SAN MARCOS
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A group opposing Proposition O, the growth-management initiative on the ballot next month in San Marcos, has far outspent those supporting the measure.
The anti-O group, which calls itself the San Marcos Association of Residents and Taxpayers, has spent about $91,000 on such things as consulting, polling, survey research and campaign literature, according to the most recent campaign records. It reports raising $34,000, including contributions from a developer, political action committees, the mayor and the city manager.
In contrast, ProtectSanMarcos.com, the group supporting the initiative, has spent about $672 and has raised about $1,900.
The latest campaign finance disclosure statements were due Monday and covered activities through Sept. 30.
If Proposition O passes, it will require a public vote to change most land-use designations in the city's general plan. The San Marcos Growth Management and Neighborhood Protection Act would also retroactively repeal projects approved after July 23, 2007.
Supporters say the city's general plan isn't being followed and that problems such as traffic congestion are affecting residents' quality of life. They say the measure would give voters more control over the city's future.
Opponents say the measure could spell economic doom for the city by discouraging developers from building in San Marcos because they wouldn't want to wait for elections before projects could be approved. The anti-O effort has received two nonmonetary donations, totaling $15,000. A developer, Urban Villages San Marcos LLC, involved in a proposed mixed-use project near California State University San Marcos paid $10,000 for polling and survey work. The Building Industry Association of San Diego County's political action committee supplied $5,000 worth of polling and survey work.
Monetary donations received include $10,000 from Lusardi Construction Co.; $3,000 from Vista San Marcos Ltd. in Costa Mesa; $1,000 from the California Association of Realtors Issues Mobilization's political action committee; and $999 from Cox Communications Inc.
Individual donations include $1,500 from businessman Arie De Jong Jr., $500 from City Manager Paul Malone and $250 from Mayor Jim Desmond. Malone and Desmond have said that despite their public roles they are opposing Proposition O as residents.
The campaign reported spending about $31,000 for consulting services from Tom Shepard & Associates Inc.; about $18,000 for polling and survey research; about $6,400 for accounting services from Scott & Cronin LLP; and about $20,000 for various campaign items, such as mailings, voter data and signs.
Cynthia Skovgard, a main proponent of Proposition O, said ProtectSanMarcos is running a grass-roots campaign and never expected to raise as much money as the opposition. She said the group isn't taking money from developers and isn't spending money on costly items such as consulting or polling.
The group also won't be sending mailers, she said. Volunteers are putting up yard signs now, she said, and will knock on doors and hand out campaign information in the final weeks before Election Day.
Kristal Kritzer-Jabara, anti-O campaign's spokeswoman, said there will be one more mailer going out soon and volunteers will also be putting up yard signs and handing out campaign information. “Our final push is our initial push, which is education,” she said.
Among three candidates seeking two seats on the City Council, the two incumbents are in the lead in raising money.
Rebecca Jones reported raising a total of $22,000, including an $11,000 loan from herself. Her donors include business owners, real-estate agents, retirees and homemakers. She has spent $8,50O on such things as signs and door hangers.
Hal Martin reported $10,000 in donations, including a $500 loan from himself. His donors include business owners, retirees, real-estate agents and homemakers. He has spent $6,185.
Dean Nelson reported $5,849, including a $3,000 loan from himself and nine $250 donations from business owners. He has spent $1,780 on mailers.
Linda Lou: (760) 737-7574; linda.lou@uniontrib.com
