Long Beach election: Financial disclosures show candidates raised thousands

Long Beach’s crop of City Council candidates have filed their second round of campaign finance disclosures for the April 12 Primary Election.

Voters in the city’s 2nd, 6th and 8th council districts have competitive races this year.

The most recent filing period covers the time between Feb. 28 and March 26. Contributors shown below donated money during that period, but dollar figures shown are total contributions for the current election cycle.

2nd District Race

Three candidates are ruing for the seat currently held by outgoing Councilwoman Suja Lowenthal. The candidates are Gaica Interiors owner Joen Gaica, ITO Solutions owner Eric Gray and Los Angeles Alliance for a New Economy policy director Jeaine Pearce.

The district’s territory includes the Port of Long Beach, the Ocean Boulevard Corridor, the East Village Arts District and neighborhoods as far east as Redondo Avenue.

• Gaica collected nearly $2,300 during the filing period, bringing her total for the calendar year to about $11,400.

Her campaign spent nearly $33,700 during the past few weeks, and has spent about $35,500 since the begiing of the year.

Contributors include Califoia Real Estate PAC ($400); Long Beach Area Chamber of Commerce PAC ($400); Lola’s Mexican Cuisine owner Luis Navarro ($200); Inteational Realty & Investments director Ivy Goolsby ($200), P2S Engineering business development manager and Future Ports president Jesse Urquidi ($200).

• Gray raised about $10,200 during the filing period and his campaign has collected nearly $24,800 this year through March 26. He spent nearly $23,300 during the filing period, brining his campaign’s spending for Jan. 1 through March 26 to nearly $51,100.

He had nearly $12,100 in cash to spend as of March 26.

Contributors included Total Transportation Services, Inc. Chief Executive Vic La Rosa ($400); MVP’s Grill and Patio Original, LLC ($400); Sheet Metal Workers Inteational Association Local 105 Political Education Fund ($400); Long Beach Museum of Art Executive Director Ron Nelson ($400) and Assemblyman Patrick O’Doell, D-Long Beach ($400).

• Pearce collected nearly $10,800 during the filing period and she has obtained contributions of nearly $19,400 during the calendar year. Her campaign spent nearly $29,000 during the filing period, spending more than $59,200 on the election this year. She had about $17,200 to spend as of March 26.

Contributors included Maria Durazo, vice president of Unite Here Inteational Union ($400TK); Stephanie Graves, chief executive of public affairs firm Lee Andrews Group ($400); Long Beach Association of Engineering Employees PAC ($400); Jonathan Parfrey, administrator of environmental nonprofit Climate Resolve ($400) and former City Councilwoman Tonia Reyes-Uranga ($235).

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6th District Race

Incumbent councilman Dee Andrews is seeking a third term as a write-in candidate. The three candidates challenging his reelection bid are Robert Harmon, owner of medical device company Harmony Medical – Swanzus, Operation Jump Start community relations director Erik Miller and Pinata Fiesta Party Supply & Rentals partner Josephine Villasenor.

• Andrews collected about $12,400 during the filing period and raised roughly $20,000 through March 26.

His campaign spent nearly $20,400 during the filing period and has spent nearly $49,000 through March 26.

He had nearly $11,200 to spend on the election as of March 26.

Contributors include JetBlue Airways Corp. Good Govement Fund ($400); Long Beach Area Chamber of Commerce PAC ($400); Molina Healthcare Chief Executive Mario Molina ($400); Assemblyman Mike Gipson, D-Carson ($400), Grand Prix Association of Long Beach ($400) and Long Beach Yellow Cab Cooperative, Inc. ($400).

• Harmon has reported no contributions nor expenditures for his campaign.

• Miller collected about $3,300 during the filing period. From the Jan. 1 through March 26, he raised nearly $7,200.

His campaign spent $2,900 during the filing period, bringing his total spending through March 26 to nearly $4,000.

Miller had about $3,200 to spend at the end of the filing period.

Contributors included Verria Kelly, chief operations officer of American Homeowner Preservation ($100); Operation Jump Start executive director Irene Quevedo ($100); Ricoh USA managed services specialist John Heidelman ($400); Glasco Construction owner Rhodell Glasco ($100) and Verizon manager Desiree Neal ($100).

• Villasenor has filed paperwork reporting plans to raise less than $2,000 for the race, which means she is not required to file itemized campaign finance reports.

8th District Race

The 8th District race is a three-way contest in which incumbent Al Austin is pursuing a second term with competition from Cal State Long Beach business manager Laurie Angel and EME Inc. Chief Executive Wesley Tubow.

• Angel raised roughly $8,800 during the filing period and has collected about $16,300 from the begiing of the year through March 26. Her campaign spent about $4,900 during the fling period, which added to spending from earlier this year totals to about $8,800,

She had about $7,500 in ready money as of March 26.

Contributors include Music Express vice president of sales Maureen Ashley ($200); De La Torre Properties ($100); Long Beach city information technology manager Robert Gill ($200), Long Beach Taxpayers Association co-founder Tom StoutTK ($200) and several others, including retired individuals.

• Austin collected roughly $19,000 during the filing period and his campaign has raised nearly $24,800 this calendar year.

His campaign spent about $10,000 during the filing period, with 2016 spending totaling to nearly $23,800. He had about $14,800 on hand at the close of the filing period.

Contributors included All Cities Employees Association Local 3090 AFSCME/AFL-CIO Political Action Committee ($400); Pacific Marine Shipping Association vice president Carl Kemp ($400); Long Beach Association of Engineering Employees PAC ($400); Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon, D-Paramount; Califoia Real Estate Political Action Committee ($400); Long Beach Police Officers Association Political Action Committee ($400).

• Tubow raised nearly $4,100 during the filing period and has collected nearly $34,300 through March 26.

His campaign spent about $16,300 during the filing period and has spent about $24,200 through March 26.

Tubow’s campaign had nearly $10,100 at the close of the filing period.

Contributors include former Long Beach Councilman Gary DeLong ($350); Ensenta Corporation vice president James Ballagh ($400); TransAmerican Auto Parts engineer Ted Moncure ($400); The Tutoring Center President Edward Thalheimer ($400) and Keith Carlson and Jehan Jayakumar, partners in the law firm of Carlson & Jayakumar ($400 each).