Growth campaigns' costs grow
Anti-Measure A finance report made available

By LARRY PARSONS
Herald Staff Writer

Monterey County Herald
Posted on April 28, 2007

The June 5 election over competing plans for Monterey County rural growth is becoming very expensive, already passing the $1 million mark.

The high-spending nature of the battle between the more restrictive-growth general plan initiative and the county-approved general plan became obvious
Friday. The first pre-election finance report from the campaign against Measure A, the general plan initiative, was made available.

The No on A committee reported $627,342 in total contributions for the Jan. 1 to April 21 reporting period. Measure A backers reported $179,925 in
contributions for the same period.

Combined with earlier finance reports from both sides, the two camps have raised about $1.14 million since 2005 to fuel the political battle about the county's rural development plan.

Measure A supporters, who contend the general plan initiative will prevent rural sprawl, have raised about $497,000, including $180,000 since Jan. 1, and
spent about $467,000 to advance their version of the general plan.

Measure A opponents, who argue the general plan initiative would prevent needed development and trample private property rights, raised about $642,000 and spent about $382,000. Most of the financial activity took place during the past four months.

On Friday, both campaigns used the finance reports as
new ammunition to rip into each another.

Chris Fitz, spokesman for the general plan initiative campaign, said the No on A campaign "needs a lot more money when their whole campaign is based on deception."  The No on A campaign said its contributor's list showed a wide cross-section of the community lined up against a measure that would endanger the county's
future.

"They claim anyone who opposes them is a developer,"
said Andre Charles, a No on A campaign spokesman.

Charles acknowledged that the No on A campaign has received many large contributions, including $150,000 from the California Association of Realtors, from agricultural companies and other business interests.

"But look at all the small checks for $10, $25, or $50 from people who realize the disastrous consequence if Measure A passes," he said.

The No on A group put out a press release defending the $150,000 contribution from the Realtors group.

"Realtors are not developers. We are part of the Monterey community," the press release said.

"They don't want to pave over the county," Charles said. Private property rights and sensible land-use planning are the Realtors' major interests in the
Measure A battle.

But Fitz said Measure A opponents, including the Realtors group, are putting money into the campaign because "they have financial interests in sprawl
development."

"It's big money they are investing, because it's part of business to make more money," he said.

Despite the No on A campaign's sizable lead in contributions, Fitz said, general plan initiative backers won't be financially overmatched.

"We'll have enough money to keep our message from getting drowned out," he said.

Charles predicted both sides may spend $800,000 each before the battle is over.

"It's hard to say," Charles said. "We'll continue to raise funds to get the message out."

Several major backers of the No on A campaign were identified in reports filed before the comprehensive report released Friday. The latest report showed the
same trends with major contributions from farming, labor and hospitality industry sources.

Major contributors included the Laguna Seca Golf Ranch and Rancho Ca ada Golf Club ($5,000 each), Taylor Farms California ($10,000), General Vineyard Services ($20,275) and the Salinas Land Co. ($10,000).

Marina Mayor Ila Mettee-McCutchon gave $200 to the No on A campaign and Sand City Manager Kelly Morgan gave $100, the report said.


Larry Parsons can be reached at 646-4379 or lparsons@montereyherald.com.