Fundraising continues strongly in the final weeks of the campaign for the state Senate District 28 seat. Both candidates, Bonnie Garcia of the Coachella Valley and Jeff Stone of Temecula, are raising considerable sums directly for their campaign coffers, while supporters are independently supplying even more money.
In the three weeks since the last campaign finance reports were submitted, Garcia has raised $67,300 from 25 contributors — individuals, organizations and political action committees. The single largest donation was $8,200 from the State Building and Construction Trades Councils of California PAC.
Other committees supporting Garcia with $4,100 contributions include Eli Lilly and Company, the California Statewide Law Enforcement Association and Federal Express.
Through the end of September, Garcia had raised $312,600. In the three weeks, since the end of the latest reporting period, she has garnered another 20 percent.
Besides contributions to her campaign fund, which she directly controls, independent expenditures have totaled more than $1.1 million on her behalf.
Spirit of Democracy California has spent nearly $830,000 to help Garcia capture the Senate seat. The spending began in May and went toward polling, and TV and cable network ads. Expenditures in support of her total $485,000 and another $320,000 has been spent opposing Stone.
The major independent committee opposing Garcia, Taxpayers Opposing Bonnie Garcia for State Senate 2014, spent and collected almost all of its $54,600 in May before the June primary. Stone does not report any other outside expenditures, although the Spirit of Democracy lists a $25,000 expenditure in his support on Sept. 29.
Otherwise, Stone’s contributions this month total $73,500 or 13 percent of what he received for the first nine months of the year.
Stone’s October contributions have come from 39 contributors. He also has received one $8,200 contribution from Alexander Haagan of Los Angeles. While more of his contributors were individuals, corporate money has found its way to Stone’s benefit, also. The California Refuse Removal Council South PAC and Albert Webb Associates each gave money to Stone’s campaign, as did 2nd District Supervisor John Tavaglione.
