Follow the money: Where are Downey City Council candidates getting their funding?
From left: Louis Morales, Alma Marquez, Hector Lujan, Rick Rodriguez, Blanca Pacheco, Alex Saab, Art Montoya, Frine Medrano and Art Gonzalez.
DOWNEY – Candidates running for Downey City Council pulled in tens of thousands of dollars this summer in preparation of a hotly-contested election that is now only three weeks away.
All but one candidate reported receiving campaign contributions between July 1 and Sept. 24. The financial disclosures, also known as California Form 460, were filed with Downey city clerk Adria Jimenez.
District 5 candidate Art Gonzalez did not open a campaign committee and was not required to file a pre-election campaign statement.
Each of the candidates' financial disclosures can be viewed by clicking their names below. Candidates are listed by district, in alphabetical order.
Hector Lujan (District 1): Hector Lujan, an assistant principal at Paramount Adult School, reported contributions of $4,540, with the bulk of that money used for lawn signs, campaign t-shirts, and campaign events.
Lujan's largest donations came in the way of three separate $1,000 transactions from Eduardo Molina, owner of E&J International Trading Corp., a privately held company in Paramount; Raul Gonzalez, owner of Mariscos Choix; and Tim Hutcherson, owner of Downey Nissan.
Donors include:
Raul Gonzalez: $1,000
Tim Hutcherson: $1,000
Eduardo Molina: $1,000
Michael Murray: $500
Monika and Ramon Manglicmot: $250
Carl and Maggie Jackson: $250
Charles and Margaret Garcia: $200
Xavier Castillo: $100
Bernardo and Emma Sosa: $100
Alma Marquez (District 1): Alma Marquez, the wife of Downey councilman Luis Marquez, pulled in $15,998, with most of her contributions coming from auto dealerships.
She also received $1,000 from her husband's campaign for the Central Basin Water District; $1,000 from DB Lounge, the Downey nightclub that ignited controversy two years ago for its attempt to utilize go-go dancers; $1,000 from Nationwide Environmental Services, the city's franchised street sweeper; and $500 from CalMet, the city's trash hauler.
Donors include:
Champion Chrysler Jeep Dodge: $1,000
Penske Toyota of Downey: $1,000
Jason Roberts (finance director, Penske Toyota): $1,000
Edwin Swanenburg (general manager, Penske Toyota): $1,000
Jeffrey Hodge (president, Honda World Downey): $1,000
Tim Hutcherson (Downey Nissan): $1,000
RP Automotive: $1,000
DB Lounge: $1,000
John's Sweeper Repairs: $1,000
Marquez for Central Basin District 1 2016: $1,000
Nationwide Environmental Services: $1,000
Political Reporting Plus: $1,000 (non-monetary, bill forgiven)
Fiesta Taxi: $999
CalMet Services: $500
Matt Knabe: $500
Simon Simonian (owner, Joseph's Bar and Grill): $500
Leland Wong: $500
Taxpayers for Rod Wright Legal Defense Fund: $250
Jose Calderon: $250 (non-monetary, bill paid by undisclosed third party)
Diana Owens: $100
Gloria Palafox: $100
Bernard Tolliver: $100
Marybeth Vergara-Garcia: $100
Blanca Pacheco (District 1): Blanca Pacheco reported collecting $7,055 in contributions, most in the form of small donations from residents.
Pacheco, who is an attorney and real estate agent, did not report a single donation worth more than $500, although she did receive two separate contributions from Joseph's Bar and Grill that total $750.
Contributors to Pacheco's campaign include community leaders, friends, and real estate associates.
Donors include:
Joseph's Bar and Grill: $500
Carlos Galvan Jr. (Amapola): $500
Brenda Martinez: $300
Keith Fraser: $250
Susan Rosales: $250
Claudia Valenzuela: $250
Joseph's Bar and Grill: $250
Yvonne Aceves: $250
Bob Ciatti: $250
Blanca Rochin: $200
David Gafin: $200
Richard Rosiak: $125
Marisa Perez: $125
Donald Knoles: $100
Ronnie Fernandez: $100
Julio Pacheco: $100
Joanna Peterson: $100
Manuel Salas: $100
Abdom Pinon: $100
Lenora Perri: $100
Jerry Wetzstein: $100
Russell Skersick: $100
Carlos Espinoza: $100
Manuel Campos: $100
Joey Hernandez: $100
Anthony Garcia: $100
Manuel Banuelos: $100
Manuel Salas: $100
Manuel Salas: $100
E. Avila: $100
Jesse Arana: $100
Rose Gonzalez: $100
Margaret Garcia: $75
Soledad Fiero: $50
Soledad Fiero: $50
Joanna Peterson: $50
Frine Medrano (District 3): Frine Medrano, who works for California state Sen. Kevin De Leon, touts her connections in Sacramento as an advantage over her opponents. It's those same connections that largely helped Medrano raise $11,736 in the latest reporting cycle.
