COMMUNITY COMMENTARY:Focus on issues, not money

In the Daily Pilot article about campaign disclosures ("Council campaign finances disclosed," Aug. 1), our appointed city councilwoman, Leslie Daigle, when asked about her fundraising going over the $100,000 mark, is quoted as saying: "I can't predict that, but certainly there's been an outpouring of support."

"Support from whom?" should have been the next question. Has anyone read her disclosure statement on the city's website? The overwhelming support comes from builders, lawyers and consultants for special interest groups. Just what this city needs more of. Not to mention the fact that she has been raising money since 2005.

I should know: I can't tell you how many times she asked me as the Santa Ana Heights Political Action Committee chairwoman to have a fundraiser for her. I guess that didn't happen! I can only describe her as being obsessed with raising money at that time.

If you look at this appointed councilwoman's list of contributors, in 2005 approximately 88% of the money she received was related to or from the building industry, lawyers and special interest consultants. The most recent report lists at least 81% of her fundraising from those same groups. So out of 102 contributors in 2006, only 19 were private people. In 2005, there were only five.

Now I believe it's a good thing to support all business interests from every industry, but there needs to be a balance of support and where it's coming from. Balance is the key to everything.

The press keeps making a big deal about how much money this candidate is raising. Should any city council race cost more than $100,000? I think not.

What do you do with the money? Will she flood this city's mailboxes with nasty mail and slate mailers? Well, have at it. I stand by my previous statements when asked about negative campaigning. A candidate and their supporters turn to this when they don't want to talk about the real issues. That speaks to the nature of whom the candidate really is.

This is not a race to see who can raise the most money, it's about raising the consciousness of the residents of this city to get involved in their process of government. People need to make intelligent choices in their leaders and who those leaders choose to align themselves with.

The Daily Pilot needs to start talking about the issues and stop focusing on this as money race. Over history there have been candidates who over-spent and were beat by candidates who spent less money. The candidate with the message that the people of this city want to hear gets elected. My guess is that negativity is not the message.