Cash News
Security National HQ on Fifth Street in Eureka. | File photo.
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The latest batch of campaign finance disclosure forms were due to the City of Eureka this past Thursday, and we’ve got a roundup of all the campaign and candidate fundraising in the City of Eureka for this election season, including an eye-popping sum from one company in particular.
Here’s the rundown:
Yes on F, A Committee in Support of the Housing for All and Downtown
Vitality Initiative, Sponsored by Security National Properties
Holding Company, LLC:
On Saturday, Security National dumped another $94,333 into the Measure F campaign, which was already the most expensive ballot initiative in Eureka history. This latest donation brings the total raised for the so-called “Housing for All and Downtown Vitality Initiative” to $1,224,037. All but $600 of that sum has come directly from Security National. (Eureka accountant John B. Fullerton, who is working on the campaign, chipped in $100 last month and former Renner Petroleum owner Michael Lawrence Renner, who now lives in Las Vegas, donated $500 last year.)
Security National, of course, is the real estate loan servicing firm founded by semi-local tycoon Rob Arkley, whose fury over the city’s downtown development plans was expressed via shouted expletives, insulted-filled emails and threats of political and legal action.
Arkley also vowed to move his business headquarters out of city limits, and while he has yet to follow through on that particular threat, his company did provide startup funding for the group called Citizens for a Better Eureka, which filed four environmental lawsuits against the city. And last November, Security National paid $650,000 to buy the parking lot in front of City Hall and promptly put up barricades that prevent anyone from parking there. (That expense is not an official part of the campaign spending.)
As you’ve no doubt noticed by now, Security National has flooded the zone with advertising — including TV, radio, print, online and billboards — while spending hundreds of thousands on outside consultants.
No on Measure F: A Committee to Defend Eureka’s Housing
Through Sept. 21, the opponents of Measure F had raised a comparatively modest sum of $19,537, which represents less than 1.6 percent of the amount spent by Security National. The largest “No on F” campaign contributions came from the Central Labor Council of Humboldt and Del Norte Counties AFL-CIO C.O.P.E. ($2,500); AFSCME Local #1684 ($2,500); retired doctor Wendy Ring ($2,000); former Eureka Mayor Susan Seaman ($550); and Eureka scientist Dr. Dale Preston ($500).
Campaign treasurer James Kloor, who works as the director of finance at the Humboldt Area Foundation, loaned the campaign $1,950 through Sept. 21, and has already been reimbursed with campaign funds.
The “No on F” effort has spent $14,703 thus far, primarily on campaign literature and paraphernalia, including yard signs.
Lucky for Ward 4:
Thavisak “Lucky” Syphanthong, who’s running against incumbent Scott Bauer for Eureka’s Fourth Ward seat on the city council, raised $1,772.68 this reporting period, of which $1,672.68 (94 percent) was a loan to himself. (The other $100 was a donation from Eureka retiree Chuck Elsworth.
Syphanthong spent $391 on his campaign statement, $442.85 on a campaign kickoff event and $127.24 on meetings and events.
Scott Bauer For Fourth Ward Of Eureka City Council 2024:
In Bauer’s first campaign disclosure statement of this cycle he reported raising $1,363 through Sept. 21, and he’d spent just $127 of that amount. His largest donors include Eureka retiree Barry Douglas ($300), Eureka general contractor Jake Larson ($250) and three donors at $100 apiece, including Fourth District Humboldt County Supervisor Natalie Arroyo.
Kenny Carswell for Eureka City Council Ward 2 2024:
Carswell, who’s employed as a project manager for Security National, reported raising $6,465 through Sept. 21, including a loan to his own campaign in the amount of $1,253. His top donors include $500 contributions from Eureka accountant William McAuley, Eureka real estate appraiser Cynthia Olsen and Fortuna residents Steve and Heather Bryan, who own the 707 Bar on First Street. He had a number of other donations of between $100 and $300.
Carswell’s campaign reported spending $5,192, with expenditures for fundraising events, campaign paraphernalia, advertising and filing fees.
Kati Moulton for Eureka City Council, 2024:
Moulton, the incumbent councilmember is Eureka’s Second Ward, raised just $774 through Sept. 21 and spent $663 of that. The four donors who contributed at least $100 to her campaign include Dr. Preston and Catherine Sennott ($300); Eureka retiree Deborah Dukes ($100); former Humboldt County Supervisor Mark Lovelace ($100) and current Supervisor Arroyo ($100).
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Mark it on your calendars: Election Day is Nov. 5 — just over five weeks off! If you’re not registered to vote, it’s not too late. Click this link to register online before October 21, or you can “conditionally” register and vote at your county elections office after the 15-day voter registration deadline.