Richmond candidates’ campaign contributions revealed: Jimenez leads fundraising efforts

Richmond City Council candidates report mixed fundraising efforts as they gear up for the upcoming election, while committees supporting measures like the Richmond Refining Tax and election reforms have amassed substantial funding, indicating a heated campaign season ahead.

District 6 incumbent Claudia Jimenez leads the pack with $42,907.48 from 38 individuals, government employee PACs, and money transferred from the 2020 campaign, closing in on her $50,000 goal.

Jimenez’s campaign reported receiving contributions from Richmond Firefighters Union Local 188, Service Employees International Union 1021, which represents city employees, International Federation of Professional and Technical Engineers Union Local 21, and SEIU Committee of Interns and Resident Physician PAC.

Rebecca Vasquez, Marilyn Langlois, Kathleen Wimer, Joseph Puleo, Leigh Lyndon, and Kenneth Paff were among the individuals who contributed the maximum of $2,500 to the campaign.

Billionaire Theresa Preston-Werner, whose foundation gave the Richmond Progressive Alliance $125,000 and donated the maximum to each RPA candidate last election, only gave $250 this time. 

Shawn Dunning reported $25,513 in contributions from 45 individuals, and contributions from building trade unions and businesses. The Plumbers & Steamfitters Local Union 342, International Brotherhood of Boilermakers Local 549 and Northern California Carpenters made contributions through their respective committees. PG&E, Sims Metal, and G&O Tires and Service also contributed.

District 5

In District 5, Ahmad Anderson reported contributing $5,000 to his campaign. Sue Wilson reported $8,360 from 12 individuals, including $2,000 from her husband, who also serves as her campaign treasurer.

Councilmember Gayle McLaughlin won’t seek re-election; RPA’s Sue Wilson to run for District 5 seat

Councilmember Gayle McLaughlin announced this morning she will not seek re-election to the Richmond City Council this year and is “passing the torch” to Richmond Progressive Alliance member Sue Wilson. McLaughlin was first elected to the Richmond City Council in 2004. Two years later, she was elected as mayor, making

Grandview IndependentSoren Hemmila

Richmond Council candidate Ahmad Anderson comes alive in District 5

Ahmad Anderson is running for Richmond City Council in District 5, positioning himself as a fresh voice with innovative ideas.

Grandview IndependentSoren Hemmila

In District 1, three candidates—incumbent Melvin Willis, Jamelia Brown, and Mark Wassberg—pulled papers to run for city council. None of the candidates reported contributions in the latest round.

Richmond Refining Tax Act

A committee formed supporting the Richmond refining tax sponsored by Asian Pacific Environmental Network Action and Service Employees International Union Local 1021 reported $300,600 contributions. The bulk comes from the Asian Pacific Environmental Network’s $300,000 contribution. Jonathan Kocher of the Rocky Mountain Institute and Marilyn Langlois made two other contributions.

Council puts oil refining business license tax on November ballot

The Richmond City Council Tuesday unanimously approved a resolution placing an oil refining business license tax on the November ballot. If passed by voters, the ordinance implements a business license tax dubbed the “Make Polluters Pay tax” on oil refining at the rate of $1 per barrel of feedstock refined within the City of Richmond.

Grandview IndependentLinda Hemmila

The Coalition for Richmond’s Future recently formed a Chevron-sponsored committee to oppose the tax measure but didn’t report any activity. 

Chevron announces lawsuit challenging oil refining ballot measure

Chevron announces lawsuit challenging oil refining ballot measure

Grandview IndependentLinda Hemmila

Richmond Votes Matters

A committee formed in support of an initiative to introduce primary municipal elections in Richmond City elections has raised $217,700. The bulk of expenditures come from petition gathering by  Democracy Werks, a California LLC formed in January.

Richmond Election Reform Act headed for November ballot

A petition to introduce primary municipal elections in Richmond City elections has been certified by the Contra Costa County Clerk-Recorder-Elections Department. Backers of the Richmond Election Reform Act submitted 15,139 to the election’s office on March 20, said Helen Nolan, Assistant Registrar-Contra Costa County. “The petition was determined

Grandview IndependentSoren Hemmila

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