By Daniel Larios
Staff Writer

October 23, 2014 – Independent expenditure committees for grassroots groups have record amounts of money to spend this year, thanks in large part to contributions from candidates they endorse and their families.

Three Santa Monica grassroots PACs – Community for Excellent Public Schools CEPS), Santa Monica Democratic Club and Santa Monica Coalition for a Livable City (SMCLC) -- have raised a combined total of $123,500 this year, nearly double the $69,168 raised in the last two elections combined.

Of that amount, candidates and their family members have contributed a total of $32,100, compared to a total of $2,500 in 2010 and 2012, according to campaign finance statements.

The increased spending is due in large part to a hotly contested council election, well-heeled candidates willing to spend their own money and the rising cost of political campaigns, according to political observers.

“The cost of campaigning is more expensive,” campaign consultant Sharon Gilpin told the Lookout.  “The cost of mail postage and services has increased.  The added amount that people spend on media, both social and old school, has increased. 

“Also, there are a lot of voters in Santa Monica as well, which means there is a lot more people to reach,” Gilpin said. “There’s more money in politics than there’s ever been. The stakes in the city is high and people feel that.”

That does not include the $21,900 candidates and their family members contributed to Santa Monicans for Renters’ Rights (SMRR), which usually relies on small donations from it thousands of members.

Combined, the four major Santa Monica groups have received a total of $54,000 in contributions from candidates and their family members, more than ten times the amount contributed in the last two elections combined -- $4,000 in 2012 and $1,000 in 2010.

Gilpin says that candidates donating to groups that have endorsed their campaign is normal political practice.

“It’s logical that people who are endorsed are more than likely to make donations,” she told the Lookout. “It’s purely a matter of people asking for the money. 

“Candidates who are new to the process are more reticent to ask for money, while political veterans are more likely to ask for donations,” she said.

The top donations made by candidates, their campaign committees and/or their family members this year came from city council candidate Sue Himmelrich ($21,100), Santa Monica College Board candidate Louise Jaffe ($8,500), State Senate candidate Ben Allen ($7,500), School Board candidate Craig Foster ($5,000) and County Supervisor candidate Sheila Kuehl ($4,500).

Himmelrich’s husband, Housing Commissioner Michael Soloff, contributed $10,000 to both the Santa Monica Democratic Club and SMRR, both of which endorsed Himmelrich for city council.
 
“As I have stated many times, I believe that Santa Monica is at a tipping point and I am committed to do whatever it takes to bring it back from the brink,” Himmelrich told the Lookout. 

“So I am proud to help the local organizations and candidates…who are fighting for the same vision of Santa Monica as I am fighting so hard for in this election,” Himmelrich said. “This is consistent with what my husband and I have done for the last 26 years.”

Himmelrich herself has donated $1,000 to SMRR and $100 to CEPS, before either group made their endorsements.  CEPS has endorsed incumbent Pam O’Connor and former Lookout columnist Frank Gruber.

“We have always donated to causes we believe in, whether it be political candidates or the Democratic party, (or) charitable organizations” she added.  “We believe that this is what money is for and have been giving accordingly for over 26 years.

“Michael drives a 2008 CNG Civic and I drive a 2013 Chevy Volt,” Himmelrich said. “We have lived in our house since 1992. This is how we spend our money.”

SMC Board candidate Louise Jaffe and her campaign committee, “Re-elect Louise Jaffe for College Board 2014,” have contributed $2,000 to SMRR, $1,500 to the Santa Monica Democratic Club and $5,000 to CEPS.  All three groups have endorsed Jaffe’s bid for reelection.

School board member and state senate candidate Ben Allen and his campaign committee, “Ben Allen for Senate,” have donated $3,000 to SMRR, $1,500 to the Santa Monica Democratic Club and $3,000 to the Santa Monica Police Union.  All three groups are backing Allen in his race against activist and attorney Sandra Fluke.
 
Malibu resident and school board candidate Craig Foster’s campaign committee donated $5,000 to CEPS, which gave him their endorsement last month.

Former state legislator an! d County Supervisor candidate Sheila Kuehl’s campaign committee gave $3,000 to SMRR and $1,500 to the Democratic Club, with both groups backing her.

Other candidate contributions include $500 to SMRR from City Council candidate Jennifer Kennedy, $400 to SMRR from School Board candidate Ralph Mechur, $1,000 to SMRR from SMC board candidate Andrew Walzer, and $1,000 to both SMRR and CEPS from the campaign committee of School board candidate Richard Tahvildaran-Jesswein.

Both campaign committees “Re-elect Laurie Lieberman for School Board 2014,” and “Nancy Greenstein for Santa Monica Community College Board 2014”  made $1,000 donations to the Democratic Club from and “Ted Lieu for Congress” contributed $1,500 to the Democratic Club.