Supervisor campaign setting new records

October 8, 2014

By KAREN VELIE

A contentious District 4 supervisor’s race is setting records in San Luis Obispo County for money-raising, already generating an unprecedented $610,000 between candidates Caren Ray and Lynn Compton, and total contributions may top $1 million before the Nov. 4 race is concluded.

And the more the cash rolls in, the more convoluted and hazy the required reporting is becoming.

Ray, who was appointed by Gov. Jerry Brown following the death of Paul Teixeira, reported on her 460 disclosure forms that she has collected $240,064 in cash and non-monetary donations in addition to $1,000 in loans for a total of $241,064 throughout the campaign. However, the actual amount Ray has raised is difficult to determine as many of her forms have conflicting information.

Ray’s 497 disclosures, which are forms candidates are required to submit within 24 hours of receiving a $1,000 or more cash donation, show multiple donations that Ray failed to report on her 460 campaign disclosure form as required by law.

For example, Ray reported on Aug. 15 that she received a $1,000 donation from Stephen Cool and on Aug. 21 a $2,000 donation from the California Association of Realtors in Los Angeles, though she did not report those donations and others on her latest cumulative discloser filings.

Ray said she is reviewing the filings, and if errors are found, she will amend her reports.

Ray’s top contributors are developers, many of whom have projects in front of the county, and unions.

Ray’s top contributors during the 2013/2014 campaign:

$19,386 – Gary Grossman, owner of Coastal Community Builders, developing the former Dalidio Ranch

$10,000 – Monte Cool, chief of acquisitions for Grossman’s Coastal Community Builders

$10,000 – Lori Mangano, developer with Mangano Homes

$10,000 – The International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers of San Luis Obispo

During her campaign, Compton has collected $303,608 in cash and non-monetary donations in addition to a $65,000 in loans she made to her campaign, for a total of $368,608. Compton’s largest donations came from farmers and conservative organizations.

Compton’s top contributors during the 2013/2014 campaign:

$18,042 – Republican Central Committee

$14,775 – Nicholas Cook, a retired engineer from Los Osos

$5,420 – Kathleen Maas, Pear Valley Estate wine vintner

$5,250 – Teixeira Farms

Ray is currently ahead on cash donations while Compton leads in the number of people donating to her campaign and non-monetary donations. In cash donations reported on their 460 forms during 2013 and 2014, Ray has raised $229,064 and Compton has collected $210,814.

In cash, non-monetary and loans, Compton has raised $368,608 and Ray has taken in $241,064, according to their 460 filings.