Who’s funding SLO County District 4 supervisor race? See list of largest donors
More than $700,000 has poured into San Luis Obispo County’s Fourth District supervisor race.
The incumbent Democrat Jimmy Paulding and Republican challenger Adam Verdin are vying for the district that spans from Nipomo, Oceano and Arroyo Grande to far eastern areas of the county.
Verdin, a longtime Oceano business owner, has raised a total of $338,954 as of May 16, according to campaign finance records.
Some of his largest contributions come from local housing developers, including the San Luis Obispo-based Covelop Inc. which donated $5,900 to Verdin’s primary election campaign and $5,900 to his general election campaign, adding up to $11,800 in total — and sparking an FPPC complaint from his opponent.
Paulding alleged that Verdin violated campaign finance rules and filed a formal complaint with the California Fair Political Practices Commission in February. Ultimately, the FPPC dismissed Paulding’s complaint after finding no wrongdoing.
Verdin has since returned Covelop’s general election donation since the race will be decided at the June 2 primary election.
Paulding is narrowly leading the fundraising race with a total of $365,897 raised as of May 18.
He has three donors who gave the maximum $5,900: Decktech Inc. general contractor Ron McKenna, the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers’ political action committee and retired Nipomo resident Carla Haynie.
In San Luis Obispo County, donations to electoral campaigns from individuals, businesses and committees are capped at $5,900 per election.
See supervisor candidates’ biggest contributors
Verdin has received the full $5,900 contribution limit from 14 donors.
Those contributors include the San Luis Obispo Cattlemen’s PAC and the Home Builders Association of the Central Coast, as well as Kathy and Nick Tompkins at NKT Commercial, the real estate developer behind the Dana Reserve housing project, among others.
Paulding has received more than $10,000 from local Democratic organizations, including the San Luis Obispo, South County and Paso Robles Democratic clubs.
A few labor and trades councils have also sent large contributions ranging from $3,000 to $5,000 to his campaign, such as the Central Coast Construction Trades, the Southern California Trades District Council and the Western State Regional Council of Carpenters.
