As Stockton voters head to the polls today, campaign finance reports show candidates in three City Council races have raised and spent thousands of dollars, though a lack of current campaign finance filings limits direct comparisons among the six candidates.
District 1 incumbent Michele Padilla, challenger Tamica Small and District 3 incumbent Michael Blower filed reports covering Sept. 20 through Oct. 17. District 5 incumbent Brando Villapudua’s latest available filing covers May 17 through June 30, while challenger Desiree Lynch filed a termination statement covering Oct. 18 through Oct. 25.
No campaign finance report for District 3 challenger Jessica Toccoli was available in the filing system as of the reporting deadline.
Under the California Fair Political Practices Commission’s filing schedule, campaign committees for candidates on the Nov. 3 ballot were required to file a Form 460 pre-election financial statement by Oct. 22, covering contributions and expenditures from Sept. 20 through Oct. 17. A previous Form 460 statement, covering July 1 through Sept. 19, was due Sept. 24.
Candidates who raise or spend less than $2,000 and do not have an open campaign committee may qualify to file a Form 470 instead of a Form 460, according to the FPPC’s filing guidelines.
District 1
Padilla’s campaign reported $31,750 in contributions and $29,048 in expenditures for the calendar year through Oct. 17.
Expenses included campaign materials, printing, filing fees and civic donations. Among the payments were $1,750 to Family Promise of San Joaquin County, $400 to the San Joaquin County Deputy Sheriffs Association and $1,340 in candidate filing fees.
From Sept. 20 through Oct. 17, the campaign received $8,350 in contributions and reported $11,444 in expenditures. It ended the period with $3,335 in cash on hand.
Small’s campaign reported $50,611 in contributions and $69,871 in expenditures for the calendar year through Oct. 17.
From Sept. 20 through Oct. 17, Small’s campaign received $23,012 in contributions and reported $33,449 in expenditures. Spending included $4,501 paid to Addressers for campaign literature and mailings and $2,623 paid to Riparian Research for voter data files and calls.
Small’s campaign reported $8,077 in payments to Hollywood Unlocked during the Sept. 20 through Oct. 17 reporting period for campaign consulting, literature, photography and graphic design reimbursements. The company is owned by her brother, Jason Lee, who represents District 6 on the Stockton City Council.
Small’s campaign reported $4,262 in nonmonetary contributions and $20,458 in accrued expenses, or unpaid bills. It ended the period with $1,198 in cash on hand and $20,458 in outstanding debt.
Small reported $18,861 more in contributions and $40,823 more in expenditures than Padilla for the calendar year through Oct. 17. Small also reported $2,137 less in cash on hand and $20,458 in outstanding debt, while Padilla reported no outstanding debt.
District 3
Blower’s campaign reported $90,508 in contributions and $111,727 in expenditures for the calendar year through Oct. 17.
During the Sept. 20 through Oct. 17 reporting period, Blower’s campaign reported $9,660 in expenditures, including $8,263 in payments to Reid & Associates for campaign consulting, workers’ salaries, campaign literature, office expenses, campaign paraphernalia and fundraising events.
The campaign reported $33,200 in cash on hand at the end of the reporting period and no outstanding debts. From Sept. 20 through Oct. 17, it received $14,150 in contributions, including $250 in nonmonetary contributions.
For the calendar year through Oct. 17, Blower’s campaign reported $21,219 more in expenditures than contributions.
No Form 460 or Form 470 for Toccoli’s campaign could be found in the city’s online campaign filing system as of publication.
District 5
Villapudua’s latest available campaign finance statement, filed Aug. 4, covers May 17 through June 30.
From May 17 through June 30, the campaign reported $30,371 in contributions and $30,601 in expenditures, with $8,931 in cash on hand at the end of the reporting period.
The campaign reported $12,677 in payments to committee treasurer Xochitl Paderes during the reporting period, including $7,677 for campaign paraphernalia, $3,500 for campaign literature and mailings, and $1,500 for campaign consultants.
Because Villapudua’s filing predates the more recent reports submitted by other candidates, it does not show his fundraising or spending during the final months of the campaign.
Lynch’s campaign filed a termination statement covering Oct. 18 through Oct. 25.
The report listed $1,873 in contributions and $2,089 in expenditures for the calendar year. It showed one cent in cash on hand and no outstanding debts.