More than $654,000 has been spent in the campaign leading up to Tuesday's Council District 1 election, according to the Los Angeles City Ethics Commission's online database.
The vast majority of that money has been spent by the campaigns of the two leading candidates. California State Assemblyman Gilbert Cedillo and Jose Gardea, longtime cheif of staff for outgoing Councilman Ed Reyes, respectively have spent $407,700 and $243,011 on campaign costs ranging from advertising, to consulting to office space.
The candidates on the outside looking in, local businessman Jesse Rosas and Boyle Heights Neighborhood Council Member William Rodriguez Morrison, have been widely outspent by their more established competitors. Rosas has dropped $3,500 on his campaign; Morrision has spent only $200.
Gardea has raised $307,800 thus far, more than any other candidate. His coffers were partly filled by 150 contributions of $700. A sampling of $700 donors includes unions; Utility Workers Union of America COPE, developers; Thomas Warren of Holland Partner Group, and small business owners; Hargunvir K. Singh co-owner of a 7-11 Franchise.
You can see the full list of Gardea's contributors here.
Cedillo is running a close second to Gardea in fund raising, so far amassing a $272,533 war chest. His top donors include Union Pacific Railroad, who pledged $1,000, Alta Med President Castulo de la Rocha, who gave $700 and the California Berry Farmers PAC, who also donated $700.
A full list of Cedillo's donors can be found here.
Cedillo leads the way in backing from outside groups.
Cedillo leads the way by far in this category, with outside groups spending a total of $251,000 to help get him elected.
Who has spent the most to help get Cedillo elected? A group called Working Californians to Elect Cedillo & Choi to City Council 2013, Supported by Labor Unions & Business has spent $28,675 on Cedillo's behalf. LA Jobs PAC Sponsored by the Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce has spent $22,807 and Los Angeles County Federation of Labor AFL-CIO Council on Political Education has spent $18,666.
In total, LA Jobs PAC Sponsored by the Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce, has spent $32,000 to oppose Gardea's campaign.
A full list of Cedillo's backers can be seen here.
Gardea has not received any funding from outside groups.
What about Rosas and Morrison?
The latter's funding is nearly non-existent. He received a single $200 contribution from an individual named Dennis Schneider, which accounts for the entirety of his spending.
Rosas has done well for himself, considering his low profile. Though not benefiting from any independent expenditures, he has received nearly $3,000 in donations, mostly comprising $100 to $200 donations from local business owners, including Marcos Perez of Digicolor on York Boulevard. Rosas largest contribution, $581, came from Martin Espadas, manager of Espadas Creative Communications.
Elections will be held on Tuesday, March 5.
Council District 1 is currently represented by Ed Reyes and includes the eastern part of Echo Park and the Elysian Valley.
Update: The original version of this story reported that LA Jobs PAC Sponsored by the Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce spent $32,000 support Gardea's campaign. The money was spent to oppose. We regret the error.
