By Sarah Lombardo
Final campaign finance statements show that Measure G's opponents spent three times as much on their campaign as supporters of the initiative did on theirs.
The reports, filed in August, state that the No on G committee received almost $56,000 in campaign contributions and spent just under $50,000. The Save Our Neighborhoods Initiative Committee (SONIC) received a little more than $15,000 and spent $16,000.
Jeff Schwartz, a supporter of the Saratoga Neighborhood Preservation Initiative, said the reports finally prove how important the measure is to the voters of Saratoga. "[The report] says you can't fool the people on issues that are close to their hearts," Schwartz said.
Measure G requires a public vote on any general plan changes for developments that would increase housing density or land-use intensity, or would rezone an existing residential area for commercial use. Of the 9,122 Saratoga residents who voted on Measure G in March, almost 5,000 voted for the initiative.
Schwartz said the popularity of Measure G is sure to have an effect on the November City Council elections. Specifically, he said it's sure to hurt incumbent Councilwoman Ann Marie Burger.
"Ann Marie Burger lost a great deal of credibility," Schwartz said.Two of Burger's three opponents in the November race are staunch Measure G supporters: Stan Bogosian and SONIC Treasurer Jim Shaw. The third, Beth Wyman, said she was neutral on the issue but is concerned that the measure be implemented fairly now that is has been passed.
Burger said because councilmembers made a point of staying out of the Measure G battle, she had no involvement in the campaign or its finances.
Some of the biggest contributions to the No on G campaign included $9,000 from the Oak Street retirement home Our Lady of Fatima Villa and $10,000 from the Sacramento-based Issues Mobilization Political Action Committee.
Major contributions for the SONIC campaign included $5,000 in a forgiven loan and an additional $2,300 from Francis Stutzman and $1,000 from Morris Jones.
Reports show that between March 10 and June 30, the No on G campaign spent about $14,000 on campaign literature. Between those same dates, the SONIC committee spent about $3,000 on campaign literature.
This article appeared in the Saratoga News, September 4, 1996.
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