Saturday, Apr. 26, 2008

District 4 supervisor race is between the haves and have-nots

By CORINNE REILLY
creilly@mercedsun-star.com

In the race for Merced County's District 4 Board of Supervisors seat, the financial chasm between incumbent Deidre Kelsey and challenger Claudine Sherron is a wide one.

Kelsey, who has held the District 4 seat since 1995, has outraised Sherron, a substitute teacher and political newcomer, by nearly 10 times, according to campaign finance statements and interviews.

In total, Kelsey's campaign has raised about $30,000. It now has about $25,000 at its disposal. Sherron's campaign has raised about $3,000, with $1,000 left to spend.

Three Board of Supervisor seats could be decided on June 3. Of them, the financial disparity among the candidates will almost certainly remain the biggest in District 4, which includes Snelling, Ballico, Cressey, Delhi, Hilmar, Winton, Gustine and Stevinson.

So far, the divide in spending between Kelsey and Sherron isn't as wide. Kelsey has spent about $4,000 to date, twice as much as Sherron's $2,000.

Both candidates said issues and Kelsey's record will play a bigger role than money in the election's outcome.

According to month-old financial statements filed by the candidates, Kelsey's campaign started the year with about $14,000. It raised another $11,700 between January and late March, according to the statements.

Since then, Kelsey said in an interview this week, she's raised an additional $3,800. She said most of that has come from small donations from a $10-a-plate barbecue fundraiser she's hosting in Winton on May 3. She also mailed letters last week soliciting donations from constituents.

Among Kelsey's biggest donations before this month, according to the campaign finance statements, were $5,000 from Hilmar Cheese Co.; $1,000 each from Nyman Bros. Dairy, Fagundes Dairy and Carolyn and William Ahlem, Jr.; and $500 each from Louie Bandoni Farms, Galen and Melba Miyamoto, A&G Farms in Torrance and Bergman Landscape, Inc.

Most of her campaign spending has paid for printing and mailing letters, organizing the barbecue and placing newspaper and online advertisements, Kelsey said. She plans to also buy radio ads. She won't spend money on campaign signs; she's using the same ones she used the last time she ran. "I'm just digging them out and washing them up this week," said Kelsey, 52.

Though she has plenty to spend, Kelsey said she plans to keep most of her funds in the bank. "My goal is to spend as little as possible," she said. "Money obviously plays a part in politics, but I think that for incumbents, what really wins elections is following through on your promises. I think I've done that. I'm running on my record."

The last time Kelsey ran, in 2004, her campaign spent $105,000. "I don't think we'll see anything close to that this time," she said. "I don't think it will be necessary."

Sherron's campaign had raised $900 by late March, according to its financial statements. Sherron, 39, also loaned her campaign $1,200 that month. Since she last filed financial statements, she has raised another $900, Sherron said in an interview this week. "It's mostly been really small donations," she said. "Twenty dollars here, $30 there, $100 occasionally."

Among Sherron's biggest donations prior to this month, according to the campaign finance statements, were $300 from Mike and Suzanne Gurley of Carlsbad and $200 each from Edward and Lucette Gurley of Goodyear, Ariz., and Roberta Avilla of Stevinson.

Sherron said most of her campaign spending has paid for fliers that volunteers are distributing. "I'm relying incredibly heavily on volunteers and word-of-mouth," she said. "I really think I can win this without big dollars."

Sherron estimated that about 50 volunteers are passing out fliers and knocking on doors for her. She has spent several weekends knocking on doors herself. She's also attending as many public meetings as she can to talk to voters. "We knew going in that (Kelsey) would be able to buy more signs than us," Sherron said. "We're making up for that with grass-roots efforts."

Sherron said her campaign isn't asking for public endorsements. "I think a lot of people in District 4 have long-standing ties to the incumbent, or even business relationships with her. So they may be hesitant to make a public endorsement, even if they're supporting me more quietly." Her campaign isn't actively soliciting donations either. "The people in my district are already having a hard enough time making ends meet."

Kelsey and Sherron are required to file their next campaign finance statements on May 22.

Reporter Corinne Reilly can be reached at (209) 385-2477 or creilly@mercedsun-star.com.