Pay to Play: Giving Money to Local Pols (Part 6)

It's the main event...Councilmember-at-Large

So for the past few weeks, I've been writing about money in politics, specifically here in Oakland's city council races. There's a lot of money flying around, and it's going to be really interesting to see what these donors are hoping for (or expecting!) in return for their support of the candidates. All data comes from the candidates' Form 460 filed with the City of Oakland's campaign finance office.

The at-large race is going to be a pretty tough fight. Rebecca Kaplan (incumbent) ran for Mayor and came close second to Jean Quan in 2010, and she won her 2008 At-Large election handily. De La Fuente has the most money and the most ambitious plans if he beats Kaplan, to become Council President in 2013 and to run for mayor in 2014. Being on the winning side of this race could mean having a serious ally in the corridors of power in our city. So...let the money flow...

Incumbent Rebecca Kaplan has raised $91,500 (including $12,000 from candidate) and taken loans of $2,000. Her cash on hand is $47,400. She's recieved contributions from:

• California Metals
• Signature Development
• NORMAL (marijuana advocates)
• C Hammon Construction
• Lily Hu (Lobbyist)
• OakPAC Chamber
• SEIU Service Employees Union
• Firefighters
• Clorox
• Foothill Square Merchants
• California Nurses Association
• Oakland First PAC
• ABC Security Systems (a city contractor)
• Cal. Retail Coalition
• B&B Vehicle Processing (another city contractor)
• UFCW (United Food & Commercial Workers union)
• Madison Marquette Property Group
• Jack London Square Partners
• Dreisbech Warehouse

Ignacio De La Fuente has raised $89,560, taken no loans, and has cash on hand of $66,642. His second Officeholder Account committee has $12,927 Cash on Hand and his committee for 2006 Mayoral Race has cash on hand of $102,099 - for a grand total of $181,688 on hand. He's recieved contributions from:

• DeSilva Gates Construction
• nine maximum contributions from AB&I Foundry and two from McWane (AB&I parent company)
• Electrical Workers Union
• North Bay Container Corp
• Innovative and Creative Environmental Solutions
• Cal. Laborers for Equality and Progress
• Pacific States Environmental (part of DeSilva)
• B&B Vehicle Processing (city contractor)
• National Recycling Corp
• SSA Terminals
• Foothill Square Merchants
• CASS
• Pacific Steel Casting
• Lily Hu (Lobbyist)
• Cal. Metals Coalition PAC
• Firefighters
• OakPAC Chamber
• Holliday Development
• Construction and General Laborers
• Madison Park Financial
• Zezen Advisors
• Teamsters
• S&S Trucking
• US Charter Ventures
• Norcal Rock

So...Who's Going to Win?

I wish I could say. I'm not a good enough prognosticator to tell you how this is going to all shake out. We'll find out soon enough, as the election is just weeks away. It's enough to say that 2013 and 2014 are going to be awfully interesting. Stay tuned, folks - I'll be talking quite a bit about the politics of our fair city in the months (and hopefully years - god, prosperity and good health willing) to come.