Last Minute Campaign Fundraising Figures

3rd District Candidates Pick Up More Dough in Santa Barbara County Supervisor Race

It's a race to the finish for the five candidates vying to fill the 3rd District seat in the June 3 election. In her quest to replace outgoing 3rd District Supervisor Brooks Firestone, Doreen Farr (left) has raised more money than any other candidate. But David Smyser (right) has been close behind the entire time. And in the final campaign statements, released May 22, Steve Pappas (middle) had closed the financial gap and put himself in position to compete with the other two.

In case you still haven’t hit the election booths today – they’re open till 8 p.m. – and your vote depends on who’s giving how much to which candidate, it’s more of the same fundraising techniques for the three leading 3rd District supervisorial candidates in Santa Barbara County. Since the last May 17 campaign finance filing, Doreen Farr, Steve Pappas, and David Smyser have all raised more money from familiar faces.

Farr, who has already received tens of thousands of dollars from unions, received $16,000 more from the SEIU Local 721; $13,000 from the California State Council of Service Employees; $11,000 from SEIU Local 620; $4,390 from Lois Capps to pay for campaign literature; and $25,000 from the Santa Barbara County Firefighters Association.

Pappas, who already received $20,000 from Anne V. Crawford-Hall Enterprises, a group owned by newspaper publisher Nancy Crawford-Hall, received another $7,500 from her on May 27.

And Smyser’s late filings continue to be peppered with contributions from out-of-town developers. He received $1,000 from Austin, Texas, developer Haythem Dawlett. Ray Wirta – vice chairman of Irvine-based CB Richard Ellis, the world’s largest real estate services firm – has given another $1,000, bringing his contribution total to $7,000. Philip Taylor, an Atherton developer, gave $1,000 to up his total to $6,000, while Linda Prinn – wife of Corona del Mar investor Brian Prinn, who gave $5,120 – chipped in $1,000. Smyser also received $2,500 from the Homebuilders Association of the Central Coast.

Check into Independent.com tonight around 8 p.m. for more election coverage.