Petaluma candidates get a jump on 2014 election

While Election Day still appears as a tiny dot on the horizon, fundraising continues in Petaluma for the November 2014 campaign.

Three council spots and the separately elected mayor's seat will be on the Nov. 4, 2014, ballot.

The mayor's race has two candidates so far: current Mayor David Glass and three-time Councilman Mike Harris.

Two candidates have filed papers of intent for the council seats: Councilman Chris Albertson, who filed his paperwork late last month seeking a second term, and Pam Torliatt, a former councilwoman and mayor.

Campaign finance reports detailing fundraising through June show Harris has collected – by far – the most money to carry his campaign through the next 15 months. The reports were made public last week.

During the first six months of the year, Harris, who was first elected to the council 2002, raised $8,475 in cash and reported $3,450 in nonmonetary contributions – all of which was campaign expenses Harris paid for out-of-pocket.

Including a balance leftover from last reporting period, Harris had $19,150 in the bank with no outstanding campaign debts.

Glass and Torliatt each reported raising $550 from January through June. Their lists of donors were nearly identical, reflecting a similar pattern from joint fundraisers they held last year during which many of the same people donated equal amounts to both campaigns.

Glass reported having $8,057 cash on hand, which includes $8,200 from last filing period and a $5,000 personal loan.

He was elected mayor in 2002, and in 2008 ran successfully for a seat on the council. In 2010, in the middle of his council term, he was elected again as mayor.

Torliatt, who served 10 years on the council and one term as mayor, carried over $4,400 from last year and reported $4,765 in the bank with no debts.

Torliatt seeks a return to elected office having been out of the limelight since 2010, when she ran for county supervisor.

Albertson, the city's former fire chief, was elected to his first term in 2010. He filed his election papers after the fundraising reporting period closed.

In July, Harris announced he would run for mayor instead of the council. He said he intends to transfer all of the contributions to his mayoral campaign soon.

Campaign laws allow such a transfer, but require a candidate to attribute each donor and the amounts given in the new campaign account. Both accounts have the same maximum donation limit of $200 per person.

Teresa Barrett's council term also expires next year. She has not filed reelection papers.

You can reach Staff Writer Lori A. Carter at 762-7297 or lori.carter@pressdemocrat.com