Delgleize leads in campaign funds

Barbara Delgleize runs a real estate business with the slogan, “Barbara Sells the Beach.”

Judging from finance statements, her candidacy is opening a few wallets, too.

The planning commissioner led all City Council candidates with $19,299 in funds raised from Jan. 1 to June 30, narrowly surpassing fellow Commissioner Fred Speaker, who garnered $18,276. Among Delgleize’s supporters are State Sen. Tom Harman (R-Costa Mesa) , Councilman Devin Dwyer, the Laguna Board of Realtors and the reelection committee for Assemblyman Jim Silva (R-Huntington Beach).

Delgleize said she was encouraged by the numbers, but added that finances alone didn’t point the way to victory.

“The New York Yankees spend more money than anybody,” she said. “It doesn’t always help them win. But I’m excited.”

Both Delgleize and Speaker made personal loans to their campaigns of $4,000 and $5,000, respectively. Speaker also received contributions from Silva, community activist Kim Kramer, Huntington Beach Marketing and Visitors Bureau President Steve Bone and former Mayor Ralph Bauer, among others.

Incumbent Joe Carchio followed Speaker in fundraising with $16,059. Joe Shaw, a former planning and public works commissioner, came in with $12,792, while Billy O’Connell, the executive director of the nonprofit Colette’s Children’s Home, came in with $10,495.

Shaw remains the leader overall in fundraising, having declared $14,005 at the end of 2009. He noted that while he was proud of the amount he had raised, equally important to him was the amount of money he had left — in the last six months, he spent $5,709.18, leaving his campaign with a cash balance of nearly $17,000.

“I think if you look at the amount that people have on hand, it’s a much more telling statistic,” Shaw said.

He added that when he did begin spending money in earnest, it would be on direct voter outreach rather than on political consultants.

“I’ve been my own consultant,” Shaw said. “I don’t need someone else to pay thousands and thousands of dollars.”

Planning Commissioner Blair Farley raised $4,870, followed by Huntington Beach Union High School District Trustee Matthew Harper with $4,115.29; Ocean View School District Board of Trustees President Norm Westwell with $3,821.31; Realtor Bruce Brandt with $1,750; former city Municipal Employees Assn. President John Von Holle with $1,520; and small business owner Dan Kalmick with $1,000. Jim Katapodis, a sergeant with the Los Angeles Police Department, declared no funds raised for the year.

Candidates Heather Grow and Shawn Roselius have declared fundraising committees but did not turn in finance statements by the Monday deadline. Erik Peterson and Andrissa Dominguez have not declared fundraising committees, while Bill Rorick and Landon Fichtner have declared that they will raise less than $1,000, according to the city clerk’s office.

In addition to Carchio’s, three seats will be open in the Nov. 2 election, as Mayor Cathy Green, Mayor Pro Tem Jill Hardy and Councilman Gil Coerper will be termed out. Candidates have until Friday to officially submit paperwork to run for the council.

Jennifer McGrath, who is running unopposed for reelection as city attorney, declared $5,115.84 for the first half of the year.

Fundraising totals for Huntington Beach City Council candidates

Barbara Delgleize $19,299

Fred Speaker $18,276

Joe Carchio $16,059

Joe Shaw $12,792

Billy O’Connell $10,495

Blair Farley $4,870

Matthew Harper $4,115.29

Norm Westwell $3,821.31

Bruce Brandt $1,750

John Von Holle $1,520

Dan Kalmick $1,000

Jim Katapodis $0

Totals cover the period from Jan. 1 to June 30.