Incumbent Verna Rollinger continues to outpace her rivals in the race for financial support among candidates for the Laguna Beach City Council, according to the latest campaign disclosure reports.
Rollinger reports receiving $61,577 in cumulative contributions towards her re-election campaign this year, including adding $9,500 in donations to her treasury since July 1. In the campaign’s final push, Rollinger remains well-funded, with $24,507 remaining in the six weeks prior to the Nov. 6 election.
The most recent disclosure reports put this election on pace to become one of the most expensive in recent years.
Among the five candidates seeking council posts, only challenger Robert Whalen remains on equal footing with Rollinger financially, with $26,500 remaining in his war chest as of Sept. 30, according to the reports filed with the city clerk’s office on Friday, Oct. 5. The campaign by Whalen, a current planning commissioner and former school board member, reported receiving $53,200 in total contributions, $7,800 in the most recent period since July 1.
Incumbent and mayor Jane Egly’s campaign did outdistance her rivals in recent weeks, receiving $11,600 in financial support, according to treasurer Nancy Joseph’s report, though overall Egly still lags Rollinger and Whalen in total contributions and cash on hand for the campaign. She has $9,300 in reserve going into the final weeks.
Challenger Steve Dicterow, seeking to return to office after a several year hiatus, continues to fund raise and this week sent out an email appeal for support. His campaign collected $5,100 in the most recent period, giving him the leanest reserve of $6,100, the reports show.
