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King is tops in spending among the six city council candidates

By Shannon Burkey

The six candidates running for Saratoga City Council have brought in thousands of dollars for their campaigns, but incumbent Kathleen King has surpassed the others by collecting more than $19,000, according to campaign finance documents filed by the candidates.

King, along with Chuck Page, Hab Siam and slate members Marilyn Marchetti, Jill Hunter and Jim Sorden, are all vying for the three open seats in the November election. Each candidate was required to file campaign finance information with the city clerk by Oct. 5.

King, the only incumbent in the race, received $16,417 in donations and made a $3,500 loan to herself for a total of $19,917. Among her donations, King received $1,000 from Mary Ellen and Michael Fox and $500 each from Sally Lucas, Wanda Kownacki and John Holton, Elaine Elkin, Backer Navid, Bill Cleary, Abe Kaabipour, Mahnaz Khazen, Frederick Andres, Amelia Marzolf-Diazone and the San Jose law firm of Rossi, Hamerslough, Reischl and Chuck.

To date, King has spent $15,678 on her campaign, with the majority being spent on signs, mailers, a website and newspaper advertisements.

Siam has amassed the second largest amount of campaign contributions. Siam has received $5,747 in contributions and gave himself a $2,525 loan for a total of $8,312. Siam received $1,000 from Sandy Cross and contributions of $500 each from Stan Bogosian, Bruce Euler, Brian Robertson and James Williamson.

Siam has spent $7,143 on campaigning, with the majority of the money being used for campaign literature and paraphernalia.

With $7,350 in campaign contributions, Page has the third largest amount of money for his campaign. Page has received $2,172 in contributions and made a $5,178 loan to himself. Among the money he has received are a $1,000 contribution from Ron Cali and $250 contributions from Nick Gera, Paul Conrado and Russ Perry.

Page has spent $2,797 on his campaign to purchase banners and for filing fees.

One of the reasons the other three candidates have said they are running as a slate is because of financial concerns, and to date they have raised less than the other three candidates.

Sorden has raised $1,594 in campaign contributions, contributing $1,000 to himself, and gave himself a loan of $1,000 for a total of $2,594.

To date, Sorden has spent $1,690 on his campaign, the majority being spent on mailers.

Marchetti has brought in a total of $5,599, $599 from contributions and $5,000 from a loan to herself. She has spent $4,595 for items such as lawn signs, buttons, filing fees and other campaign paraphernalia.

Hunter has raised $1,989 in contributions, contributing $1,000 of that to herself and giving herself a $2,525 loan for a total of $4,514.

To date, Hunter has spent $2,811 on her campaign with the majority of the money going toward her filing fee and campaign literature.