With only a few weeks left, the race for mayor has proved to be fairly typical for the most part.
Richard Bailey and Carrie Downey have spoken at forums, held meet-and-greets, sent out mailers, gone door-to-door and purchased ads, all trying to connect with as many voters as possible.
There has been one exception to the similarities — the amount of money raised for the campaigns.
Bailey started raising funds in 2015. This gave him a $12,664 head start. It also allowed him to receive a donation from an individual twice, once in 2015 and once 2016.
As of September 28, Bailey had raised over $30,000, more than three times what his opponent Carrie Downey had raised.*
* Figures used in this story are from campaign financial statements that are filed with the city clerk. Copies are available at the Coronado City Hall and at the Coronado Library.
Bailey says he started his campaign in late 2015 because he wanted to reach as many voters as possible using as many platforms as possible. He shared, “mathematically you can’t knock on every door if you start in September.”
The vast majority of Bailey supporters live in Coronado. Many are well-known community leaders: businesswoman Cindy Anderson, contractor Bill Lyons, restaurateur David Spatafore, former school board member Doug Metz and community activist Marilyn Field to name a few.
Downey, who started fundraising over the summer, recently reported $8,418.66. She too has her share of notables. Heidi Wilson, former Chair of the Cultural Arts Commission, Dr. Laura Clapper, former school board member and Al Ovrom, former City Councilman. Like Bailey, Downey has out-of-town supporters, including Assembly Speaker Emeritus Toni Atkins.
The monetary disparity doesn’t bother Downey. “I set a goal of $10,000,” she wrote in an e-mail. “I could have asked for more money, but I have been able to pay for 5,000 brochures, 300 yard signs, campaign buttons, one mailing, and ads in the Eagle-Journal and Coronado Lifestyles Magazine. I don’t think that it is fiscally responsible to spend more than that.”
Having an abundance of money doesn’t seem to have drastically affected Bailey’s campaign spending. Other than spending $2,000 for graphic design and marketing services and $410 for a video production service, Bailey’s expenditures mirror Downey’s. He’s just been able to do more of it; for example, he’s sent out more mailers and ordered more yard signs, and held larger meet and greets.
None of this may matter come November 8. The last time the city elected a new mayor, the candidate who started out with the most money came in third. By the end of that September, Phil Monroe had raised $15,645 while his chief opponent, Casey Tanaka, had raised $10,356. In the end Tanaka beat Monroe by 1,316 votes.
Learn more about each candidate: Richard Bailey and Carrie Downey.
Updated 1:07pm 10/25/16
