Rowley leads the Way in Campaign Donations

Carol Rowley holds a strong fund-raising lead in the race for mayor, with nearly $23,000 in her campaign coffers.

– a former San Ramon Valley Unified School District trustee – reported $11,508 in donations during that same period, from January to Aug. 1.

Rowley has two campaign accounts, one for her mayoral bid this year and an old one with leftover money from her run for City Council four years ago.

The two-term councilwoman has about $9,000 left in her old account and has raised nearly $22,796 this year, according to the latest campaign finance reports filed at the City Clerk's office.

On a side note, the City Council voted a few months ago on what amounts to a gentleman's agreement to cap campaign fund-raising at $42,368.

Former former city manager Herb Moniz donated $500 to Rowley's mayoral campaign fund. Moniz made news last year when a survey showed his $357,000 annual salary was one of the highest in the Bay Area. Rowley repeatedly defended it, saying the quality of leadership he provided was worth the price.

Rowley hasn't yet submitted her paperwork qualifying her as a candidate. The deadline to do that is Friday evening. The only people to file so far are Clarkson and Councilman Scott Perkins, who's running for what would be his third term in office.

Perkins celebrated his campaign launch Thursday night at . He didn't report raising any funds by Aug. 1.

after eight years this December. He's eyeing one of the other two City Council seats on the Nov. 8 ballot although he hasn't filed for candidacy yet.

The only person who ever opposed Wilson – former mayor Curt Kinney – actually picked up papers to run against him for council but quickly changed his mind after his wife talked him out of it.

Kinney ran unsuccessfully against Wilson in 2003. He had strong words for the current mayor, calling him a fake conservative for condoning Moniz's newsworthy salary.

"I would never agree to that," Kinney said. "I hope someone runs against him."

. O'Loane was on the city's Planning Commission until last year. He's a slow growth advocate and led the campaign against , a general plan update on the 2010 ballot that would have expanded the city's urban growth boundary more than 1,600 acres into the Tassajara Valley open space.

About the candidates

Carol Rowley: www.facebook.com/rowleycarol

www.billclarksonformayor.com

Scott Perkins: www.PerkinsForSanRamon.com

Phil O'Loane: sanramonwatch.wordpress.com/oloane

To reach reporter Jennifer Wadsworth, email jenniferw@patch.com or call 925-238-5742. Follow @SanRamonPatch on Twitter and Facebook.