Filings Show Funding Is Playing a Key Part in 2010 City Council Campaigns

• Some Candidates Loan Selves Big Bucks

BY BILL KOENEKER

The second pre-election filing period for campaign disclosure statements for city council candidates demonstrates that it has apparently gotten more expensive to seek office in Malibu.
Some candidates have beefed up their war chests with loans or contributions that have ballooned to nearly $40,000.
John Mazza, Mike Sidley. Harold Greene and Steve Scheinkman have loaned themselves thousands of more dollars and stepped up cash contributions to develop big war chests.
Mazza reported a total contribution tally from donors and loans at $37,690; Sidley reported a total of $34,624; Greene reported $32,971; Scheinkman reported a total of $29,136.
Mazza has loaned himself $20,000 over the last two months of the campaign. Sidley has also loaned himself a total of $20,000, while Scheinkman has committed a total of $13,386 during the same time frame.
Harold Greene indicated that he has loaned his campaign a total of $29,523.
Two candidates who support each other’s election, Laura Rosenthal and Lou La Monte, have continued to rely solely on cash contributions, totaling $20,328 and $24,868 respectively.
Spending has remained high for all of the candidates and even higher for a select few.
Mazza has reported spending $22,260 during his campaign with just days to go before Election Day on April 13.
Sidley reported expenditures of $22,592 during the last 60 days.
Scheinkman has spent $29,474 during his run for office.
Greene has reported spending $24,825 thus far.
Rosenthal has spent $14,442 while campaigning for a council seat, while La Monte reported his expenditures at $19,886.
Gillespie reported loaning himself less than a $1000 during the last 30 days and has spent $6598 during his campaign.
Kofi reported spending $2419 and listed a loan to himself of $5775.
Jan Swift did not report taking in any money nor spending any.
Matthew Katz’s filing forms were incomplete.