General plan sides filling campaign coffers
GPU4 moves ahead $400,000 for June vote

The Salinas Californian
Posted April 27, 2007

By DAWN WITHERS

The fight against Measure A, also known as the general plan initiative, is receiving major financial backing from some unusual sources - including Monterey County agricultural companies and a county planning commissioner.

It's also leaving Measure A supporters about $400,000 in the fundraising dust, according to a campaign manager.

Firms such as Mann Packing, J. Lohr Vineyards and Ventana Vineyards all made sizable contributions to Plan for the People, which is running the "No on Measure A" campaign to defeat the initiative.

Measure A, an initiative framed by slow-growth groups, envisions a development picture for the county with fewer areas slated for growth and tougher standards to be met before development can occur.

Measure A is an alternative to the county-supervisor approved 2006 general plan, which voters can choose to support or repeal in June.

If approved, the plan would stay in place for 25 years.

Campaigns for the June 5 special election were required to file financial-contribution disclosure reports Thursday evening. The forms cover contributions made between Jan. 1 and April 21 for the June election, when voters will face four related growth measures on the ballot.

Supporting Measure A is the Community General Plan Committee, composed of slow-growth groups including LandWatch Monterey County and the Rancho San Juan Opposition Coalition.

Since January, the committee has received $179,925, according to the disclosure form.

Andre Charles, campaign manager for Plan for the People, said the organization raised about $584,000 since January.

But financial contribution information, called California Form 460, for Plan for the People was mailed in Thursday and not yet available.

According to major donor contribution forms filed last week, the vineyards both provided $10,000, and D'Arrigo Bros Co. contributed $15,000.

Monterey County Planning Commissioner and south county rancher Jay Brown provided $30,000 to Plan for the People, which he helped found.

The largest contribution to the organization came from the California Realtors Association, which gave $150,000.

Some of the Measure A committee's largest contributions, on the other hand, came from private citizens such as Carmel Valley resident Brigitte Wasserman, who gave $10,000, and Watsonville resident Howard Classen who donated and loaned a total of $20,000.

Chris Fitz, executive director of LandWatch, called the committee's campaign grassroots - unlike the opposition, which he said is supported by business interests.

"This is all about the community and the people's plan. That's who is funding it," Fitz said.

The June ballot also will feature measures B and C, both of which ask voters if they support the plan adopted by the county Board of Supervisors, commonly known as General Plan Update 4. But while Measure B asks voters if they want to repeal the plan (meaning a "no" vote supports GPU4), Measure C asks voters if they want to adopt the supervisors' plan (meaning a "yes" vote supports GPU4).

Measure D asks voters if they want to uphold the Board of Supervisors' approval of Butterfly Village, a 671-acre development north of Salinas.

Contact Dawn Withers at withers@thecalifornian.com.