Hollister
– The recent release of the final campaign finance statements
for the District 4 Board of Supervisors race showed that incumbent
Reb Monaco outspent his challenger, Tracie Cone, by more than
three-to-one in winning re-election.
Hollister – The recent release of the final campaign finance statements for the District 4 Board of Supervisors race showed that incumbent Reb Monaco outspent his challenger, Tracie Cone, by more than three-to-one in winning re-election.
The final finance documents showed that Cone received $15,685 in campaign donations and spent $15,735, while Monaco received $55,865 and spent $53,510.
Despite the inequity in campaign spending, the race was close. Monaco won by just 60 votes, receiving 50.78 percent while Cone received 49.22 percent.
Monaco said he feels raising and spending money are realities of campaigning today. Much of his spending went for advertising, such as signs and mailers, he said.
“I think any candidate has the prerogative to spend how much they are able to raise,” Monaco said.
He said the amount he spent in 2006 was nearly double what he spent in his first run for Board of Supervisors four years earlier. But Monaco said he was proud of the contributions he received for this election and the support they represented.
“I’m certainly not embarrassed by the amount that I raised,” Monaco said. “I attribute that to the good support I had out there.”
Cone, however, said she thinks the amount of money spent by Monaco is a sign of a dangerous new era in local politics.
“We’ve officially entered the era in San Benito County where big money can win an election,” Cone said. “It’s endemic in politics and it’s a shame it happens in local elections as well.”
In 2004, Monaco was the only supervisor to oppose a campaign finance ordinance limiting the amount of money a candidate can raise for an election.
Alice Joy covers education for the Free Lance. You can reach her at 637-5566 ext. 336 or at aj**@fr***********.com.
