LAKEPORT, Calif. – While the race for the District 4 supervisorial seat is one of the most hotly contested of this year so far, a review of the latest campaign financial filings shows that the amount of money raised puts it in the middle of the pack when compared to other races.
The five-person race for the District 4 seat includes Ted Mandrones, a former Lakeport City Council member and president of the Lake County Chamber of Commerce Board; Finley farmer Phil Murphy; local businessman Ron Rose; Lakeport City Councilman Martin Scheel; and Lakeport Unified School District Board member Tina Scott.
The race culminates in the June 7 presidential primary.
Candidates in all of the races were required to file their latest pre-election financial reports – covering the period from April 24 through May 21 – by May 26, the Registrar of Voters Office reported.
Lake County News obtained the documents earlier this week. Based on an analysis of the documents, it's estimated that, in the race so far, just under $30,000 has been raised, less than half of that raised by the four candidates in the District 1 supervisorial race, as Lake County News has reported.
Because one of the candidates does not have a firm estimate of funds, that $30,000 estimate could be high by several hundred dollars.
The independent calculation does not directly mirror the final numbers given in the campaign documents, which were found to include minor accounting discrepancies.
To date, the candidate with the largest war chest is Scott, whose total is $12,699. Mandrones has raised $9,603.09, with Scheel raising $6,620, based on the filings.
Murphy and Rose filed paperwork declaring that they will raise less than $2,000 each.
Contacted for more detail, Murphy said he has taken no campaign contributions. “I've taken no money from anyone, and sent back the checks people mailed me.”
He said he has “well under $1,000” for his campaign. Of that, $511 went to pay for the ballot statement, and he offset the overall filing fees by getting hundreds of signatures.
Murphy said he put about $35 total into campaign materials – paint, brushes and Web site domain name – and all of his campaign signs are made from debris that he and his girlfriend picked up from the roadside, which he suggested makes him the most frugal and environmentally minded candidate.
Rose told Lake County News that he has only taken one campaign contribution of $100 and is covering the rest of the expenses himself.
An in-depth analysis of the financials showed that most of Scott's contributions came from her husband, Doug.
Overall, Doug Scott has contributed $11,000 to his wife's campaign, making him the largest single contributor of any of the supervisorial races so far this year.
Scott took in another $1,500 from Supervisor Anthony Farrington, who currently holds the District 4 seat but has chosen not to seek reelection, and $100 from Bob Bridges, a retired county counsel. She also received an additional $99 in non itemized cash contributions.
When asked about the contributions from her husband, Scott said, “I have not done any fundraisers because of the fact that I'm planning on giving 20 percent of my income back to nonprofits.”
She says she believes it's necessary for her family to donate the money for the race.
Asked how she would decide which organizations she would donate to if elected, Scott said she hasn't yet figured that out, but that the emphasis would be on organizations that offer support to youth and seniors.
Farrington is the second-largest contributor in the race for the District 4 seat. In addition to the funds his election committee gave Scott, he is the largest contributor to the Mandrones campaign, which received $2,000 from him, bringing Farrington's total contributions to $3,500.
Scheel's top contributor is the California Real Estate Political Action Committee, based in Los Angeles, which gave him $750, with a number of smaller donations coming from local business owners.
Loans also are playing a role in the campaign financing for District 4, with Mandrones loaning himself $3,500 and Scheel loaning his campaign $2,900. Murphy, Rose and Scott have not reported making loans to their campaigns.
Contributions go beyond finances
Beyond the purely monetary aspects of the District 4 race, there have been contributions of another sort, in the form of allegations brought by Farrington against Scheel and by Board of Supervisors Chair Rob Brown against Mandrones.
Farrington has led the attack on Scheel, raising issue with a sunken crane that had belonged to Scheel and which went into the lake in the Clearlake area in November 2010 during a contracting job, as Lake County News has reported.
