Los Gatos Weekly-Times

Photograph by George Sakkestad

Political newcomer Jan Hutchins says he won't send out the traditional fundraising letter for his council campaign. Meanwhile, he can be seen scurrying about town in his electric buggy car, stopping to talk with voters, as he did recently in the Town Plaza, where he chatted with Chiang Lien Yu (left) and Fung Ting Fung.

Dear voter: Please send money

By Clarence Cromwell

If they want Los Gatans to vote for them, the four candidates for Town Council are going to have to spend some money.

Although only the fees for filing papers and printing candidate statements are mandatory, candidates typically spend $8,000-$12,000 to spread their message to the masses. They usually print yard signs and fliers and buy newspaper advertising.

But first they have to get the money.

Beginning politicians may have to rely on friends and acquaintances because savvy contributors prefer to bet their money on an incumbent--who is less likely to lose.

For seasoned fundraisers, the three most common sources of funding are mailers that ask recipients to pitch in, coffee meetings hosted by supporters and political action committees.

The Letter

The fundraising letter is the foundation of most local candidates' campaign efforts.

Linda Lubeck kicked off her campaign this year by mailing a letter to everyone who gave money to her 1992 campaign, including Larry Arzie, owner of The Porch on N. Santa Cruz Avenue. He said Lubeck's letter asked for $100. As of Aug. 30, the Lubeck war chest held about $3,500, all drawn in by her fundraising letter.

Newcomer to the local political scene, Jan Hutchins, however, said he won't send out a letter. Since he doesn't like being asked for money, he assumes others feel the same way.

The Coffee Meeting

They're rarer and harder to organize than fundraising letters, but a candidate can collect a few small checks when a supporter volunteers to host a party.

Joanne Benjamin said she pocketed "a few hundred dollars" in small contributions after a 10-minute speech at the California Cafe that Old Town management put together for her in 1990. The shopping center managed to corral about 50 business people for free hors d'oeuvres and Benjamin's appearance. Benjamin wasn't inclined to have any more parties during her last campaign, since, she said, the funds from her mailer were sufficient.

Generally a candidate's friends or supporters do the legwork in arranging such an affair--preparing snacks and coffee, setting up the house and inviting 10 to 20 guests. The candidate just has to show up and deliver his or her pitch.

The best thing about successful parties isn't the small amount of money they draw but the support they drum up for the candidate.

Usually admission is free, anyway, although guests can contribute money if they want to. But besides picking up a few dollars, a party lets the candidate get his or her message out to a large group of interested people and fires up the supporters, according to former Los Gatos mayor Peter Siemens.

Last Saturday, Nancy Llewelyn, local political activist and longtime Steve Blanton supporter, hosted a coffee for Egon Jensen.

The Endorsements

Usually in October, political action committees--groups that want to influence public policy--begin to endorse candidates. They may sponsor public forums to help the public learn about candidates. Those forums go hand-in-hand with closed-door interviews, where the PACs question the candidates and endorse those who share their views. The endorsement usually comes with a check.

A number of PACs tend to give money in Los Gatos: Tri-County Apartment Association, the PG&E Employees PAC and NME Medical Employees PAC.

The Peninsula West Valley Association of Realtors, a 3,000-member real estate trade association and homeowner advocate, awards its endorsement in Town Council elections. Along with that comes with a $200-$500 check from the statewide Board of Realtors Political Action Committee (BORPAC).