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District 6 candidates focus on campaign fundraising
Yeager leads the race with $32,524, but Cunningham is not far behind
By Jessica Lyons
In the race for campaign cash, District 6 candidate Ken Yeager leads his four challengers in fundraising for the March 7 election.
Yeager has raised $32,524 since Sept. 9, according to campaign finance records. Of the other candidates, Kris Cunningham has raised $17,365 and Mike Borquez $2,145; Jim Spence and Bill Chew have yet to report any monetary contributions.
Although Yeager has raised the most funds thus far, only a third of his cash contributions come from Willow Glen/Rose Garden residents and businesses. Cunningham, on the other hand, has collected more than 75 percent of her cash contributions from District 6 sources.
"I want the core of support to come from the district itself," Cunningham says. "It shows support from the people whom you are going to represent. Most of my contributions come from people that I have worked with through the years, and the vast majority have never given to a political campaign."
Yeager, however, adds that although Cunningham boasts a higher percentage of inter-district contributions, dollarwise he's raised nearly the same amount of District 6 money.
Yeager has raised about $11,000 from Willow Glen and Rose Garden sources, compared with Cunningham's just over $14,000.
And District 6 residents or not, Yeager says the majority of his contributions still came from San Joseans.
"From living here and working here 30 years, I have friends from all over the city," Yeager says. "I'm very encouraged that a lot of friends and District 6 residents are sending me money and supporting my campaign all the way."
About 59 percent of Yeager's monetary contributions come from San Jose sources.
Borquez says he's not worried about the Benjamin Franklins--it's all about the endorsements. "We're waiting for endorsements right now--I'm working very hard to get the Chamber of Commerce and the Police Officer's Association and a host of others," he says. "I anticipate the contributions are going to start coming in once we get the endorsements."
Jim Spence, a San Jose police sergeant and District 6 hopeful says he's following a similar trail.
"I'm working on endorsements now, and my focus is on becoming fully aware of a number of the issues that are city-wide and to introduce myself to the people of Willow Glen and to all of District 6."
Bill Chew, on the other hand, says he's not going to do any fundraising. "I think it's unethical," he says. "In our society today, the big lie is that money does not influence your vote. Everyone is saying that, from Bill Clinton down to Kris Cunningham and Ken Yeager."
Chew takes the road less traveled in politics--he rollerskates around Willow Glen and the Rose Garden, talking to people along the way and making friends.
"My power when I get it will be real because it comes from people's real hearts, from real friends," he says. "Until I have enough friends to elect me, I don't want to be elected."
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Willow Glen, California Since 1992
