By Steve Gibson, The Sacramento Bee, Calif. Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News
Oct. 29--Labor unions and developers battling West Sacramento's Measure L are outspending backers of the initiative nearly 10 to 1.
The measure would, among other things, encourage more retail development while limiting industrial expansion in and around Port of Sacramento property.
Measure L opponents, who have dubbed it the 'kill the port initiative,' have raised $180,956 and spent $155,513, according to the latest election spending reports filed at West Sacramento City Hall.
Supporters of Measure L reported contributions of $19,956, while spending $16,320.
Meanwhile, four candidates seeking two City Council seats reported collectively raising $98,459, setting a new record for the 15-year-old city.
Two years ago, four candidates running for three council seats collectively raised $69,496.
Measure L was written by City Council candidate Kimber Goddard and qualified for the Nov. 5 ballot with petitions signed by more than 3,000 of West Sacramento's registered voters.
Funds supporting passage of Measure L are being collected by a citizens group called West Sacramento Quality Urbanization and Development.
Three committees are raising money to defeat the measure. They are developer-sponsored West Sacramento Citizens for Responsible Planning, $119,637; ILWU Coast Committee Fighting Fund -- No on L, $35,367; and union-sponsored Save Our City -- No on L, $25,952.
Among council candidates, incumbent Councilman Christopher Cabaldon, a vice chancellor for California Community Colleges, reported contributions of $29,297 and expenditures of $26,608.
Carolyn Castillo Pierson, an administrator for the state Department of Health Care Services, reported raising $27,119 and spending $14,964.
Goddard, an estate planning attorney with offices in Sacramento, said he raised $26,855 -- including loans of $9,881 -- and spent $25,181.
The other candidate, Mark Johanssen, an attorney and CPA who works out of his home, said he raised $15,188 -- including a $1,500 loan -- and spent $19,616. He listed outstanding campaign debts of $7,079.
Meanwhile, the committee running West Sacramento's sales tax override campaign reported raising $31,674 and spending $18,022.
The committee, called Yes on J and K -- Better Services for West Sacramento, said its contributions included $10,000 each from Tampa, Fla.-based Richland Investments and one of the committees opposing Measure L, West Sacramento Citizens for Responsible Planning.
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(c) 2002, The Sacramento Bee, Calif. Distributed by Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News.
