Politics & Government

Rowley, O'Loane Lead In Campaign Fundraising; Mayor Wilson's Statement Draws a Complaint

Complaint filed regarding missing information on H. Abram Wilson's campaign finance form.

Mayoral candidate Carol Rowley and City Council candidate Phil O'Loane have significant leads in campaign fundraising over their challengers in their Nov. 8 election contests, according to recent statements filed with the Fair Political Practices Commission.

However, the campaign finance statement that might be gathering the most attention is form, which only lists one contributor and no expenditures.

The sparse disclosure statement has prompted the campaign treasurer for a rival candidate to file a complaint with the state Fair Political Practices Commission.

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The campaign statements were filed with the FPPC late last month. They covered the period from July 1 to Sept. 24.

Rowley's mayoral campaign reported receiving $10,326 during that period. Her campaign has raised a total of $33,122.

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Rowley, who is on the City Council, listed $10,757 in expenses from July to September. Her campaign had spent a total of $14,135.

She began the campaign filing period with $19,408 in the bank and ended it with $18,986 on hand.

Her largest contributor is attorney James Vernon, who donated $1,000. He is the only contributor above $500.

Rowley's opponent, Bill Clarkson, reported $9,338 in contributions during the last filing period. Overall, his campaign had raised $20,846 as of late September.

Clarkson, a former member of the San Ramon Valley Unified School District board, listed $7,609 in recent expenses and $12,917 overall.

He began the filing period with $6,199 on hand and ended it with $8,443 in the bank.

His largest contributor is Fran State Property Management of Danville, which donated $1,000.

City Council Race

 reported $1,295 in contributions in his campaign for City Council. The only contributor listed was a group called Citizens for H. Abram Wilson.

The campaign listed no expenditures. It also reported no money on hand as of July 1 and $1,295 in the bank in late September.

Neither Wilson nor his campaign treasurer, Dennis Garrison, returned calls from Patch seeking an explanation on the campaign finance form.

However, Steve O'Brien, City Council candidate Phil O'Loane's campaign treasurer and the editor of the blog San Ramon Watch, is critical of Wilson's disclosure form.

O'Brien said he has filed a complaint with the FPPC over Wilson's campaign statement. He said the commission has given the mayor a deadline of today to file an amendment or explain the campaign disclosure form.

O'Brien is asking whether Wilson's campaign actually had no expenses from July 1 through Sept. 24. He said the campaign has a website that would require a domain name registration. In addition, there are campaign signs and a mailer sent to donors that would have generated some expenses.

However, O'Brien believes the omissions are due to sloppiness and not any attempt by Wilson's campaign to cover up anything.

"I think it's carelessness. He (Wilson) is not one to pay attention to details," said O'Brien.

In the council race, O'Loane leads in fundraising.

O'Loane, one of the leaders of the campaign last fall against Measure W, reported $18,258 in recent contributions and $18,908 overall.

His recent expenses were listed as $10,642 in this filing period and $10,658 overall.

O'Loane's campaign reported having no money in the bank as of July 1 and $8,265 in late September.

His largest contributor was Edward Lee, a retired San Ramon resident, who donated $5,150. In addition, San Ramon attorney Paul Minney donated $3,000 and Kevin L'Hommedieu, a self-employed San Ramon resident, gave $2,196.

Incumbent Scott Perkins reported $6,883 in recent contributions and $6,932 overall.

Perkins listed $8,676 in recent expenses and $8,745 overall.

His campaign reported $9,264 in the bank on July 1 and $7,452 in late September.

There were no contributors listed above $500. Former Congressman Bill Baker donated $100 to Perkins' campaign as did former state assemblyman Guy Houston.

The next campaign filing deadline is next Thursday. Candidates file their documents at San Ramon City Hall. Those statements will cover campaign finances through this Saturday.


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