Lolita Harper
Top campaign fund-raiser and incumbent Councilman Gary Monahan has
decided to share the wealth from his own political fund by giving a
City Council challenger a $2,500 last-minute contribution, official
campaign documents show.
Monahan gave candidate and Planning Commissioner Bill Perkins half
of the $5,000 campaign donation he received from a local apartment
association, saying it was only fair since Perkins did so much of the
ground work to educate residents and property owners about a proposed
rental housing program at the Planning Commission level that could
result in additional fees.
"Besides the fact that I think Bill possesses the same values and
concerns that I do, the apartment association gave me $5,000, but it
was Bill who has been leading the charge to inform renters and
property owners about the program," Monahan said. "I thought it was
only right to help him out."
Rental Housing Independent, an offshoot of the Orange County
Apartment Assn., donated the large sum of cash to Monahan in part
because the incumbent passed a substandard housing strategy that
would not result in any fees for property owners.
While Perkins had nothing to do with Monahan's rental housing
initiative, which the City Council approved, he vocally campaigned
against a different substandard housing program being forged by the
Planning Commission and therefore earned the unofficial endorsement
from Rental Housing Independent -- as well as some of their money,
Monahan said.
Perkins said the money came at a crucial time. The status-quo in
leadership simply isn't good enough for most residents and Perkins
said he provides a rational option for change, without losing the
years of expertise that Monahan brings to the dais.
"If you want to shake things up a bit, cast a vote for me after
you cast one for Gary," Perkins said.
Perkins needs money to get his message out, and with only four
days before election day every bit helps. Perkins said he will use
the money on mailers.
Monahan said he will continue to help Perkins win that second seat
on the council any way he can. The incumbent has included a letter
endorsing Perkins in his own promotional literature and hosted
Perkins' fund-raisers at his Costa Mesa pub, Skosh Monahan's.
Both Perkins and Monahan refute they are running as a slate.
Monahan said he supported Perkins in his 2000 run for council and
again this season before the incumbent decided to wage his own
campaign.
"Prior to deciding to run again, I was endorsing Bill and then
