Today marked the deadline for candidates to submit their final campaign contribution disclosure forms before the Nov. 3 election, and in the two races for seats on the Humboldt Bay Harbor, Recreation and Conservation District’s Board of Commissioners, 5th Division challenger Susan Rotwein has brought in the biggest haul, collecting nearly $19,000 in campaign contributions.
Her challenger, incumbent Patrick Higgins, had not submitted his paperwork by the 5 p.m. deadline, though county Elections Office staff said his paperwork may still be considered on time if it’s mailed with a postmark showing today’s date (or an earlier one). As of late last month, however, Higgins had only raised a fraction of his challenger’s haul, at just over $2,000.
[Note: Higgins submitted his paperwork by mail. Read about his campaign’s finances here.]
The race in the 2nd Division has been laden with political intrigue thanks to a lawsuit filed earlier this month by Leo Sears, a retired fiscal conservative who alleges that incumbent Greg Dale has a conflict of interest that invalidates contracts made with his employer, Coast Seafoods, and effectively disqualifies him from serving on the board.
Dale’s defenders, meanwhile, have dismissed the suit as a political stunt. (See the links at the bottom of this post for background.)
In that race, challenger Nick Angeloff edged out Dale in contributions, raising $11,334 to Dale’s $10,746.
Eureka real estate agent Larry Doss was set to challenge incumbent Aaron Newman in Division 1, but Newman decided not to seek reelection. Still, Doss raised more than $4,000 before Newman announced his decision.
Looking at the individual donations, it looks like the challengers, Rotwein and Angeloff, have the support of local worker unions, plus the industrious and influential Schneider family, Eureka City Councilwoman Marian Brady and political conservatives such as Sears, Robert Morris and Rose Welsh.
The incumbents have the support of fellow Commissioner Richard Marks, and Dale landed donations from U.S. Congressmen Jared Huffman and Mike Thompson. He also got financial support from his colleagues in the aquaculture industry, including several oyster and shellfish companies.
Below is a breakdown of what each candidate’s campaign has reported, including lists of every donation of $200 or more.
DIVISION 1:
The Larry Doss campaign has raised $4,070, including the following:
- David Schneider: $250
- Brook Idea Group: $250
- Marian Brady for Council 2014: $250
DIVISION 2:
The Greg Dale campaign has raised $10,746, including the following:
- Taylor Mariculture, LLC: $1,000
- Aaron Newman for Harbor Commission: $675
- Huffman for Congress: $500
- Mike Thompson for Congress: $500
- Billy Plauche: $500
- Ekone Oyster Company: $500
- Rock Point Oyster Company: $500
- Hog Island Oyster Company: $500
- Penn Cove Shellfish: $500
- Leroy Zerlang: $500
- Andrew Albin: $250
- Richard Marks: $250
- Robert Ross and Associates: $250
- Tom Herman: $200
- Blake Alexandre: $200
- Judith Satterlee: $200
- Larry Zerlang: $200
- Kenneth and Shirley Bay: $200
- Chuck DeWitt: $200
- Vicki and Steve Wilson: $200
The Nick Angeloff campaign has raised $11,334, including the following:
- Aqua Dam, Inc.: $2,818
- Walter Doolaege (president of Aqua Dam, Inc.): $2,000
- Operating Engineers Local Union #3: $1,000
- UA Local 286 Plumbers and Pipefitters: $1,000
- Operating Engineers Local Union No. 3: $1,000
- Water Structures Unlimited, LLC: $999
- Leo Sears: $500
- Thomas Kuoh: $500
- Robert Morris: $500
- David Schneider: $500
- Northern CA Dist. Council ILWU: $495
- Marian Brady for City Council: $250
- Brooks Idea Group: $250
- Chet Albin: $200
DIVISION 5:
The Susan Rotwein campaign has raised $18,824, including the following:
- Fisherman’s Marketing Association: $1,000
- Operating Engineers Local Union No. 3: $1,000
- UA Local 246 Plumbers: $1,000
- Carol Hallmark: $400
- Schneider Rentals Account: $500
- Thomas Kuoh: $500
- Cher-Ae Heights: $500
- Northern Calif. Dist. Council ILWU: $495
- Ryan Rousseau Plumbing: $300
- Rosemarie Welsh: $300
- David Turner: $275
- Marian Brady for Council 2014: $250
- Miller Farms Nursery: $250
- Kimberly Turner: $250
- Brooks Idea Group: $250
- Ross Miller: $250
- Hooven & Co.: $250
- Travis Schneider: $250
- MacMullin & Co.: $250
- Ryan Schneider Construction Co.: $200
- AAA Self-Storage: $200
- Roberta Golledge: $200
- D & R Miller Co., LLC: $200
- Shel M. Barsanti: $200
The Patrick Higgins campaign, as mentioned above, hadn’t turned in his latest financial disclosure forms by the time the county Elections Office closed at 5 p.m. today. If the forms were sent in the mail and postmarked with today’s date (or an earlier one) then they’re not technically late. As of his most recent filing, on Sept. 24, Higgins’s campaign had raised $2,063, including:
- Ken Miller: $500
- Richard Marks: $250
- Joyce King: $200
- Jonathan McCrone: $200
UPDATE: The report on the Higgins campaign finances can be viewed here.
PREVIOUSLY:
- Balance of Power at Stake With Eight Candidates Pursuing Seats on Harbor Commission
- Harbor Commission Election Preview Part 2: The 2nd Division
- Harbor Commission Election Preview Part 3: The 5th Division
- Larry Doss to Win Seat on Harbor Commission by Default; Fellow Candidates Fail to Gather Qualifying Signatures
- On the Eve of Harbor District Election, Rail Buffs File Conflict of Interest Suit Against Sitting Commissioner
- LoCOLLOQUY: Leo Sears Writes LoCO About His Lawsuit’s Timing, and of His Alleged Train Non-Buffdom
- Fact-Check: Susan Rotwein, Candidate for Harbor District Board, Says Prostitutes Offering Services on Woodley Island