tool name

Wednesday, Sep. 30, 2009

Candidate Long raking in cash, endorsements for upcoming Merced Irrigation District election

Longtime director Hooper losing some of his past backers.

If campaign finances are any indication of who will win an election, the race for Merced Irrigation District's open seat will be a landslide.

Dave Long, who's challenging longtime MID director Jack Hooper, has raised far more money than his opponent -- $13,000, according to filings.

Hooper, who owns the Bear Creek Inn, on the other hand has raised so little he hasn't even filed records with the county.

Not only does Long enjoy a full war chest, but he's also gathered an array of endorsements from local politicians, businessmen and farmers.

All this support has left Long, who owns an almond-processing company in Ballico, feeling more than sure of himself and his prospects in the coming election. "I think I'm going to win this election," he said, "I don't have any doubt."

Hooper, who has held his District 3 seat, which straddles Merced to the north, since 1989, has raised hefty chunks of cash in the past. In 2005 when Hooper last ran for his seat, he raised a total $12,027, most of which came from his private funds, according to his filings.

But in the past he also received money from the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, the union which represents 104 of MID's 175 employees. He also got $250 from Gallo Cattle and $200 from Rucker Construction.

Now, not only does Hooper have few supporters and almost no cash, but some of Hooper's former donors, such as Rucker, are backing Long.

Hooper's lack of support may spring from his support of selling water outside the district to balance MID's books, an unpopular idea with many farmers. (Hooper didn't return calls for comment.)

Long, who has said he will oppose sales of MID water out of the district, is flush with support.

Donators to his campaign include farmers, builders and business people. And his endorsements are like a who's who of Merced's political leadership: State Sen. Jeff Denham, Assemblywoman Cathleen Galgiani and Supervisor Mike Nelson, among others.

Diana Westmoreland Pedrozo, the Merced County Farm Bureau's president, said her organization's endorsement of Long was part of a groundswell wanting change at MID. "I think that there are people that are ready for some change and a commitment to protect our water," she said.

If Long's bid for a place on MID's board comes to fruition, it could mean a shift of power on a board often split 3-2 and at odds about management style, financial management and transparency.

Directors Wil Hunter and Suzy Hultgren, while not always on the same page, are often the two board members raising their voices about how MID is run.

Reporter Jonah Owen Lamb can be reached at (209) 385-2484 or jlamb@mercedsun-star.com.