Fundraising Efforts Display Differences in Candidates' Backgrounds, Strategies

With only a week remaining until Council District 14 residents go to the polls to select who will represent them for the next five years on the Los Angeles City Council, incumbent is well ahead of challenger Rudy Martinez in the amount of money raised and spent throughout the hotly contested campaign.

According to the Los Angeles City Ethics Commission’s website, Huizar has raised $366,607 since the filing period began in March in 2010. His opponent, Highland Park and Eagle Rock business owner Rudy Martinez, has raised $272,809 in that time period.

Huizar has also outspent his opponent, $393,363 to $216,385 over the course of the campaign, according to ethics commission.

The itemized list of contributors to each candidates’ campaign coffers provides some insight in where each candidate has worked the hardest to earn supporters, thus far.

For example, of Huizar’s 888 campaign contributors, only 10 reside in the Highland Park area code of 90042. By contrast, 72 of Huizar’s donors live in the various downtown area codes of 90013, 90014, 90015, 90017 and 90021.

Martinez, meanwhile, lists only six contributors from downtown or the eastside communities of Boyle Heights and El Sereno. Instead, the greatest number of contributors to his campaign come from the neighborhoods of Highland Park and Eagle Rock, with 18 donors apiece coming from each community.

Technically speaking, the biggest contributor to Martinez’s campaign is also an Eagle Rock candidate--that would be Martinez himself, who has loaned $200,000 of his own money to his campaign war chest.

At recent debate held at the Center for the Arts in Eagle Rock, Martinez said the fact that such a large portion of his campaign has been self funded will allow him to be more independent when it comes time to look at the budget and determine what cuts need to be made.

“I’m independent,” Martinez said. “I can tell you one thing, nobody’s gonna own me. Nobody’s gonna own me but you. There are tough decisions to be made, and I will make those tough decisions because I’m accountable to nobody but the residents of this district.”

Unlike Huizar, Martinez also declined to accept the $100,000 in matching funds available through the city’s public matching funds program.

However, Huizar’s campaign has denied claims from Martinez that the councilman would become subject to special interests due to his aggressive campaign fundraising.

“I don't think anyone can question [Huizar’s] independence,“ said Parke Skelton, a political consultant who is handling media relations for Huizar’s campaing. “He’s endorsed by almost every community leader in 14th council district. I think that, more than anything, speaks to his independence.”

Skelton said Huizar’s healthy campaign coffers illustrate the high level support he has across council district 14.

“It shows the kind of support he has in community,” Skelton said. “[Martinez] has tried to raise money.  It’s not like he’s funding his entire campaign. He just doesn’t have the base.”

The disparity in fundraising approaches again seems to highlight the key differences between Huizar and Martinez, which have been on display throughout the entire campaign.

One the one side stands Huizar, a career public servant, veteran of Latino politics and experienced city hall navigator. Huizar’s experience, though, also saddles him with the burden of blame from  dissatisfied Angelino’s who see the city council as the not done enough to address the city’s budget problems.

Martinez, Huizar’s polar opposite, fits the archetype of the independent local business owner seeking to use his fortune to carve out a second career as a politician despite a lack of experience of political savvy.

Voters will have their opportunity to pick between the two sides on Tuesday, March 8.