The race for the State Assembly's 61st District seat will almost certainly be decided by next Tuesday's Democratic primary. The 61st is safely gerrymandered to have a Democratic majority, so barring some major scandal on the winner's part, there shouldn't be much of a race in November.
The Daily Bulletin's Monica Rodriguez profiled the four Democratic candidates (in alphabetical order): Paul Vincent Avila, Maurice Ayala, Norma Torres, and Ken White.
Based on campaign donations, Pomona Mayor Norma Torres appears to be the frontrunner, a May 10th Bulletin article reported. At that time, Torres had reported raising $200,000, compared to $20,000 for Ayala and $5000-$6,000 for White. Torres total, however, has increased significantly in the latest reporting period, which ended on May 17th.
From 1/1/08 to 5/17/08, Torres' campaign reported raising a total of $335,746.58. The Torres campaign also reported spending $246,161.25 during that same period. Including money raised before 2008, Torres had $207,006.05 remaining in her campaign war chest.
And where did that money for Torres' campaign come from? Several donations (appropriately) came from garbage companies (waste management in politically correct circles):
- Mission Recycling - $3,000, $3,261, and $361
- Valley Vista Services - $3,600
- Grand Central Recycling and Transfer Station - $3,600 and $3,600
- West Coast Recycling, dba Mission Recycling (?) - $249
- E & S Recycling Resources -$1,000
- Athens Services - $1,000, $1,000, and $1,000
Some came from the insurance industry:
- Zenith Insurance Company -$3,600
- Mercury General Corporation - $3,500
- Micra CA PAC of Norcal Insurance Company - $3,600
- Blue Shield of CA - $3,600
- Personal Insurance Federation of CA PAC - $1,500
- Employers Direct Insurance Company - $1,000
A little came from groups connected to the gambling industry:
- The Bicycle Casino - $3,600
- CA Thoroughbred Breeders Association - $1,000
More came from the builders, developers, real estate investors, and realtors:
- Auburn Management Holding Co. - $1,000
- Green Century Development, LLC - $300
- State Bldg. & Construction Trades Council of CA PAC - $2,500
- CA Apartment Assn. PAC - $1,000
- Majestic Realty Co. - $2,600 and $3,600
- David R. Lewis - $3,600
- Lewis Investment Company, LLC - $3,600 and $3,600
- Arteco Partners - $3,600 and $3,600
- Jeved Management, Inc. - $1,691 and $1,691
- Steven R. Ross - $1,000
- Bryan Industrial Properties - $500
- Wetherly Capital Group, LLC - $1,000
- Western Manufactured Housing Communities PAC - $1,000
- CA Building Industry Association PAC - $2,500
- CA Real Estate PAC -$3,600
- Linus Investments, LLC - $3,600 and $3,600
Public and private sector workers associations and unions also gave a lot of money to Torres:
- All City Employees Association Local 3090 AFSCME PAC (Los Angeles) - $2,500 and $1,000
- AFSCME, AFL-CIO Local 36 (Los Angeles) -$3,600
- AFSCME Local 3634 PAC (Los Angeles) $500
- AFSCME CA People (Sacramento) - $6,000
- CA Federation of Teachers COPE - $3,600
- CA Teachers Association /Association for Better Citizenship - $7,200
- CA Statewide Law Enforcement Association PAC - $3,600
- CA State Council of Service Employees - $7,200
- CA Professional Firefighters PAC - $1,000
- United Nurses Association of CA - $1,000
- Teamsters Joint Council 42 - $1,500
- So Cal Painters and Allied Trades Dist. - $500
- Service Employees Int'l Union Local 1000 - $7,200
- SEIU Uhw PAC - $7,200
- SEIU Local 721 Ctw, Clc State & Local - $3,600
- SEIU Local 121 Rn PAC - $3,600
- Pace of CA School Employees Association - $2,000 and $2,000
- Los Angeles Police Protective League PAC - $3,600
- Local 770 Ufcw PAC - $1,000
- Laborers Local 300 Small Contributors - $3,600
- International Union of Operating Engineers - $3,600
Pomona City Attorney Arnold M. Alvarez-Glasman's law firm also gave Torres' campaign a total of $10,800 in three contributions of $3,600 in March this year.
And you, Joe and Jane Average Voter, where do you fit in the Norma Torres Grand Scheme?
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