Anti-beverage tax coalition quadruples campaign spending in efforts to defeat Measure N
on October 8, 2012
The Community Coalition Against Beverage Taxes spent $1.8 million dollars on efforts to defeat Measure N between July 1-September 30, more than four times what it spent on the campaign in the six months between January and July.
Campaign contribution statements filed with the city clerk Friday show that the CCABT, a local group funded mainly by the American Beverage Association, received $1.39 million in total contributions between July and September and spent $1.84 million on its efforts to defeat Measure N.
Since January, the CCABT has spent $2.2 million. The Fit for Life campaign in support of the Measure N has spent $25,293.
Seven of the 11 candidates running for seats in the Richmond City Council also filed campaign disclosure statements Friday. Current Councilmember Tom Butt and candidates Anthony Green, Mark Wassberg and Eleanor Thompson missed the deadline.
Campaign contributions received by candidates between July 1 and September 30
Butt, contacted late Friday night, said he was in Arkansas for a 50th high school reunion, and was unaware that he missed the deadline. “My wife is handling that,” he said. “My guess is that we were both busy doing stuff. I was under the impression it was due Monday.”
City Clerk Diane Holmes said her office was considering what action to take against the candidates who missed the deadline.
“Candidates usually file ahead of time or on time, and it is a little unusual that some fail to submit their campaign contributions on time,” she said.
Of the candidates that filed their pre-election statements Friday, Gary Bell had the highest amount in contributions at $34,253, followed by Richmond Progressive Alliance candidate Marilyn Langlois at $25,318.
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Notice how it appears that Nat Bates has raised just a pittance. That’s because Chevron is paying for his campaign, but doing it through their political action committee. Chevron is also paying for Roberson’s and Bell’s bill boards. Why would we want to have Chevron’s preferred candidates on the City Council after the August 6th fire which was certainly caused by negligence.