Much like before, Medrano tapped into resources outside Downey, collecting contributions from political consultants, labor unions, political action committees, and associates.
Donors include:
Coca-Cola: $1,000
DiMare, Brown, Hicks & Kessler Law Firm: $1,000
Laborers' Local 300: $1,000
Fabiola Mercado (consultant): $1,000
Good Clothing Inc.: $500
Honor PAC: $500
Nilza Serrano: $500
Western States Regional Joint: $500
Vanessa Delgaro for Montebello City Council: $250
Kudco Diversified Inc.: $250
Anthony Reyes: $250
David Vela: $250
David Vela for College Board 2017: $250
Yellow Cab of Sacramento: $250
JC & Associates APC: $200
Law Offices of Dennis Saab: $200
Segura for Assembly 2016: $200
Juan Jose Gutierrez: $150
Che Salinas: $150
Stephen Conny: $100
Vanessa Paggiolly: $100
Luis Gayoso: $100
Guillermo Guerrero: $100
Law Offices of Jeong Chan Yong: $100
Raul Macias: $100
Sulmy Mancia: $100
Sonia Molina: $100
Perez Pacheco Consulting: $100
Adan Reinosa: $100
Robert Reynoso: $100
Alfredo Rodriguez: $100
Nak Sung: $100
Marien Ty: $100
Vamos EUA Moving Forward USA: $100
Art Montoya (District 3): Art Montoya, who didn't collect money prior to July 1, raised the most money in the latest reporting period, with contributions totaling $26,585.
Although he raised a significant amount of cash, most of the money came from himself: Montoya loaned his campaign $15,000, and gifted $7,000.
A safety administrator at Walt Disney Co., the majority of Montoya's contributors appear to be work associates, friends and family.
Donors include:
Art Montoya: $7,000
Katerina Riddle Barrios: $350
Brianne Pena: $250
Jennel Nodland: $150
Aaron Magness: $100
Sarah Vosburg: $100
Brianna Chocek: $100
Vinny Capobianco: $100
Christine Ta: $100
Grace Kim: $100
Karen Quan: $100
Kevin Lewandowski: $100
Roy Toledo: $100
Debbie Magnesd: $100
Jose Lee: $100
Paige Olivares: $100
Enrique Montoya: $100
Enrique Montoya: $100
Carol Maniscalco: $100
Dashan Craft: $100
Alex Barrios: $100
Bessie Gonos: $100
Georgia Ananias: $100
Jericho Trim: $100
Marcos Delgado: $100
Rosemarie Wilson: $100
Art Tellez: $100
Emma Montoya: $50
Emma Montoya: $50
Louis Morales (District 3): Louis Morales, a Downey planning commissioner, reported campaign contributions of $4,375.
Only nine people and businesses contributed to Morales' campaign, although all but one of the donors are from Downey.
Donors include:
La Barca Grill & Cantina: $1,000
Mariscos Choix: $1,000
DB Lounge: $1,000
AR Ramos Inc.: $500
Mireya Ruiz: $500
New Economy Strategies: $125
Mariana Pacheco: $100
Grace Kramer: $100
Frank Jimenez: $50
Rick Rodriguez (District 3): Rick Rodriguez reported monetary contributions of $7,345, most of which appear to have come from Downey residents and business associates.
Rodriguez collected $1,000 donations from former mayor Mario Guerra and property manager Ron Kolar. The owner of a private security firm, Rodriguez also received $1,000 from Moshe Alon, president of Professional Security Consultants, Inc.
CalMet Services, the city's trash hauler, gave Rodriguez $500. Rodriguez also loaned his campaign $20,000.
Donors include:
Ron Kolar: $1,000
Mario Guerra: $1,000
Moshe Alon: $1,000
Calmet Services: $500
Michael Ferrua: $500
Mary Ferrua: $500
Ismael Ramirez: $500
Don Jervis: $500
Dennis Rodriguez: $300
Javier Munoz: $250
F. Michael Clark: $225
Konnie Shanks: $250
Gordon Sodetani: $200
Donna Mace: $100
Don Johnston: $100
Raul Lopez: $100
Alex Yusem: $100
Greg Rodriguez: $100
Iris Escamilla: $100
Alex Saab (District 5): Incumbent mayor Alex Saab isn't expected to be seriously threatened by opponent Art Gonzalez, who has raised no money. Still, Saab isn't taking his opponent lightly, collecting $5,250 in campaign contributions.
His largest donors were Square King Foods Inc. out of Buena Park and Grow Elect, a group that helps Latino Republicans. Each gave $2,000.
He also received contributions from CalMet Services and Nationwide Environmental Services, which provide trash and street sweeping services in Downey, respectively.
Donors include:
Square King Foods Inc.: $2,000
Grow Elect: $2,000
CalMet Services: $1,000
Honda World: $1,000
Nationwide Environmental Services: $1,000
Diane Boggs: $250