Garamendi raises $250k in 3 months

By Ben van der Meer

For Tri-County Newspapers

U.S. Rep. John Garamendi raised more than $250,000 for his re-election bid in the last three months of 2011, outpacing the Republican candidates trying to unseat him.

Garamendi reported raising $313,179 by the end of the year, more than $100,000 more than the next highest reported total in the 3rd Congressional District, according to Federal Election Commission financial statements.

Republican and Colusa County Supervisor Kim Vann was second with $190,648.62, and reported raising $95,032 during the filing period.

"I think it went pretty well," said Dan Sharp, a campaign consultant for Vann's campaign. "It's almost all coming from inside the district."

That differentiates it from Garamendi's fundraising, he said, which came from several political action committees based in Washington, D.C., and individuals based in the Bay Area and Southern California.

They include $4,500 from the Laborers International Union of North America, $4,000 from the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees and $1,000 from Men's Wearhouse CEO George Zimmer.

"There's literally a handful of names on his list that come from the 3rd Congressional District," Sharp said.

Garamendi campaign manager Maureen Erwin said contributions to Garamendi, D-Walnut Grove, reflect his long track record of consumer protection and other efforts.

She pointed out he also received some contributions from the district he now represents, which includes eastern parts of the Bay Area.

"Over his career, he's built a really strong support," she said.

In the last quarter of 2011, Garamendi raised $276,726, according to filings Tuesday with the Federal Election Commission.

Vann's fundraising, too, came under criticism, from Charles Schaupp, a GOP candidate from Esparto. Much of Vann's donations, he said, came from rice farmers in the district who've reaped millions in federal subsidies.

A list of contributors to Vann's campaign includes Sidney LaGrande and Ron LaGrande of Williams and Dennis Gallagher of Rio Oso, each of whom gave $500. All three are listed in the ownership for farms in Sutter and Colusa counties receiving the most in rice subsidies between 1995 and 2010, according to an online database for the Environmental Working Group.

"She's got rice farmer support, and it's to protect those subsides," Schaupp said. "There's huge money behind the people giving her money."

Schaupp, who reported $649 in contributions in the last quarter and had a cash-on-hand total of $32,406, said he's gearing up his fundraising this month.

Republican Rick Tubbs of Vacaville reported $5,300.36 in contributions during the period, and had a cash-on-hand total of $3,767.92.

According to the FEC's website, there were no campaign finance reports filed for GOP candidates Tony Carlos, Eugene Ray or Timothy Core.