Money race heats up for Assembly seat

Santa Rosa Councilwoman Erin Carlstrom raised more money this reporting period than any other candidate seeking the 10th Assembly District seat, pulling in more than $100,000 in less than three months, campaign finance records show.

But Assemblyman Marc Levine maintained his formidable fundraising advantage, with $422,239 on hand as of March 17. The San Rafael Democrat reported raising $61,538 since Jan. 1.

Carlstrom and Levine are squaring off against Marin college trustee Diana Conti, former Santa Rosa councilwoman Veronica Jacobi and lone Republican Party candidate Gregory Allen, who lives in Novato and owns an employment staffing firm. The prize is an Assembly seat spanning Santa Rosa south of College Avenue, Petaluma and Marin County.

Carlstrom on Tuesday said her fundraising "means people are shifting away from the incumbent and lining up to support me."

Levine, however, said he has "more than enough (money) to communicate my success in Sacramento."

David McCuan, a political scientist at Sonoma State University, said Levine is in a "strong position" heading into the June primary, in which the top-two vote-getters, regardless of political party, advance to November's general election.

McCuan said Levine "knows he has to raise a lot of money because he knows labor (groups) will come after him."

Levine was a self-styled political outsider who relied on backing from business and agricultural interests to unseat Assemblyman Michael Allen, a former labor leader, in 2012.

Levine raised $325,660 during the last six months of 2013 and had $429,238 in cash available at the end of the year, records show.

He raised $61,538 this reporting period and spent $68,538, leaving him with an ending cash balance of $422,239.

Of Levine's 116 cash contributors, 72 were individuals who reported residency in Sonoma or Marin counties.

Levine's biggest contributors included political committees tied to California's real estate and medical professions, which combined donated $14,700 to Levine's campaign this reporting period. That included a maximum $8,200 donation from the California Real Estate PAC, records show.

Levine's other large contributors included the Northern California Carpenters Regional Council ($2,500); the Pechanga Band of Luise? Indians ($2,000); and the California Pawnbrokers Association ($1,000).

Levine touted what he described as his "very independent voting record" when he was asked whether the special interest money is at odds with his message of being a political reformer in Sacramento.

Levine's campaign this week released results of a poll that appears to show him well ahead of the other candidates in the race.

The poll, conducted by Global Strategy Group among 400 likely voters in Sonoma and Marin counties, found 39 percent supported Levine and 4 to 5 percent backing the other Democrats in the field. Allen, the Republican Party entrant, garnered 9 percent.

Carlstrom, who entered the Assembly race in January after she dropped out of the race for the Senate seat held by Noreen Evans, raised $101,815 through March 17. That included a $1,000 loan she made to her campaign but did not include $2,447 in non-monetary contributions, records show.

Carlstrom spent $31,903, leaving her with a cash balance of $69,912.

Carlstrom, an attorney, described herself as a "pro-labor, pro-environment business owner."

"That's why I was asked to run for this race, because I have clear views on the environment and labor, but I also communicate and work with the business community," she said.

Records show that nearly half of Carlstrom's total contributions - $43,700 - came from sources with ties to Santa Rosa developer Bill Gallaher and The Ratto Group, which dominates the garbage business in Sonoma County.

Gallaher is owner of Oakmont Senior Living, a founder of First Community Bank and developer of Varenna and the Fountaingrove Lodge.

Records show that Gallaher, employees of his various companies and family members contributed $28,700 to Carlstrom's campaign. That included a $4,100 donation from Will Gallaher, whose occupation was listed as "student."

Several members of the Ratto family, as well as Stephen McCaffrey, director of Ratto's North Bay Corporation, collectively ponied up $15,000 to support Carlstrom, records show.

"What you're seeing is that they recognize that my values are more in line with this district, than the incumbent's are," Carlstrom said.

McCuan, however, said Carlstrom's fundraising makes her look "every bit the Chamber of Commerce Democrat that Marc Levine is."

Carlstrom's other large donors included the California Nurses Association and United Food and Commercial Workers Western States Council, which each put in $8,200. The California Conference Board Amalgamated Transit Union and California Teamsters Public Affairs Council each contributed $4,100.

Records show other candidates for the 10th Assembly District seat lagging well behind in the fundraising race.

Diana Conti, who serves on the College of Marin Board of Trustees, loaned her campaign $47,500, bringing her total for the period to $86,515. She spent $26,128, leaving her with an ending cash balance of $60,387, records show.

Conti's largest contributors included Local 1021 of the Service Employees International Union, which put in $8,200, and Gloria Conti, who contributed $4,100.

Allen raised $6,769 and spent $3,188, leaving him with a cash balance of $3,582.

Former Santa Rosa city councilwoman Veronica Jacobi did not report raising any campaign money this period.

You can reach Staff Writer Derek Moore at 521-5336 or derek.moore@pressdemocrat.com. On Twitter @deadlinederek.