Franco, Saab campaigns lead in fundraising

DOWNEY - Former Bell Gardens councilman Salvador Franco leads all Downey City Council candidates in money raised, collecting more than $31,000, according to paperwork filed with the city clerk's office last Friday. Financial statements were due at the city clerk's office by Oct. 5. They list contributions received by local candidates through Sept. 30.

Financial statements are public record and can offer insight into how candidates are collecting and spending money, and how their campaigns are being bankrolled.

Franco and Alex Saab each collected sizable amounts of money, though the cash was collected from markedly different sources.

Franco pulled in $31,574, including a $10,000 loan he made to himself.

The majority of Franco's contributions came from outside Downey, including $1,000 from Alvarez-Glasman & Colvin, a law firm based in City of Industry; $1,500 from Oscar Mendoza, CEO of Granada Hills-based construction firm Menco; and $1,000 from the Laborer's Local 300 union.

Franco received local support from Downey-based Eeel Management ($1,500); Leonardo Lopez, restaurant manager for Leonardo's ($500); Horacio Ortiz, owner of El Pescador restaurants ($300); and Clear LLC America's Bankcard Alliance ($150).

In contrast, the $27,061 taken in by Saab came from mostly Downey residents and business owners.

Notable contributors to Saab's campaign include former L.A. County district attorney candidate Mario Trujillo ($1,000); former mayor Kirk Cartozian ($1,000); Rick Rodriguez, owner of RMI International, the security firm that patrols Downtown Downey ($1,000); Tim Hutcherson, general manager of Downey Nissan ($1,000); and Jerry Andrews of Andrews Rancho ($1,100).

Saab also received a $1,500 contribution from the Associated General Contractors PAC based in Sacramento.

Meanwhile, Gabriel Orozco reported receiving just $525, including $500 from Orozco Family Daycare, the daycare facility owned and operated by his mother.

A fourth candidate for District 5, Ricardo Perez, did not file campaign statements.

In District 1 (south Downey), used car dealer Michael Murray raised $8,190, including a $3,000 loan he made to himself.

Most other contributions appeared to have come from local residents and business owners, including $1,490 from property manager Ron Kolar and $500 from Jose Bourdaa, owner of Premium Truck and Auto Sales in Downey.

Like Saab, Murray also received money from the Associated General Contractors PAC ($1,000).

Two other District 1 candidates, Luis Marquez and Mark Vasquez, did not file financial statements but they may have been postmarked by Friday's deadline and still in the mail, said City Clerk Adria Jimenez.

Mayor Roger Brossmer, who is running unopposed in District 3, raised no money and reported a cash balance of $944.30.