Police PAC War Chest Tops $20,000 for Possible Use in 2012 Elections

The local police political action committee has a war chest of $21,430 going into the 2012 elections, which include two seats on the La Mesa City Council.

According to the latest financial disclosures, the La Mesa Police Officers Association PAC raised $9,040 in the six months ended Dec. 31, 2011—with $205 from every member of the police labor union over the course of the year.

But fund-raising among council members and residents with active finance committees was quiet in the July 1-Dec. 31 period of 2011.

In Form 460 filings on record at City Hall, Councilman Mark Arapostathis—re-elected in 2010 and not facing another race until 2014—had a beginning and ending balance of $5,031.

Mayor Art Madrid, also re-elected in November 2010, had the second-highest balance at $1,994.  Six months ago, he had a cash balance of $2,864, but he spent $350 on a portrait for display in his City Hall office—paying Sylvia Chris of the Foothills Art Association, according to his filing.

Madrid also reported contributing $200 to the “Dr. Jack Hardback Golf Tournament” and $270 for shirts with the La Mesa city logo.

Councilwoman Ruth Sterling, whose term ends this November, recorded no donations or spending in 2011, and no cash balance. 

Jim Wieboldt, one of her potential rivals, reported a cash balance of $124.43, including a $100 donation from himself, listing his San Diego County Sheriff’s Department affiliation.

Three other possible candidates also filed Form 460s for the last half of 2011—Patrick Dean, Laura Lothian and Shannon O’Dunn.  The second council opening is that of Dave Allan, who has announced he won't run for re-election.

Dean—whose committee is titled Patrick Dean for La Mesa City Council 2012—had an ending cash balance of $552 and spending from his July 1 balance of $975. Most of his spending was to Jill Richardson for food purchases, amounting to $295.  Dean is a chef.

Lothian, who lost to Madrid in the 2010 mayoral election, had an ending balance of $616.28—the same she started out with in July 2011.

O’Dunn, an art gallery owner in The Village and former council candidate, listed no cash balance and took in no money, according to her filing.

Meanwhile, the police PAC’s parent group—the La Mesa Police Officers Association—continues to seek donations via its website.

“We are a proud supporter of Mothers Against Drunk Driving, San Diego Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, Susan G. Komen Foundation, and La Mesa National Little League just to name a few,” says the site. 

The La Mesa POA  says it has two awards in memory of former La Mesa police officers—the Ken Joseph Award and the Christine Rath Award.
 
Professor P.J. Ortmeier, professor and coordinator of the Administration of Justice Department at Grossmont College, says: “The last Grossmont College Police Academy cadet recipient of the Ken Joseph Award was Kyle Rack.  The award was $250 cash, the same as previous years.”

But Donald Dyer, an animal science teacher at El Cajon’s El Capitan High School, told La Mesa Patch: “I don't believe that we received any money for the scholarship this past year.”

The La Mesa police PAC reported refunding a $200 contribution to the La Mesa Police Officers Association.