ESCONDIDO
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The money gap among the front-runners in the Escondido City Council race is closing.
Olga Diaz, 32, a coffee shop owner, has raised the most money this reporting period, July 1 to Sept. 30, topping her five rivals with $20,400.
Diaz is competing for one of two seats against incumbents Sam Abed and Ed Gallo and fellow challengers Richard Barron, Chuck Voelker and Dennis French.
Diaz ran for a seat on the council in 2006 and came in third. She said that experience helped sharpen her campaigning and fundraising skills this time around.
She said she worked harder after she realized that she was behind Abed and Gallo last reporting period.
“Surprisingly, it was hard for me emotionally, but it was not hard for people to write checks,” Diaz said. “They feel this is their opportunity to make a difference.”
Money raised in Escondido
City Council race
Sam Abed: Incumbent, $40,900
Olga Diaz: Challenger, $30,700
Ed Gallo: Incumbent, $26,000
Richard Barron: Challenger, $8,490
Chuck Voelker: Challenger, $1,380
Dennis French: Challenger,
under $1,000
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With those contributions, Diaz brought her campaign account to $30,700, in second place behind Abed.
Abed, 56, who owns a gas station on East Valley Parkway and commercial properties downtown, has raised $40,900.
Abed said that despite Diaz's progress, he is still more than $10,000 ahead.
“I am not aggressively soliciting money, but the support is there,” Abed said. “Raising $40,000 to $50,000 in this bad economy validates that people are happy with the actions of the city.”
Gallo, 67, a real estate agent, is in third place with $26,000. Gallo and Abed have endorsed each other, and the two are endorsed by council members Marie Waldron and Dick Daniels.
Barron, 63, owns a consulting business with his wife. He reported raising $8,490. Barron and Diaz have endorsed each other and contributed to each other's campaign.
Barron said that although he has raised a smaller amount, he started from scratch while the three front-runners had money in the bank when they began their campaigns.
He said that he actually raised more money per day than Abed and Gallo.
Voelker, 37, reported using $1,380 of his own money during the reporting period.
French, 46, did not file a campaign finance disclosure form because he has not collected or spent more than $1,000.
Voelker said he held a fundraiser this past weekend.
“I don't have the budget I would like to have, but that doesn't change my desire to affect change in the city,” he said. “I'm very pleased with the response I'm getting.”
Angela Lau: (760) 737-7575; angela.lau@uniontrib.com
