800-374-7985 or 847-635-6550, send
a fax to 847-635-6968, or write to The Permissions Group Inc., 1247 Milwaukee
Ave., Suite 303, Glenview, IL 60025, USA.
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