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# Council hopefuls amass campaign war chests
- URL: https://www.smdp.com/council-hopefuls-amass-campaign-war-chests/
- Published: 2004-10-07T15:00:00.000Z
- Updated: 2026-10-23T05:15:57.000Z
- Author: John Wood
- Tags: Government & Politics, Santa Monica, #archive-import

*City Hall keeps tabs on campaign contributions*

(Editor’s note: This is the second article in a series this week covering campaign expenses before the Nov. 2 election. A Wednesday article detailed the first seven of the 14 City Council candidates.) CITY HALL — The 14 candidates running for four open seats on the Santa Monica City Council have amassed war chests ranging from nothing to more than $100,000, according to disclosure documents filed this week.

Leading the pack is Kennedy-family descendent and 17-year local resident Bobby Shriver, who has raised more than $80,000 in cash donations and lent his campaign an additional $25,000\. At the other end of the spectrum are a handful of candidates who have declared they won’t be raising any money at all.

Most candidates fall somewhere in between, with many commanding relatively small budgets as of the end of September.

In addition to their individual holdings, candidates will rely on financial backing through endorsements from political groups like the Santa Monicans for Renters Rights organization and a new political action committee formed by the local chamber of commerce.

By law, candidates are not allowed to collect more than $250 from any one individual. They also are required to regularly report where their money comes from and what they spend it on. The first pre-election reports had to be postmarked by Tuesday. By the end of Wednesday, all but one were filed at City Hall. The candidates must file reports again on Oct. 21, and every 24 hours after that.

Backed by the chamber, City Councilman Herb Katz reported $42,520 in money raised and a little more than $21,000 spent so far this year. Katz faced a small fine imposed by City Hall because his report was delivered late.

The donations to Katz’s campaign came from a wide array of sources, including local businesses Bubba Gump Shrimp Co., Chez Jay, Le Merigot Hotel, Ocean Lodge Hotel, Readers Fine Jewelers, Rick’s Tavern and Santa Monica Seafood; prominent chamber of commerce members Ann Greenspun, Mike Gruning and Bob Gabriel; Santa Monica College officials Piedad F. Robertson and Herb Roney; and fellow candidate Shriver.

Much of the money Katz reported having spent went to his campaign consultant, along with election mailings “California Voter Guide,” “Parents Ballot Guide” and “The Early Voter.” Several thousand dollars also went to signs, banners and literature.

Pico neighborhood activist Maria Loya, who is endorsed by SMRR, reported $6,155 in cash raised, along with $600 borrowed and another $350 in non-monetary contributions. Of that, Loya spent $2,900, according to her filing.

Contributing to Loya’s campaign were Santa Monica College union organizer Phil Hendricks; hotel and restaurant worker union organizer Kurt Petersen; the local Teamsters; Sen. Sheila Kuehl; former State Sen. Tom Hayden; and 2002 City Council candidate Abby Arnold, according to documents.

Loya’s money spent so far has gone towards an election mailer consultant and three mailers, titled “Parents and Teachers for a Better California,” “Democratic Voters Choice” and “Voter Information Guide.”

Database analyst and Pico neighborhood resident Kathryn Morea, who is backed by the chamber, reported $5,628 in earnings over the last three months and $4,205 in expenses. Among her contributors were fellow candidate David Cole, commercial real estate agent Barbara Tenzer and landlord attorney Rosario Perry.

Morea has spent her money so far on a newspaper ad, lawn signs, a Web site, campaign literature and two election mailers. One of the mailers is listed as “Republican Voter Checklist,” the other as “Your Ballot Guide.”

Cole, a resident of the Mid-Cities neighborhood who belongs to a slate called the “Team for Change,” reported $4,636 in money raised, including contributions from both Morea and Perry. He listed expenses to date as a newspaper ad, a Web site, campaign literature and more than $700 for “campaign paraphernalia.”

Mayor Richard Bloom, who is backed by SMRR, reported just $1,099 in money raised, and no money spent so far. Bloom said Wednesday he got a late start in fundraising but more contributions were coming in now, adding he anticipated he would raise between $65,000 and $70,000 to supplement his SMRR endorsement.

“I’m a strong finisher anyway,” Bloom said. “When I tell people in other communities that that’s the kind of money I need to raise to win a council seat in Santa Monica, they’re astonished at the amount of money.”

> “When I tell people in other communities that that’s the kind of money I need to raise to win a council seat in Santa Monica, they’re astonished...” — — MAYOR RICHARD BLOOM

Nurse Leticia Anderson filed papers indicating she will not be raising money for her campaign. The only candidate yet to file papers with City Hall is flight attendant Jon Mann. The other seven candidates reported the following: ■ Bobby Shriver Cash raised: $80,100 Loans: $25,000 Spent: $97,000 ■ Matt Dinolfo Cash raised: $37,100 Loans: $17,000 Spent: $10,100 ■ Mike Feinstein Cash raised: $19,600 Loans: $36,700 Spent: $24,300 ■ Patricia Hoffman Cash raised: $7,800 Loans: $1,500 Spent: $3,600 ■ Bill Bauer Cash raised: $4,500 Spent: $2,000 ■ Ken Genser Cash raised: $1,200 Spent: $500 ■ Linda Armstrong Not raising money

*Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on October 7, 2004.* [Read the original PDF.](https://s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/smdp%5Fbackissues/100704.pdf?ref=smdp.com)