Names, money didn't always count in voting

By Susan Fuller, Alameda Journal, Feburuary 8, 2005,

It took money and name recognition, in mysterious proportions, to win election in November. Neither money alone -- as in council candidate Pat Bail's $110,000 expenditure -- nor name recognition alone -- as in school board incumbent Bob Reeves' last-place finish -- was enough to win the prize.

Two incumbents, Councilwoman Marie Gilmore and school trustee Janet Gibson, won the most votes in their respective races.

Gilmore's spending was in the middle range. Gibson's pre-Election Day spending was the lowest of all winners. She didn't file a final campaign expenditure report, which was due Jan. 31.

The other council winner, Doug deHaan is a longtime civic volunteer who also spent in the mid-range.

A large campaign treasury ($39,000) and name recognition among parents brought victory to the team of David Forbes and Bill Schaff. In contrast, Bail's history of community involvement and a massive expenditure (over $100,000) of her own money only brought her a close third in the City Council race. Like Gibson, she didn't file the year-end disclosure.

Hospital trustee Marilyn Ezzy Ashcraft's spending was comparable to both Gilmore's and deHaan's, but she finished fourth in the six-person race. Unknown Ruben Tilos' minimal spending earned him a fifth-place finish.

Bail and Gibson didn't return the Journal's calls asking for current disclosures.

Correction on February 11th

The Feb. 8 story about campaign expenditures should have included school board candidates Janet Gibson and Karin Lucas, who did file year-end reports. Gibson spent almost $5,000, or 24 cents per vote. Lucas spent $1,837, or 20 cents per vote.

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