Peralta Trustees Candidates File Campaign Finance Reports

Candidates for the Peralta Board of Trustees filed campaign finance reports with the Alameda County Voter’s Registrars office on October 5.

At least, they were supposed to.

As October 5, only challenger Mónica Tell (Area 3) had filed. Three-term incumbent Dr. William “Bill” Riley (Area 3) filed on October 7 and two-term incumbent Area 3 Linda Handy filed October 8, according to the Alameda County Registrar of Voters office.

And challenger William J. Mattox didn’t bother to file at all. (Update: Mattox filed on Oct. 18)

Peralta’s longest serving trustee, Dr. Riley, leads the pack in fundraising. Riley reported raising $23,724 in 2010, including $16,999 from July through September.

Riley’s contributors include OUSD administrators, former Peralta employees and faculty (including a former assistant to former Peralta Chancellor Elihu Harris), consulting firms, and the district’s current board President.

His reelection committee, “Friends of Bill Riley,” reported $5,675 in expenditures. Nearly three-fourths ($4,100) of his expenditures were for his own “candidate travel, lodging, and meals,” according to the report. The item included no description.

The rest appears to be for a campaign mailer and lawn signs, as Riley reported spending for a photographer, postal service and $1,000 with GreenDog Campaigns.

Interestingly, his campaign committee lists its address at the Peralta district headquarters.

Mónica Tell reported raising $11,028 through September 30 for her trustee bid. She reported $7,586 in expenditures, most of which are bills she’s yet to have paid back.

Tell reported the most individual contributions, with a few contributing more than once. Contributors include past and present colleagues at the Port of Oakland and PG&E, family and friends, as well as a tenant in her Castro Valley home. A few contributors are also long-time supporters of mayoral candidate Don Perata. Tell was an aide for Perata when he was in the state assembly.

Tell’s expenses included $2,639.43 to Autumn Press for campaign materials, $400 for a website and $169 to Political Data, Inc., “California’s largest provider of voter information.”

Tell also changed her committee’s address from her parent’s Fruitvale home to a suite behind Oakland’s Otaez restaurant. She also replaced her treasurer, Stacy Owens of Henry C. Levy CPA’s and Consultants, with her assistant treasurer, Alicia Vasquez.

Linda Handy reported $6,372 in contributions this year — a little more than half her opponents –including $3,382 in since July. Handy also lists $1749 in non-monetary contributions also.

Her contributors include Peralta faculty members, elected officials, and many Black political figures – especially those considered close to current Oakland mayor Ron Dellums. She also received a contribution from a developer that was a part of a controversial land-deal at Laney College in 2005.

Handy reported spending $1,000 with Green Dog Campaigns for “web” services and $285 with GoDaddy. Ironically, Handy’s website has been “down for maintenance” for over a week.

Handy also spent $505 with Autumn Press for a mailer, and $233 on catering services with former Peralta Student Trustee Yvonne Thompson, who is also quoted in Handy’s mailer.

William J. Mattox has not reported his campaign finance reports, according to the registrars office.

Current Peralta Board President Abel Guillen is running unopposed. His Campaign Finance Report was received by the Registrars office on Oct. 6.

The next deadline for candidates to report campaign expenditures is October 21. The last day to register to vote in the November 2 elections is Monday, October 18.