Irvine is on pace for another million dollar election. But the big money has switched sides.
Since my last update, more money has flowed from entities I believe are associated with Lennar/ the Strader family / Starpointe Ventures to independent expenditure committees supporting Steven Choi’s slate. Local Republican organs such as the Lincoln Club and the ATLAS PAC are also chipping in a few tens of thousand dollars. I can’t find evidence of independent expenditures for Larry Agran‘s slate that weren’t paid for by Larry himself .
That’s mostly what you need to know about this election.
The money flowing from developers associated with the Great Park isn’t unusually large this year. What is different this year is that the big developer money is being spent against Agran; in the last four elections, much of that money supported Larry Agran. Larry is spending several hundred thousand dollars of his own money, so he is getting his message out.
The individual “hard money” contributions (Form 460 A) made since September 30th tell the rest of the story;
| Candidate | Contributors | Irvine Contributors | Amount |
| Steven Choi | 32 | 18 | $9,573 |
| Mary Ann Gaido | 4 | 1 | $1,480 |
| Katherine Daigle | 0 | 0 | $0 |
| Jeffrey Lalloway | 14 | 5 | $5,036 |
| Lynn Schott | 12 | 5 | $3,007 |
| Larry Agran | 10 | 4 | $4,700 |
| Evan Chemers | 1 | 1 | $100 |
| Melissa Fox | 0 | 0 | $0 |
The Melissa Fox number is probably wrong, as she showed strong fundraising in the spring. Presumably she will file later. Additionally, Schott, Chemers, and Gaido have put their own money into their campaigns.
Completely tracking all the money through dozens of forms, three web sites, and hundreds of filings is an immense amount of work that wouldn’t change the story much. The below table of F497 forms filed since Sept 30th gives useful, if incomplete, picture.
| 09/30/2014 | Greater Irvine Education Guide | $45,000.00 | Republican Central Committee of Orange County |
| 10/03/2014 | Greater Irvine Education Guide | $30,000.00 | Yes on W |
| 10/03/2014 | Greater Irvine Education Guide | $30,000.00 | Irvine Neighbors for Great Park Reform |
| 10/07/2014 | Greater Irvine Education Guide | $35,000.00 | Orange County Jobs Coalition |
| 10/11/2014 | Greater Irvine Education Guide | $40,000.00 | CREPAC CA Real Estate PAC |
| 10/14/2014 | Greater Irvine Education Guide | $22,551.00 | yes on V |
| 10/14/2014 | Greater Irvine Education Guide | $5,000.00 | The Lincoln Club of Orange County State PAC |
| 10/14/2014 | Greater Irvine Education Guide | $22,713.00 | Yes on W |
| 10/22/2014 | Greater Irvine Education Guide | $5,000.00 | Community Leaders of America |
| 10/23/2014 | Greater Irvine Education Guide | $4,750.00 | Republican Central Committee of Orange County |
| 10/24/2014 | Greater Irvine Education Guide | $10,000.00 | Building Industry Assoc of So CA PAC |
| 10/24/2014 | Greater Irvine Education Guide | $10,000.00 | Building Industry Assoc of So CA PAC |
| 10/23/2014 | Yes on V | $5,000.00 | Republican Central Committee of Orange County |
| 10/23/2014 | Yes on W | $5,000.00 | Republican Central Committee of Orange County |
| 10/06/2014 | Schott for Irvine Council 2014 | $3,000.00 | Lynn Schott |
| 10/21/2014 | Schott for Irvine Council 2014 | $6,500.00 | Lynn Schott |
People who want the real scoop on everything Irvine turn to me for expert insider info. Of course you’ll probably see my name on a few of those checks. How many checks have you written Tyler?
Or, more to the point, how many soiled mattresses has Tyler donated to Lorri Galloway’s bowling alley?
Sorry, LoGal, not even a prayer warrior can pick up the 7-10 split.
I was once a “bundler” of checks… For Margie Wakeham.
That was a while ago.
I have not written any checks this cycle.
Well Tyler my boy I have to constantly brag about how many checks I’ve written to overcome my shortcomings, if you know what I mean. I’m a major player in Irvine and Anaheim politics thanks in large part to my generosity.
And FYI Zenger I’ve asked the prayer warrior to pray that Mexicans in Anaheim hated gangs as much as they hate the police. I hope you understand that, clearly Gustavo and San Roman don’t.
Mr. D. Stalker, as you have so cogently observed elsewhere: Trust is built one brick at a time.
Unfortunately one person shot in the back of the head up against a wrought iron fence can make the whole wall come a-tumblin’ down, gratitude-wise. You don’t seem to get that from the vantage point of your manicured parkways and beige stucco dreamworld.
I wrote a check to help out with funeral expenses for Ximena Meza’s family. Have you?
Writing checks is a way to show you are better than someone else. So I can continue to write disparaging remarks about Latinos and still claim the high road.
Mr. Stalker, the prayer warriors will NOT be happy with you. Jesus tells us:
“Therefore when thou doest thine alms, do not sound a trumpet before thee, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.”
Dan doesn’t understand how that applies here.
I CAN HELP YOU FIX THAT LAST BIT, TYLER!