ENCINITAS — City Councilwoman Catherine Blakespear and former Assembly candidate Phil Graham have amassed the largest campaign warchests in the Encinitas mayoral and city council races, respectively, based on semi-annual campaign finance disclosure forms.
Blakespear, who has been actively campaigning since late February, raised $27,383 during the first six months of the year, according to her statements, the most of any candidate.
Her campaign contributions include $6,500 in personal loans to her campaign.
Councilwoman Lisa Shaffer and her husband, Steve Bartram, Planning Commissioners Greg Drakos and Tasha Horvath, who is also running for City Council, and Parks and Recreation Commissioner Joe Mosca have all contributed to Blakespear’s campaign.
“I’m grateful for the broad-based support in the community, from over 130 people, which allowed me to have such a strong start to my fundraising,” Blakespear said in a statement. “From my time in elected office, residents can see that I am a balanced, thoughtful, professional leader, who is uniquely qualified to lead the city as mayor and they are willing to support our collective vision financially.”
Blakespear has also spent the most of all the candidates, making over $7,100 in payments during the first six months. Her largest expenditures were to her campaign manager, Scott Chatfield, and her campaign treasurer, Simon Mayeski.
Paul Gaspar, who just announced his entry into the mayoral race in July, did not raise any money and thus did not have to file a semi-annual statement.
Graham, who has obtained nomination papers for the council election and declared his intent to run in April, reported he raised $27,250 during the first six months of the year, when he was considering a run for State Assembly.
He has since transferred the money from his assembly campaign account to his council warchest.
All but four of Graham’s funds are from donors outside of Encinitas, reflective of the broader base he was attracting during his assembly run.
Paul Gaspar, Jenny Craig and former Assemblyman Mark Wyland were among the notable contributors to Graham’s campaign.
Jason Cabel Roe, speaking on behalf of Graham’s campaign, said the campaign is poised to attract more local donors.
“A lot of donors are already familiar with him, and now he will have the opportunity to reach out to Encinitas donors specifically,” Roe said. “We’re anticipating that this race will be about $40,000, so we feel great about where we are.”
Horvath, who has also been campaigning for several months, reported that she raised $12,084.25 during the same period, the third-most of any candidate.
In an email to supporters, the planning commissioner touted the local flavor of her donors, of which 85 percent work, live or own a business in the city.
“Importantly, contributions came from locals who know how important it is to have reasonable, thoughtful and collaborative leadership on the Encinitas City Council,” Horvath wrote. “I am pleased that my support comes from across the whole community — young families, seniors, and folks from all walks of life and all five communities. They want someone they know, someone they can trust, and someone who already has experience serving in Encinitas.”
Incumbents Mark Muir and Tony Kranz reported little activity over the first six months of the year. Muir loaned his campaign $2,000, and Kranz reported receiving $250.
