Updated at 2 p.m. Feb. 1, 2016
Mayor Kevin Faulconer raised $1 million last year for his re-election bid despite having no viable opponent and only a late independent challenger.
According to online filings for the second half of 2015, the Republican mayor reported close to 170 donors who gave the maximum $1,050 per election, including Pete Wilson, the former San Diego mayor, governor and U.S. senator.
Other maximum donors were weight-loss icon Jenny Craig, philanthropist Conrad Prebys, Bazaar del Mundo owner Diane Powers, Jerome’s Furniture president Jerome Navarra, Super Bowl crasher Dion Rich, Qualcomm co-founder Andrew Viterbi and Irwin Molasky, the Las Vegas-based real-estate tycoon who developed the La Costa Resort.
Notable spouses backing Faulconer include Gina Seau, ex-wife of late Chargers star Junior Seau (giving $500), and Geniya Manchester, wife of developer and former Union-Tribune owner Doug Manchester ($1,050).
Faulconer’s 195-page Form 460 filed Jan. 21 shows he spent $272,000 last year and had a year-ending cash balance of $770,000.
If he takes more than 50 percent of the vote in the June 7 primary, defeating new entry Lori Saldaña, he’ll win his first four-year mayoral term. Faulconer won the February 2014 mayoral election in the wake of Bob Filner’s resignation. (Democrat Gretchen Newsom was a short-lived rival before she bowed out in December.)
Among those hoping to succeed termed-out City Attorney Jan Goldsmith, lone fellow Republican Robert Hickey raised $183,000 in 2015, including nearly $73,000 in the last six months. He had $99,000 in the bank at the end of the year.
But Democrats Rafael Castellanos and Gil Cabrera reported raising $306,000 and $209,000 last year, respectively. Castellanos outraised Cabrera $145,000 to $75,000 in the last six months of the year. Candidate Mara Elliott’s filing was not posted as of 2 p.m. Monday. Bryan Pease, an animal-rights activist, entered the race Jan. 8.
Also see Form 460 disclosures for:
- City Attorney candidate Robert Hickey (PDF)
- City Attorney candidate Gil Cabrera (PDF)
- City Attorney candidate Rafael Castellanos (PDF)
- District 1 council candidate Barbara Bry (PDF)
- District 1 council candidate Ray Ellis (PDF)
- District 5 council incumbent Mark Kersey (PDF)
- District 5 council challenger Keith Mikas (PDF)
- District 7 council incumbent Scott Sherman (PDF)
- District 9 council candidate Araceli Martinez (PDF)
- District 9 council candidate Rebecca Paida (PDF)
In the closely watched District 1 council race between Ray Ellis and Barbara Bry — which could change the nominally nonpartisan council’s current 5-4 majority Democratic makeup — Republican Ellis reported raising $367,000 last year, including $190,000 in the past six months. He had about $184,000 in the bank at year’s end.
On Monday, a filing reported that Bry raised $272,000 in 2015, including $123,000 in the past six months. She had a cash balance at year’s end of $152,000.
Republican incumbents Mark Kersey of District 5 and Scott Sherman of District 7 reported raising $125,000 and $235,000 in 2015, respectively. District 5 challenger Keith Mikas raised all of 2,519.42 last year, and he spent 2,018.91 of it, records show.
District 9 candidates vying to succeed Councilwoman Marti Emerald include Araceli Martinez and Rebecca Paida, who raised $2,600 and $8,700, respectively, in 2015. Year-end filings were not available for Sam Bedwell, Ricardo Flores, Georgette Gomez and Sarah Saez.
Meanwhile, Assembly Speaker Toni Atkins — given a clear path to victory in the 39th Senate District with last week’s withdrawal of incumbent Marty Block — reported she had raised $193,000 from 146 contributions for her 2016 race, against Block’s $71,000 from 47 donations.
But the Secretary of State’s financial disclosure database also said the “Atkins for Senate 2020” campaign had raised almost $968,000 from 517 contributions.
Councilman Todd Gloria’s campaign for Atkins’ 78th District Assembly seat has raised $365,000 from 455 donors, according to the same database. Gloria, a Democrat, is challenged by Republican Kevin Melton. A search of the state database turned up no donations for Melton.
In the 2014 primary, Melton won 11.6 percent of the vote — taking third behind Atkins and Republican Barbara Decker. Atkins beat Decker 61.6 percent to 38.4 percent in the November runoff.