Scheel was unable to remove the crane on his own, and his business closed not long afterward. He signed over the crane to the county, which paid $59,000 to remove it. The county also scrapped it, recovering $4,000, according to Board of Supervisors Chair Rob Brown.
Both Scheel and Brown have maintained that Scheel had asked the county for a bill repeatedly but hadn't received one. In April Scheel and the county reached a formal payment agreement, which is expected to come to the Board of Supervisors later this month, Brown said.
After the crane went into the lake, Farrington did not initially show any animosity toward Scheel, to whose 2012 Lakeport City Council campaign Farrington donated $100.
Scheel said the two men had been friendly and had tried to work out an arrangement over the thorny issue of the South Main Street corridor, which the city of Lakeport eventually wants to annex. County government has been resistant since it's the most lucrative commercial area for sales tax in the county, and Farrington's interactions with the city of Lakeport had become increasingly sour on the topic.
Scheel said he and Farrington were still talking and socializing up until late last year, shortly before Scheel announced his plans to run in December. They had sat down together over beers and discussed the upcoming election, with Scheel telling Farrington he was thinking of running, but Farrington not committing either way.
Scheel said Farrington didn't raise any issues with his potential candidacy at that point, so he has no idea what led to Farrington attacking him weeks later, although he said it's possible it may have gone back to the annexation issue.
Farrington subsequently circulated to the media a dossier that included Lake County News' original reporting on the sunken crane and records of several thousand dollars in Internal Revenue Service liens, which Scheel said he has been paying down for years, and which is less than the total filed with the county.
The dossier also included a 2009 drunk driving arrest for Scheel in Mendocino County and a 1990 case in which he pleaded no contest to misdemeanor grand theft in Sacramento County.
Scheel explained that, while a 21-year-old college student, he worked for the state Controller's Office in planning and facilities management. Two of his co-workers, who did computer and networking for the agency, submitted their timecards in such a way that it bypassed the normal payroll process and the three received paychecks at a time when other state employees were only getting IOUs.
It was a stupid thing to do, Scheel said, adding that they thought they were “rebels,” since state legislators themselves were still getting paid.
He doesn't recall how much he was paid, but said it was over $400, thus the misdemeanor grand theft charge. Scheel said he pleaded no contest and paid everything back.
He added that none of his past has been a secret, and he had told the story to friends over the years.
Farrington told Lake County News that he is endorsing both Mandrones and Scott, whose signs are featured on his Lakeport law office.
Brown has maintained his support of Scheel and also has waded into the fray in response to a campaign flier circulated by Mandrones that focused on the crane issue and which Brown said took statements he made at a 2011 board meeting about the crane out of context.
In a letter to Lake County News (“Brown: Lyin' Ted,” May 24, www.bit.ly/1Pt08oq ), Brown faulted Mandrones' work at the county's Valley fire donations center and as manager of the former Piedmont Lumber store in Lakeport. The company closed down and the Lakeport store was purchased by Mendo Mill.
Brown also questioned why Mandrones continues to include in his campaign team an individual facing prosecution for forcible rape.
Brown was referring to Rick Hamilton, a local sign business owner who sits on the Lake County Chamber of Commerce Board with Mandrones.
Hamilton was arrested in October for attempted rape, stalking and sexual battery, as Lake County News has reported: www.bit.ly/1GZNUKv . Charges against him now also include forcible rape. He was to have gone to preliminary hearing in the middle of May, but the hearing has been held over to July 7.
Court records show Hamilton also previously stood trial for rape in Sacramento, but two mistrials resulted in the case being dropped.
Mandrones has confirmed to Lake County News that Hamilton is a part of his campaign; Hamilton has claimed to be managing Mandrones' campaign on social media.
Endorsements for the candidates
Despite Farrington's attack on Scheel, Scheel has racked up a list of endorsements from Brown; Congressman Mike Thompson; Assemblyman Bill Dodd; Supervisor Jim Comstock; Tom Engstrom, Lakeport's retired police chief and a former city councilman; and Lakeport City Councilwoman Stacey Mattina; and the Lake County Deputy Sheriff's Association.
