While Ignacio Velazquez spent the most money in his campaign among four candidates for Hollister mayor through the latest filing period, he expended about $7,000 more than he received in donations and accrued unpaid bills totaling $8,818, according to campaign finance statements filed late last week.
He and the other three candidates have relied on self-financing more than donations from individuals, but Velazquez was the only candidate to list any accrued expenses – or unpaid bills – on his campaign finance forms.
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Through the most recent filing period, ending Oct. 20, Velazquez spent $9,824. He received $2,840 in donations – while those can include loans from a candidate to his own campaign, the manner in which the other three candidates have handled most of their finances, according to the filings.
Velazquez listed $8,818 in unpaid bills and an ending cash balance of $1,383. His accrued expenses were made up of owed amounts to “Chase (Visa)” for $6,089 and “DL&G Printing” for $2,729, according to his statement.
He also received two donations after Oct. 20 that he had to report additionally: $3,500 from a Sacramento organization called Grow Elect and $1,000 from Vince Pryor of Pryor Construction. Those donations both came in Oct. 24, according to the statement.
Velazquez, owner of The Vault restaurant and American Electrical Services, has criticized the city for its own deficit spending in recent years.
The other mayoral candidate to criticize the city’s spending habits has been Marty Richman, a retired military professional and engineering manager.
Richman, who self-financed most of his campaign and had no contributions over the $99 non-reporting limit, raised and spent the least amount of money through Oct. 20. He raised $5,409 through the period – $4,350 of which was comprised of loans to himself. He spent $4,825 and had an ending cash balance of $591.
Doug Emerson, a two-term Hollister councilman and retired educator, has followed a similar path as Richman, but raised and spent more money in his campaign. He raised $8,523 – $5,000 in loans to himself. He spent $8,123 and had an ending balance of $400. Emerson had one contribution over the reporting limit during the period – $500 from PG&E, according to his statement.
Keith Snow, a retired construction foreman, listed contributions through Oct. 20 of $7,086. Snow listed that he had expenses of $7,086 and an ending balance of $0. His contributions all have been comprised of loans to himself.
