How much have SLO County supervisor candidates raised so far? Here’s a breakdown

The primary election is more than six months away — but the five candidates battling for three seats on the San Luis Obispo County Board of Supervisors have collectively raised hundreds of thousands of dollars to support their campaigns.

In District 5, Supervisor Debbie Arnold won’t run for re-election in March 2024. She will represent her constituents until her term ends in January 2025.

This leaves room for newcomers to fight for the seat — and two well-known Atascadero officials, Mayor Heather Moreno and Mayor Pro-Temp Susan Funk, are running to replace Arnold on the board.

In Districts 1 and 3, incumbent supervisors John Peschong and Dawn Ortiz-Legg are running unchallenged to keep their seats.

Here’s an early look at how many donations each candidate has raised ahead of the March 5, 2024, presidential primary election.

How much have District 5 supervisor candidates raised?

So far, Moreno out-raised her opponent in the District 5 race.

From Jan. 1 to June 30, Moreno’s campaign raised $142,768.29, while Funk raised a total of $92,816.35, according to campaign finance documents.

“I am humbled to have received support from such a broad and diverse group of supporters,” Moreno said in a news release.

Though Moreno collected more funding, Funk received a higher number of donations.

During the same reporting period, Funk garnered 264 individual monetary donations, while Moreno received 125, according to campaign finance documents.

“This is a grassroots campaign, and I’m proud to have the support of so many people throughout San Luis Obispo County,” Funk said in a news release.

Cayucos resident Peggy Lance Little is Moreno’s largest donor so far, giving her campaign $11,198.30.

Jamie Jones, owner of Atascadero land use consulting company Kirk Consulting, donated the second largest amount of $6,000.

A total of 10 donors are tied for third place — each giving $5,500 from Jan. 1 to June 30, according to campaign finance documents.

Those donors were San Luis Obispo business Covelop Inc.; the Jordan Cunningham for Lieutenant Governor campaign; Atascadero resident and PG&E administrator Thomas Jones; Sextant Wines owner Craig Stoller; Robin L. Rossi Living Trust; Shandon business Wittstrom Hay Sales; West Virgina-based business Troy Group Inc.; Arroyo Grande business Papich Construction Company Inc.; Colin Weyrick, owner of Templeton-based Weyrick Lumber Company; and Andy Brown, the owner of Andrew Brown General Engineering Inc. in Paso Robles.

A handful of local political figures also donated to Moreno’s campaign.

The campaign received $2,500 from the Santa Ynez Band of Mission Indians, $760 from Arnold, $500 from Arnold’s past campaign and $250 from Morro Bay Mayor Carla Wixom.

So far, Moreno’s campaign has spent $12,361.78, according to campaign finance documents.

Her largest expenditure was about $2,390 to eFundraising Connections in Sacramento.

Meanwhile, Funk’s top donor was her previous campaign — Funk for City Council, according to campaign finance documents. The campaign gave $5,942.53 to Funk.

Three donors were tied for second place, each donating $5,500 to Funk. Those donors were Nipomo resident Carla Haynie; Topeka, Kansas resident Dorothy Funk, and the IBEW political action committee Education Fund, based in Washington, D.C.

The Atascadero Democratic Club donated $4,000, Funk’s third largest donation.

Like Moreno, Funk championed support from Central Coast politicians.

Supervisor Bruce Gibson’s 2022 campaign donated $1,000, while Supervisor Jimmy Paulding’s 2022 campaign contributed $500.

San Luis Obispo Mayor Erica A. Stewart contributed $100, and San Luis Obispo City Council members Andy Pease and Jan Marx gave $500 and $600, respectively.

Finally, San Luis Obispo County Democratic Party chair Tom Fulks donated $200 to Funk’s campaign, and California State Assembly member Dawn Addis gave $500.

Funk’s campaign has spent a total of $12,036.09 so far, according to campaign finance documents.

Her largest expenditure was $2,319.69 to Croad Vineyards, where her campaign held a fundraiser, followed by $956.46 to Mitchell Publishing and Mailers.

Santa Margarita resident Erik Gorham filed candidacy for the District 5 race, but told The Tribune on Aug. 4 that he withdrew from the election.

Gorham raised only $6,500 from Jan. 1 to June 30, according to campaign finance documents.

His top donation was $5,500 from Templeton resident and retired orthopedic surgeon Bruce Jones. Gorham helped manage Jones’ 2022 campaign for District 2 supervisor.

The remaining $1,000 was donated by Atascadero resident Cheryl Burbach, according to campaign finance documents.

Top donors in District 3 board race

So far, Ortiz-Legg is running unopposed to keep her District 3 seat on the board.

From Jan. 1 to June 30, Ortiz-Legg’s campaign raised $9,500, according to campaign finance documents. Her top donation was $7,500 from the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers in Washington D.C.

She spent a total of $3,285.45, and her largest payment was $900 to C&I Consulting in Santa Barbara.

From July 1, 2022 to Dec. 31, 2022, Ortiz-Legg raised $12,100 for the 2024 race.

Her largest donations were $5,000 from Greengate in SLO and $4,900 from Tank Farm Office Park in San Luis Obispo, campaign finance documents said.

Ortiz-Legg spent $11,611.55, with a largest expenditure of $6,479.98 to C&I Consulting in Santa Barbara.

District 1 candidate raised more than $30,000

Like Ortiz-Legg, Peschong is running unchallenged to keep his seat representing District 1 on the board.

From Jan. 1 to June 30, Peschong’s campaign raised $32,598, according to campaign finance documents.

Colin Weyrick is Peschong’s top donor — contributing $5,500 so far.

Peschong’s second largest donation was $3,000 from Los Angeles resident Anthony Riboli, a winemaker at at Riboli Family Wines.

Peschong has spent $16,165.55 on the campaign trail so far, according to campaign finance documents.

His largest expenditure was $3,758 to Encompass Direct Marketing Group in Cheyenne, Wyoming.