Durant Is Still The Top Council Candidate Fundraiser

City council incumbent David Durant is still the top fundraiser in the Pleasant Hill council race, according to the latest campaign finance statements filed last week.

Of the eight candidates for the open seats votes will choose on Nov. 6, Durant has so far raised $23,366, and spent $14,557. His donors this period include Attorney Suzan Rolan of Alamo, $500; developer  Joseph Head of San Jose, $350; and consultant John Mathesen of Pleasant Hill, $250.

Not far behind is Planning Commissioner Tim Flaherty, who has raised a total of $20,047, and spent a total of $17,067. His donors this period include $1,000 from the Electrical Workers Union Local #302; attorney Nancy Wilms of South Pasadena, $200, and Joyce Guglielmi, RN of Mills Peninsula Hospital in San Mateo, $200. (note: a previous version of this story incorrectly stated that Flaherty's law firm donated to the campaign - that was a Patch error, and I apologize for the mistake - Jim Caroompas). 

Planning Commissioner Jim Bonato has raised a total of $14,514, and spent $13,314. His donors this period include $500 from the California Real Estate PAC; $100 from retiree Robert Higgins; and $50 from retiree Douglas Chan.

Concord police officer Ken Carlson has raised a total of $7,244, and spent a total of $3,520. His donors include members of the Garaventa family, including $500 from Joseph Garaventa, owner of Black Diamond Brewery, 88/12, a Garaventa Family partnership, and Willliam Colvis, CFO of Garaventa Enterprises; $500 from the Concord Police Association, and $500 from Mt. Diablo Paper Stock of Concord. The Pleasant Hill Police Officers Association also spent $2,093 for brochures and data in support of Carlson, and $2,610 in postage and mailing for Carlson materials.

Chamber of Commerce president Matthew Rinn has raised a total of $4,695, and spent $4,231. His donors include vice-mayor Michael Harris, $50; Danville sales manager Mike Maxwell, $150; Richard Flyer of Lafayette, $50; and Eileen Housefeld, a Pleasant Hill educator, $50.

Redevelopment Advisory Commissioner Mike Flake has raised a total of $3,445, and spent $5,038. His donors include $1,000 from Pleasant Hill Citizens for Responsible Growth, $500 from Goly Bridges, an El Dorado Hills nurse, and a total of $800 from retirees Mohammad and Sedegh Somadian.

Political Science professor Jeremy Cloward has raised a total of $3,700 and spent $3112. This reporting period he raised $100 from the Green Party of Diablo.

Attorney Jessica Braverman has raised a total of $1,190 and spent $3,082. Her donors this period include retiree Charles Richards at $190, and Adrian Rowe at $25.

The group Citizens for Responsible Growth did not raise any money this reporting period, but spent $804.63 for Internet ads and fliers opposing Measure Q, a parcel tax which would fund fire protection services.