Simmons Leads Council Fund-Raising Race

The thickest report down at the city clerk's office in Walnut Creek belongs to the incumbent, Bob Simmons, the mayor, running for re-election to the City Council Nov. 6.

Friday, Oct. 5, was a filing deadline for candidate statements for the Walnut Creek City Council race. Simmons' report is the thickest with the most pages, reflecting the largest number of donors and dollars. In the reporting period of July 1 through Sept. 30, Simmons reported total contributions of $27,195 from 145 people.

The paper reports are available for citizens to look at in the city clerk's office on the third floor of City Hall, 1666 N. Main St. The reports will be scanned electronically and available digitally on the city's website by the end of the work week, Oct. 12, said City Clerk Suzie Martinez.

Contributions reported by candidates (all listed except Kish Rajan cover the period from July 1 to Sept. 30 ):

• incumbent Bob Simmons — Reporting $27,195 in contributions from 145 people and expenditures of $16,710. The biggest category of donors was "retiree" for Simmons, a retired attorney.
• incumbent Kish Rajan (filed as candidate but not pursuing re-election; Rajan's filings reflect Jan. 1 through Sept. 30) — 
• Barry Grove — Reporting $16,371 in contributions and $12,262 in expenditures. Grove, a deputy district attorney in Contra Costa County, listed 48 contributions ranging from $25 to $1,000 listed collectively from five individuals at a Walnut Creek law firm and insurance agency. There were a number of contributions from lawyers, staff at the district attorney's office and police officers.
• Loella Haskew — Reporting $12,615 in contributions and $8,704 in expenditures. Haskew, a Certified Public Accountant, listed 76 contributors ranging from $50 to $160. Many contributions came from businesses in town, some people in the financial field and local businesspeople.
• Justin Wedel — Listing $10,638 in contributions and expenditures of $6,047. There were 69 contributors ranging from $10 to $160. Wedel, an entrepreneur in the information technology field, listed contributions from financial services people, many retirees and $150 from the Republican Club of Rossmoor.

Endorsement

In other city election news, the Contra Costa Times a week ago endorsed Wedel, Simmons and Haskew for the three seats on the City Council.