Measure G supporters winning SLO fundraising battle
October 8, 2014
By JOSH FRIEDMAN
Supporters of Measure G, a proposed half-cent sales tax in San Luis Obispo for the next eight years, are easily winning the fundraising battle with their opponents, recently released campaign finance reports show.
As of Sept. 30, Measure G supporters have raised $21,013, while opponents of the tax initiative have raised $9,678. The Measure G proponents have more than $14,000 cash on hand, while the detractors have a little more than $1,000, according to campaign disclosure statements posted on the city website.
The Wallace Group is the leading donor to the yes on G effort, having given $1,200. Other major backers of the tax include Cannon Corporation, software company Mindbody, Tim Williams of Digital West Networks, residential development firm MFI Limited and Once Upon a Time LP, each of which have donated $1,000.
Several past and present city employees and council members have also donated to the pro-Measure G campaign.
Former San Luis Obispo council member Keith Gurnee is spearheading the opposition to Measure G. Gurney has contributed approximately $3,730, most of which he spent directly on campaign expenses.
The next largest donor to the effort to stop the sales tax is the San Luis Obispo Property and Business Owners’ Association, which has contributed $1,500. Other leading donors are San Luis Obispo residents Kevin Rice, Leslie Halls and Dia Hurd.
Rice has contributed $1,063 combined as an individual donor and through his committee Integrity SLO. Halls has donated $815, mostly in non–monetary contributions, while Hurd, has given $810, most of which came in the form of cash.
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