Campaign cash flows faster out than in

Alicia Robinson

As candidates enter the homestretch for the March 2 primary,

campaigns are starting to bleed money.

The leading fundraisers in the Republican races for the 35th State

Senate District and 68th and 70th Assembly districts all spent more

than they raised in the last month.

Thursday was the deadline to file the last pre-primary campaign

finance reports, which cover funds raised and spent between Jan. 18

and Feb. 14.

In the 70th Assembly District race, Cristi Cristich reported

raising nearly $169,000 and spending almost $288,000 during the

period, leaving her with a little less than $230,000 in cash.

“Everything’s on the schedule where we thought we’d be, and

[Cristich] has a big fundraiser coming up this weekend,” Cristich

campaign manager Dave Gilliard said. Voters can expect to see more

mailers and TV ads from the campaign, he said.

Cristich’s nearest opponent in terms of campaign funding has been

Chuck DeVore, who reported contributions of $34,000 and expenditures

of a little more than $185,000 in the same period. DeVore was left

with about $151,000 in his coffers.

DeVore said he’s unconcerned about Cristich’s war chest. He has

already surpassed an earlier goal of raising $400,000 for his

campaign.

“I’m feeling great,” DeVore said. “We have sufficient funds to

complete our mailing plan. We have only a modest amount left to raise

in our effort to be able to communicate with the voters that we want

to reach.”

Also in the 70th Assembly District race is Don Wagner, whose

report showed he raised nearly $5,000 and spent almost $20,000 during

the last reporting period, ending it with a little less than $29,000

in campaign cash.

Republican candidates for the 68th Assembly District seat

continued the pattern of spending more than they took in. Van Tran

reported raising nearly $13,000 and spending close to $40,000, ending

the period with $180,000.

Mark Leyes, Tran’s only opponent in the primary, reported

contributions of almost $11,000 and expenditures of $91,000 for the

period. Leyes closed the period with $71,000 in his war chest.

In the race for the 35th State Senate District seat, 70th District

Assemblyman John Campbell’s spending reached nearly $366,000, more

than double the $147,000 that he raised in the reporting period. He

reported $207,000 in cash for the period’s end.

His opponent, 68th District Assemblyman Ken Maddox, reported

expenditures of $220,000 and contributions of $57,000 for the period

covered in the report. Maddox ended the period with $122,000.

Other GOP candidates in the 35th State Senate District and the

70th Assembly District races did not file reports electronically with

the secretary of State’s office.

* ALICIA ROBINSON covers business, politics and the environment.

She may be reached at (949) 764-4330 or by e-mail at

[email protected].