Bail takes spending to new level

Tuesday, October 26, 2004 By Susan Fuller, Alameda Journal

Council hopeful Pat Bail, with a war chest approaching $90,000 -- nearly all of it her own money -- is outspending her rivals by at least eight times over.

With two crucial weeks between the reporting deadline and election day, Bail has also smashed total spending records set by the top spenders of the past two mayoral races -- late Mayor Ralph Appezzato, who spent $15,000 in 1998, and Mayor Beverly Johnson, whose 2002 campaign raised $36,000 and benefited from $12,000 spent by others on her behalf. Bail has spent $87,000 to date.

Bail's treasury consists of an $85,000 loan to the campaign from herself and her husband, a financial advisor, and $4,000 in contributions -- the second lowest amount raised reported by candidates.

The other candidates and their total treasuries are Councilwoman Marie Gilmore, $15,600; Doug deHaan, $14,600; Marilyn Ezzy Ashcraft, $10,200, including a late contribution of $1,500 from Oakland City Attorney John Russo; and Ruben Tilos, $4,300. Candidates who made loans to their campaigns are Gilmore ($4,700), deHaan ($5,000) and Tilos ($500).

Candidates who spend more than $1,000 on their campaigns are required to report their finances periodically.

Bail is also taking campaign advertising to a new level on the Island, having paid $9,500 to produce and broadcast an ad on Comcast Cable. Candidates in past elections advertised exclusively in local newspapers, mailers and slate cards -- the fliers that voters receive encouraging support for a list of candidates for a range of offices.

Bail is also spending money on the traditional media. In the latest reporting period, between Oct. 1 and 16, she spent $43,000 on printing, $4,700 to place her name on eight slate cards and $4,719 on local newspaper ads, including $2,800 to the Alameda Journal.

The other candidates and their largest contributors are:

• Gilmore, $500 from state Sen. Don Perata, $500 from bike advocates Dan Wood and Lucy Gigli and $250 from several individuals,
• DeHaan, $100 from an individual,
• Ezzy Ashcraft, $1,000 from Operating Engineers Local 3, $750 from an individual and $500 from Perata,
• Tilos reported no contributions this period.

Candidates' largest expenditures in the latest reporting period are:

• Gilmore spent $6,000 on printing.
• Ezzy Ashcraft spent $3,600 for printed materials, $850 to appear in a slate mailer and $677 to buy precinct lists.
• DeHaan reported spending $3,890 on newspaper ads, including $1,490 in the Journal, and $450 for listing on a slate card.
• Tilos reported spending $100 on an ad with Friends of Paden School.

Until election day, candidates have to report contributions and independent expenditures by others exceeding $1,000 within 24-hours.

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Last Modified: October 26, 2004

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