The Santa Barbara City Council candidates are raising large amounts of campaign cash as they round the bend into the home stretch of their respective races.

In District 4, Jay Higgins leads his pack with $74,047 raised so far. His contributors include developer John Price, political boosters Jim and Sharon Westby, public affairs executive John Davies, the Towbes Group, mayoral candidate Angel Martinez, a number of home builders, civil engineers, and architects, and a Vancouver, WA, woman named Marry Lou Mullin who gave $14,000.

In second place behind Higgins is James Scafide, who’s raised $51,775. Among his financial supporters are the Democratic Women of Santa Barbara County; sheet metal, plumbing, and electrical workers unions; progressive activists Mickey Flacks and Lee Heller; Moss Jacobs, vice president of talent for Goldenvoice; and Cyndey Wilson, executive director of the Screen Actors Guild Association.

Bringing up the rear in District 4 is Kristen Sneddon, who entered the race right before the filing deadline. She’s raised $28,692 from the likes of former Santa Barbara mayor Sheila Lodge, former Goleta mayor Margaret Connell, former county supervisor Susan Rose, State Senator Hannah-Beth Jackson, S.B. School Board President Kate Parker, and the Santa Barbara Police Officers’ Association.

Eric Friedman, running against Warner McGrew in District 5, has collected $76,963 in campaign contributions. Donors of note include former mayor Marty Blum, former councilmembers Grant House and Iya Falcone, former supervisor Doreen Farr, mayoral candidate Hal Conklin, oncologist Fred Kass, and Geoff Green, director of the SBCC Foundation. McGrew brought in $31,390 from developer Ray Mahboob, the Peace Officers Research Association of California, the Santa Barbara Rental Property Association, and a large number of Realtors.

Over in District 6, Gregg Hart is running away with the financial side of the contest with $132,217 raised so far. He’s supported by Chamber of Commerce CEO Ken Oplinger, attorney Steve Amerikaner, hotelier Bob Hazard, the Santa Ynez Band of Mission Indians, and Metropolitan Theatres. Hart is being challenged by Jack Ucciferri, who’s collected $3,835, mostly from private citizen Frank Peters. UCSB professors Richard Falk and Mark Juergensmeyer have also backed Ucciferri’s campaign. Aaron Solis, the third District 6 candidate, is not raising any money.

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