Mandrones' endorsers include Farrington, District Attorney Don Anderson; former Lakeport City Councilman Buzz Bruns and his wife, Jan; and a host of local business people, including Christian Ahlmann, Bill Brunetti, Bill Kearney, Tom Lincoln, John Tanti and Rick White, and former owners of Piedmont Lumber, Bill and Vicky Myer.
Scott counts Farrington and Lake County Assessor-Record Richard Ford as her key endorsers to date.
In the case of Murphy, he told Lake County News, “I have no endorsements, in the remote chance that I make the runoffs I know I can get some good ones but didn't want people to stick their necks out for me with such long odds.”
Another development for Murphy was the District Attorney's Office's decision last week to drop a marijuana case against him, as Lake County News has reported.
Authorities said Murphy had too much marijuana at his farm for personal use, but Murphy said it wasn't for his own use but for several people with legal medical recommendations. District Attorney Don Anderson said the case was dropped because he didn't think a jury would arrive at a guilty verdict.
Murphy said he hoped that the case being dropped would change some people's' minds about him and give him a boost in the election.
Rose told Lake County News that he has received no endorsements but hasn't pursued any.
As far as outreach to voters, Rose faulted the Lake County Chamber of Commerce for not sending him a questionnaire that had been sent to other candidates, with their responses published in the local newspaper. He said chamber Chief Executive Officer Melissa Fulton lives right down the street from him but made no attempt to contact him directly.
Rose said he believes the oversight is more a matter of Mandrones being the chamber board president.
For more information on the candidates, visit the following Web sites:
– Ted Mandrones: http://www.tedmandrones.com/ , https://www.facebook.com/Ted-Mandrones-1533848880241145/ ;
– Philip Murphy: http://murphy4district4.com/?tag=philip-murphy ;
– Ron Rose: While he has no Web site or email address, Rose invites people who want more information about his campaign to contact him directly at 707-349-6578, or call Kathleen Miller, who is assisting him on his campaign, at 707-841-7988.
– Martin Scheel: http://scheelfordistrict4supervisor.com/ , https://www.facebook.com/scheelforsupervisor/?fref=ts .
– Tina Scott: http://www.tina-scott-for-district-4-supervisor.com/home.html , https://www.facebook.com/Tina-Scott-for-District-4-Supervisor-Lake-County-2016-326875007436287/?fref=ts .
The next financial statement is due in August, according to the Registrar of Voters Office.
A summary of the candidates' finances to date is below.
TED MANDRONES
Contributions received
Total contributions received, year to date/overall: $9,603.09
Total contributions received for reporting period: $1,233.10
Monetary contributions, year to date: $5,319.99
Monetary contributions for reporting period: $450
Loans received, year to date: $3,500 (to self)
Loans received for reporting period: $0
Nonmonetary contributions, year to date: $783.10
Nonmonetary contributions for reporting period: $783.10
Expenditures made
Total expenditures made, year to date: $9,126.32
Total expenditures made for reporting period: $1,390.81
Payments made, year to date: $7,875.73
Payments made for reporting period: $140.22
Loans made, year to date: $0
Loans made for reporting period: $0
Current cash statement
Beginning cash balance: $634.48
Cash receipts: $450
Cash payments: $140.22
Ending cash balance: $944.25
Outstanding debts: $4,759.59
Top five monetary contributors, campaign to date
1. Committee to Elect Anthony Farrington, Kelseyville, $2,000
2. William and Victoria Myer, Kelseyville, retired, Piedmont Lumber Co., $1,120
3. Ruby Pritchard, retired, Vancouver, Wash., $1,000
4. (Tie for amount) Robert Schall, Lakeport, Tri Star Properties, $250; Scott Knickmeyer, president, Lake County Association of Realtors, Lakeport, $250
Top three expenses
1. Mailrite, Sacramento, brochure and postcard mail runs, $1,730.92
2. Lake County Registrar of Voters Office, Lakeport, voter pamphlet statement and filing fees, $1,357.11
3. Econoline Signs, print ads, $993.98
PHILIP MURPHY
Filed Form 470 stating less than $2,000 received. Murphy estimated to Lake County News that he has received well under $1,000, $511 of which went to the ballot statement. He said he put $35 total into campaign materials and got several hundred signatures to offset the filing costs.
