The cannabis industry continues to be the focus of significant campaign funding in Calaveras County in the final weeks before the Nov. 8 election, with the industry continuing to outraise its opponents, according to recent campaign finance reports.
Two anti-commercial cannabis organizations that had previously not filed any reports of their fundraising now have done so. In a report filed on Thursday, Calaveras Residents Against Commercial Marijuana reported that since Jan. 1, the organization has raised $8,965, including $6,536 in cash and $2,429 in nonmonetary contributions. The largest donors were Betty Weider of Los Angeles, who gave $1,000, James Laguardia of Copperopolis, who gave $500, Jane Bottomley of Angels Camp, who gave $500, and Janet Cuslidge of Angels Camp, who gave $500.
Calaveras Residents Against Commercial Marijuana formed primarily to oppose Measure D. If approved by voters, Measure D would establish a permanent zoning ordinance to regulate the marijuana industry.
The Committee to Ban Commercial Cultivation, which formed to support a commercial cannabis farm ban initiative that has not yet qualified for the ballot, filed its first finance report on Oct. 21. It reported raising $3,040. The biggest donors were Bottomley, who gave $1,500, Cuslidge, who gave $500, and Bill McManus of Murphys, who gave $700.
Meanwhile, the Yes on Measure D group, also known as Calaveras for Cannabis Control, continues to raise more than the anti-cannabis groups. Exactly how much more was not clear because the Yes on D form 460 due on Thursday was not yet available at the Calaveras County Elections Office. A Yes on D representative contacted by email said the form was mailed before Thursdays deadline.
Fair Political Practices Form 460 is the form candidates and committees use to summarize all of their fundraising. However, several FPPC Form 497 filings do shed light on Yes on D fundraising. Form 497 is used for large donations.
A Form 497 filed on Oct. 19 by Yes on D showed that the organization on Oct. 14 received two separate $10,000 donations from CCIH Holdings of Irvine. A Form 497 filed on Oct. 10 reported that Brad Sutton Trucking of Vallecito gave the Yes on D campaign $5,000. Combined with previously reported donations, those contributions bring the total resources that have flowed to support Yes on D this year to more than $150,000.
Brad Sutton Trucking was among the top donors to District 5 Supervisor Steve Kearney, who is facing a recall election. Kearney reported raising $3,998 in the most recent period from Sept. 25 to Oct. 22, including $1,000 from Sutton, $1,000 from Jennifer K. Smith of San Francisco, $1,000 from Operating Engineers Local No. 3 of Alameda and $1,000 from the San Joaquin, Calaveras, Alpine and Amador counties Building Trade Council. It was not clear why Kearneys form showed those donations adding up to $3,998 rather than $4,000.
If voters recall Kearney, then they will also elect one of four candidates vying to complete his term. One of those candidates is Bob Bowerman, a former executive director of the Sacramento chapter of the National Organization for Reform of Marijuana Laws. Bowerman reported that he raised $7,050 between Sept. 25 and Oct. 22. His top donations included several from the medical marijuana industry. Jeremy Carlson of the Little Trees dispensary in Arnold gave $4,500 and Mark Bolger of Rimrock Farms gave $1,000. Bowerman also received $1,000 from Joe Pellegrino of Rocky Mountain Super Soils, a Mountain Ranch firm that supplies soil to cannabis farmers.
In District 1, challenger Gary Tofanelli outraised incumbent Cliff Edson in the most recent reporting period from Sept. 25 to Oct. 22. Tofanelli reported raising $5,390 in the period. His largest donation was $5,000 from Service Employees International Union in Stockton. The SEIU local in Stockton also represents Calaveras County government employees.
Edson reported raising $2,260 in the period. His largest donations were $1,000 from Operating Engineers Local No. 3 in Alameda and $500 from McLaughlin Waste Equipment in Galt.
News Moderator: Katelyn Baker
Full Article: Cannabis Industry Dollars Continue To Flow To Campaigns
Author: Dana M. Nichols
Contact: 209-754-3861
Photo Credit: AP
Website: Calaveras Enterprise
