Labor, Democrats stoke council funds

<p>With nine days before Election Day, labor unions and local Democratic party groups, as well as business and building interests, continue to pour money into the campaigns of 10 of Santa Rosa's 15 City Council candidates.</p><p>The top fund-raiser is former labor leader Michael Allen, a district director for state Sen. Pat Wiggins, who added seven unions to his list of contributors, bringing the total number of labor groups that have donated to his campaign to 35.</p><p>Allen had received $60,213 in donations, according to his campaign spending report filed by a Thursday deadline.</p><p>Former councilwoman Marsha Vas Dupre and Santa Rosa Junior College neighborhood leader Gary Wysocky, who both also received support from labor, environmental and neighborhood groups, received $56,257 and $52,604, respectively.</p><p>In addition to labor support, all three received contributions from the Sonoma County Democratic Central Committee and the Progressive Democrats of Sonoma County.</p><p>Money from the two Democratic groups, along with some limited labor support, also went to Councilman Lee Pierce and neighborhood activist Judy Kennedy.</p><p>Pierce reported raising $23,305 while much of the $27,977 in Kennedy's campaign coffers comes from a $22,000 loan she made to her campaign.</p><p>The Team, a slate of five candidates running a joint campaign, were trailing in fund raising.</p><p>Incumbents Jane Bender and John Sawyer raised the most at $26,721, and $21,273, respectively.</p><p>They were followed by fellow Team members police Lt. Ernesto Olivares at $19,412, certified public accountant Bobbi Hoff at $19,363 and incumbent Carol Dean at $18,622.</p><p>All five received contributions from a host of business and building-related groups.</p><p>They include the North Bay Leadership Council, California Real Estate PAC, Mead Clark owner Kevin Destruel and EMS Management.</p><p>Olivares, Sawyer, Bender and Hoff also received contributions from the Sonoma County Alliance, a business group.</p><p>Other candidates trailed in their fund-raising efforts. They include restaurant owner Don Taylor, $12,528; Roseland School Board member David Rosas, $5,569, and winery bottle supplier Hans Dippel, $2,500.</p><p>Candidate Lawrence Wiesner said he's raised no money while Roseland business owner Eddie Alvarez said he is funding his own campaign with a $40,000 loan.</p><p>A last-minute update on contributions received through next Thursday is due at noon Friday.</p><p>You can reach Staff Writer Mike McCoy at 521-5276 or mike.mccoy@pressdemocrat.com.</p>