City Council candidates get variety of support

Mayor Jim Righeimer continues to lead the pack of Costa Mesa City Council candidates this fall in terms of fundraising, with the conservative politician gathering about $150,000 so far.

Righeimer, first elected in 2010, is among the eight candidates seeking one of two open seats on Nov. 4 for the five-member council.

About half of Righeimer’s donors are out-of-town interests, usually from real estate development. Others, though — including several thousand from Metro Pointe-related businesses — are from Costa Mesa.

Among Righeimer’s biggest donors is Newport Beach real estate investor John Saunders, who has given at least $4,000. There was also a $9,500 donation in August from Flying R. Ventures, also of Newport Beach.

Righeimer donors also include members of the Planning Commission, Parks and Recreation Commission and other city committees.

Righeimer, a real estate professional, contends that he has needed to raise large amounts to keep up with organized labor — particularly the Orange County Employees Assn. and Costa Mesa Police Assn. — that are spending against him. The police union has sent mailers, made T-shirts and published advertising that is critical of department staffing levels since Righeimer took office.

“I need to raise money to keep up against these big union interests,” Righeimer said.

Candidates Katrina Foley, an attorney, and retired businessman Lee Ramos have each raised more than $40,000, according to recent campaign finance reports.

Foley, a trustee on the Newport-Mesa Unified school board and former councilwoman, estimated Friday that she has raised about $44,000. She also appears to have the highest number of donors at about 225.

She credits that to her campaign representing a cross-section of the community.

“That has always been my campaign strategy,” Foley said. “You need the buy-in from the community.”

Foley has also received $5,000 from the Newport Beach police union, $3,500 from the Orange County Employees Assn., $2,000 from the Newport-Mesa Federation of Teachers and $1,000 from the United Food and Commercial Workers Local 324 in Buena Park.

Foley countered any assertions that she is “bought out” or “controlled” by unions.

“Nobody controls me,” she said. “I control myself.”

Ramos served on the Charter Committee and is on the Fairview Park Citizens Advisory Committee. His biggest donor has been GROW Elect, a San Diego-based political action committee that seeks to aid Latino Republican candidates.

Ramos has received at least $13,000 from GROW Elect, according to campaign filings. He has also received $2,300 from fellow Charter Committee member Gene Hutchins, who also serves on the Pension Oversight Committee, and about $5,000 from the Costa Mesa Taxpayers Assn., which also donated to Righeimer.

Former Councilman Jay Humphrey, a retired pharmaceutical distribution executive, has raised about $25,000 as of this week.

“I will continue to do everything I can do until Tuesday at 8 o’clock,” he said, “when it all becomes everything that it’s going to be.”

Righeimer was critical that Humphrey and Foley have received contributions from local motel owners.

“The biggest attracter to crime in our city are some of these motels,” Righeimer said. “We passed ordinances to have them clean up their behavior. My leading opponents are taking contributions from them, and at the same time trying to say we need more cops.”

Humphrey has received four donations totaling $649 from entities associated with the Sandpiper Motel, Travelodge, Alibaba Motel and New Harbor Inn. Foley has received nearly $700 from the Sandpiper and New Harbor.

The Sandpiper and Alibaba have been among the motel properties targeted by city code enforcement for alleged health and safety violations.

Humphrey said what he received from motel operators is quite small in comparison to Righeimer’s out-of-town developer donors, who have given him tens of thousands of dollars.

“They’re the ones with excess money,” Humphrey said, adding motel owners “would like to have someone who treats them with understanding, that they’re someone who deserves to be heard.”

Foley noted that her $100 donor from the New Harbor Inn, Jack Chen, is also a physician and longtime Costa Mesa resident.

“Is there something wrong with people who live in our community, are long invested in Costa Mesa contributing?” she asked. “I don’t think so.”

Candidate Tony Capitelli, a congressional aide, has raised about $20,000 since beginning his campaign last year. Many of his donations are from family members, including his father-in-law, Newport Beach Councilman Keith Curry.

Curry is also running for state Assembly.

Capitelli said his fundraising efforts are quiet now because he and his wife are caring for their newborn son, Anthony Jr., who has born about two weeks ago.

Candidate Christopher Bunyan, a sports agent and hair stylist, said he has raised about $12,000 and is trying to resourceful with his money. On Tuesday, he did a campaign run through about 13 miles of city streets.

Candidates Al Melone, a certified public accountant, and Rita Simpson, a retired AAA consultant, have said they are not actively fundraising.

Simpson, though, said she is continuing to support the city charter measure, Measure O.

“It’s still about personal contact,” she said. “That’s been the most effective thing.”