It's still early, but according to last week's round of state campaign finance reports, dollars have already begun flowing by the thousands this year into county-level political parties around the state – organizations that, as we have discussed, are often used as conduits to route money into key races.
Photo from CALPERSState Treasurer Bill Lockyer
County parties don't usually get involved in elections until late in the game: September and October, when Republicans and Democrats are slugging it out Rocky/Drago-style. But a quick glance at the most recent round of filings shows that a few committees have already combined to pull in upwards of $1 million in big donations.
The Alameda County Democratic committee in particular received an interesting contribution:
State Treasurer Bill Lockyer gave $55,000 to his hometown committee a few weeks ago. Coincidentally (or not), the committee has endorsed Lockyer's wife, Nadia, in her bid for county supervisor, and has reportedly sent mailers on her behalf.
A quick look at the committee's expenses shows tens of thousands of dollars spent sending mailers, though exactly when those mailers were sent and what they said isn't specified. Still, Lockyer's countribtion accounts for more than half of the money the committee has received so far this year. Lockyer has already contributed more than $450,000 to his wife's campaign, so watching how the county committee spends his cash could be interesting.
Elsewhere, among the fattest bank accounts are, predicatbly, parties in Los Angeles and San Diego, which have brought in hundreds of thousands. But the Ventura Couny Republicans have also brought in more than a quarter-million dollars, including $25,000 from the California Correctional Peace Officers Association, which represents state prison guards.
We'll keep an eye on the committees as the election rolls on.
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