Latest available campaign finance reports filed with
the State show that as of Dec. 31, 2015, Long Beach Firefighters reported an ending cash balance of $43,448.28 and LA County’s AFL-CIO’s Council reported $481,858.81.” captionposition=”left”] Just in time for the April election, four committees have reported raising and spending significant funds in support of their choice for Long Beach City Council, including three union groups and one committee largely backed by business interests in the city.
When candidates advertise the endorsement of particular special-interest groups, it’s not always known just how much a committee will invest its resources into a bid for a council seat until campaign finance reports are posted on the Long Beach City Clerk’s web page.
Independent groups and political-action committees (PACS) have been a part of the political landscape for a while now. Since they are not candidate-controlled, they are free to send out mailers, solicit voters in support of a candidate and directly donate up to
$400 to a candidate’s campaign. The following organizations with significant funds available have been required to file financial reports with the Long Beach City Clerk’s office for their activity through March 26: the Long Beach Firefighters PAC, Local 372; the Los Angeles County Federation of Labor AFL-CIO Council on Political Education (AFL-CIO); and the Long Beach Police Officers Association; and Long Beach Citizens for Good Government.
Independent committee Long Beach Citizens for Good Government did disclose its donors, and most of them are from corporations or owners and executives of companies. California Real Estate PAC (CREPAC) was the only political-action committee noted to donate to Long Beach Citizens, according to the group’s campaign finance reports dated through March. 26. CREPAC donated $10,000 to Long Beach Citizens.
Long Beach Citizens have deep pockets. According to its reports, it amassed $78,400 in contributions for the calendar year, and its ending cash balance is $58,254.49, after contributions and expenditures have been made. Although this particular committee is not candidate-controlled and has expressed support for Joen Garnica and Wesley Turnbow for their respective 2nd and 8th districts, the rules don’t stop people related to the candidates to make significant donations to that independent group. Randall Turnbow, chairman of Wesley Turnbow’s company, EME Incorporated, has donated $5,000, and Brenda Turnbow, a homemaker, donated $4,900 to Long Beach Citizens, according to the organization’s campaign finance statement.
Multiple calls to Long Beach Citizens had not been returned by press time. The phone numbers on campaign finance statements belong to the office of Gary DeLong, a former Long Beach councilmember of the 3rd district. DeLong, now president of a company called TMSI, personally donated $250, and TMSI donated $2,500 to Long Beach Citizens, according to campaign-finance statements.
There is a massive amount already available from labor organizations. The Long Beach Police Officers Association confirmed that the money it has raised to support political activities in the city comes from the union dues of its members. It has raised $33,487.50 for the calendar year, and its ending cash balance is $138,411.95, according to the campaign-finance report for activity through March 26. It has, however, only donated $400 each to Eric Gray, Dee Andrews, and Al Austin their campaigns for the 2nd, 6th and 8th districts.
Calls to the Long Beach Firefighters Association and the AFL-CIO were not returned by press time to confirm whether their funding comes from other sources besides its member dues. Because they are state general-purpose committees, reports showing their funding sources are not available on the Long Beach City Clerk’s web page. Campaign finance reports filed with the State show that as of Dec. 31, 2015, Long Beach Firefighters reported an ending cash balance of $43,448.28 and LA County’s AFL-CIO’s Council reported $481,858.81. These committees are not required to file additional reports with the State until April 30, according to the press office for the secretary of state.
There are other special-interest groups who are ready to invest the time and dollars in their choice for city council.
Long Beach Association of Engineering Employees PAC raised $800 for the calendar year but only reported a cash balance of $92 as of March 26.
Jeremy Harris, vice president of the Long Beach Area Chamber of Commerce, said in a phone interview last week his organization’s PAC is endorsing Garnica to represent 2nd district candidate and Andrews to run for a third term for the 6th District. No activity was reported through March 26. Harris declined to comment on whether the organization is planning to do any independent expenditures. He did say that Long Beach Citizens for Good Government is not affiliated with the Chamber’s PAC.
While special-interest groups may be waiting until after the April election to throw in more money to support a candidate in the runoff election in June, that may not be a good plan, according to one expert.
Signal Hill-based political consultant Jeff Adler acknowledged that it would be better for a candidate to win the council seat outright in the April election because of the uncertainty surrounding the costs for a run-off campaign for the June 7 primary. Candidates need 50 percent plus one vote in order to win their seat outright on April without the need to move on to the June election.
At that time, more voters are expected to turn up to the polls to vote, and Adler suggested that the voter population will certainly change the political game. He explained that a campaign’s budget and planning are based on turnout models.
“Everyone’s voter turnout model has been thrown out the window in the last three to four weeks,” Adler said, as he explained that the race for president has brought in new registered voters who may be excited for Bernie Sanders or Donald Trump. He added that some have voiced concern over the system’s ability to handle a late influx of new voters.
“Now, suddenly you have got this new pool of new voters coming in, new registrants,” Adler said, “and these campaigns have to adjust their budget to include funds to speak to these voters and spread the message to this vast new pool of people.”