RON ROSE
Filed Form 470 stating less than $2,000 received. Rose reported to Lake County News that he has received one check for $100 but has sought no other donations. He said expenditures for his campaign signs and associated costs have come out of his own pocket.
MARTIN SCHEEL
Contributions received
Total contributions received, year to date/overall: $6,620
Total contributions received for reporting period: $900
Monetary contributions, year to date: $3,720
Monetary contributions for reporting period: $900
Loans received, year to date: $2,900 (to self)
Loans received for reporting period: $0
Nonmonetary contributions, year to date: $0
Nonmonetary contributions for reporting period: $0
Expenditures made
Total expenditures made, year to date: $8,750.77
Total expenditures made for reporting period: $1,243.56
Payments made, year to date: $5,542.17
Payments made for reporting period: $2,144.06
Loans made, year to date: $0
Loans made for reporting period: $0
Current cash statement
Beginning cash balance: $2,271.89
Cash receipts: $900
Cash payments: $2,144.06
Ending cash balance: $1,027.83
Outstanding debts: $6,108.60
Top five monetary contributors, campaign to date
1. California Real Estate Political Action Committee, Los Angeles, $750
2. Alma Guillerno Lepe, Lakeport, owner/manager, Rancho de la Fuente, $320
3. (Tie for amount) Hansen Grocery Inc., Lakeport, $300; Donna Goff, Nipomo, retired, $300
4. (Tie for amount) John Tanti, Lakeport, property manager, AAA Boat and Mini Storage, $250; Kelly Butcher, Lakeport, owner/manager, Lake County Property Management, $250; Paul Onorato, Napa, senior staff member for Congressman Mike Thompson, $250; Laura Santarelli, Lakeport, real estate broker, ReMax Lake County Realty, $250
Top three expenses
1. Hareline Graphics, West Sacramento, information technology costs, $2,250
2. Lake County Registrar of Voters Office, Lakeport, campaign filing and research, $1,198.88
3. Accounting Champion, Lakeport, accounting services, $1,100
TINA SCOTT
Contributions received
Total contributions received, year to date/overall: $12,699
Total contributions received for reporting period: $1,500
Monetary contributions, year to date: $12,699
Monetary contributions for reporting period: $1,500
Loans received, year to date: $0
Loans received for reporting period: $0
Nonmonetary contributions for reporting period: $0
Expenditures made
Total expenditures made, year to date: $11,898.25
Total expenditures made for reporting period: $1,603.56
Payments made, year to date: $11,898.25
Payments made for reporting period: $1,603.56
Loans made, year to date: $0
Loans made for reporting period: $0
Current cash statement
Beginning cash balance: $805.31
Cash receipts: $1,500
Cash payments: $0
Ending cash balance: $701.66
Outstanding debts: $0
Top five monetary contributors, campaign to date
(Scott's filings include only three cash contributors)
1. Douglas Scott, Lakeport, electrical engineer, $11,000
2. Committee to Elect Anthony Farrington, Kelseyville $1,500
3. Robert Bridges, Lakeport, retired county counsel, $100
Top three expenses
1. Gotprint.com, Burbank, print ads, $4,889.84
2. Vista Print, Lexington, Mass., campaign paraphernalia/etc., $2,330.53
3. Lake County Registrar of Voters, Lakeport, voter registration info, $1,458.95
Email Elizabeth Larson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. . Follow her on Twitter, @ERLarson, or Lake County News, @LakeCoNews.