In my limited experience, candidates who largely fund their own campaigns have a surprising lack of success.Money is money, you would think. Spend it effectively and it shouldn’t matter from whence it comes. But it seems to matter. Persuading someone to give you money speaks, perhaps, to an ability to win people over and develop a broad base of support. Certainly, it’s a different dynamic.
This is of interest because John Pimentel, a veteran executive in the field of alternative energy, has launched his campaign for the San Mateo County Community College District Board of Trustees with a loan of $150,000.
None of which is to say that Pimentel won’t raise as much or more from an ever-widening circle of enthusiasts. It certainly it sends a message about table-stakes to opponent Lisa Hicks-Dumanske, the Redwood City Library Foundation executive director, whose campaign has a much more grass-rootsy sensibility.
Still, imagine the impact if that same amount of money had come from dozens of individual donors, instead of himself.
Other people did give Pimentel donations totaling $1,500 — yes, that’s 1% of what he gave to his campaign. That includes $250 from Bill Collins of Pacifica. It’s notable because Collins wrote an absurd op-ed in the Daily Journal in which he called the county’s community colleges “elite country clubs” and also argued, incorrectly, that state law requires community colleges to spend half their budget on faculty salaries. If a donation is an example of winning people over, this is a revealing one.
The trend continues. In two Redwood City Council district races, recently retired police officer Chris Rasmussen loaned his campaign $2,000 and Planning Commissioner Michael Smith loaned his campaign $4,100. Neither approaches the Pimentel level and it could be seen more as seed money … Julie Pardini, the founder of the Facebook page, Redwood City Residents Say What?, a leading forum against growth in the city, has been busy in the Redwood City race, giving $5,000 to Rasmussen and $2,000 to incumbent Janet Borgens, who could face two challengers in her southern district. The city adopted a $1,000 donation limit in February, but the Pardini donations came in before the ordinance took effect on March 11. Rasmussen says he’ll keep the money, noting the donation limit is not retroactive. Borgens gave back $1,000, even though it appears she didn’t have to.
Recommended for you
I LOVE DEADLINES: Tomorrow is the deadline for candidates to get in their paperwork and, as reported in last week’s missive, challenges seem to be the order of the day. All information is subject to the changes wrought by tomorrow’s cutoff. That deadline is extended into next week, of course, if an incumbent decides not to run for re-election.
In the very same community college race, former vice chancellor Eugene Whitlock has roared into the race with an array of school-related endorsements, despite a turbulent history at the district. Nonetheless, it appears he will have an opponent, Helen Wolter, a local environmental activist known for a no-prisoners style of advocacy. … I’ve been speculating that incumbent Trustee Maurice Goodman would opt out of re-election — new district lines put him in the same district as fellow incumbent Trustee Dave Mandelkern. Now I’m hearing Goodman is proceeding for re-election and a challenge to his colleague. I guess we’ll know tomorrow.
OTHER PLACES, OTHER RACES: It looks like only three candidates will be running for the two city council seats up in San Carlos. Incumbent Ron Collins should be a shoo-in for re-election. John Dugan and Joseph Eden are running for the seat vacated by one-termer Mark Olbert … In Millbrae, three council seats are up and incumbents Gina Papan and Ann Schneider are running; incumbent Wayne Lee is termed out. That would explain three challengers, perennial You You Xue, Anders Fung and Errol Zshornack. … Belmont has two council seats and two incumbents, Tom McCune and Davina Hurt, being challenged by Ken Loo. … Menlo Park incumbent Catherine Carlton opted out of likely re-election. Two people may run for her district seat, Chelsea Nguyen and Jen Wolosin, the latter known for her efforts on traffic safety. Incumbent Ray Mueller appears to be running unopposed as does Max Fennell. … San Bruno may have one of the most interesting races — incumbent Mayor Rico Medina is being challenged by Marty Medina (no relation).
NOT SO FAST: Last week’s column jumped the gun. County Harbor Commissioner Sabrina Brennan has yet to file to run against longtime nemesis Tom Mattusch. I guess we’ll find out tomorrow.
NOT TRUE: San Francisco Supervisor Shamann Walton, representing the city on the Caltrain board, “accused Caltrain — without evidence — of using funds to subsidize SamTrans,” according to the San Francisco Chronicle. Without evidence. Put up or shut up.
Mark Simon is a veteran journalist, whose career included 15 years as an executive at SamTrans and Caltrain. He can be reached at marksimon@smdailyjournal.com.
I’m John Pimentel and I care so deeply about my independence that I’ve raided my savings account to have the opportunity to serve on the San Mateo Community College District Board of Trustees.
Self-financing my campaign allows me the political and intellectual independence to owe allegiance to no person or group other than good public policy and common sense.
As a result, I can invest my time understanding SMCCCD’s complex issues at such as the low number of students who successfully transfer to 4-year colleges.
Taxpayers invest almost a half-billion dollars a year in SMCCCD to send only 1,200 students per year on to 4-year universities. I want SMCCCD to provide affordable access to high-quality post-secondary education for more San Mateo County residents, especially those from disadvantaged communities and first-generation college families like mine.
I will make sure SMCCCD recruits more LOCAL transfer students and supports them to complete college. I will also push SMCCCD to improve career training programs and job placement to help more County residents prepare for higher-paying 21st Century jobs.
I do plan to communicate my positions widely, and I expect to enjoy broad support from many people and groups in the community. I simply don’t expect people to have to give me political donations to get my attention. Please see for yourself at https://www.johnpimentel.com/
Gee, Mark, I guess I didn't make enough of an impression on you after all :). Not that it matters, but for the record I'm finishing my second term on the San Carlos City Council, after previously serving for 10 years on the San Carlos School Board. Take care!
Mark -- I apologize for the oversight. It comes from relying on recollection, rather than looking it up. I always forget how bad my memory is. I have a fix in tomorrow's column.
Just a suggestion perhaps the Thursday papers could mirror the the Tuesday papers and we can alternate writers. More often than not Mr. Simon's articles seem to call out people he does not agree with. In the election period I do not think it is appropriate to discourage any candidate from running for office.
I certainly agree with Mr. Morgan that Mr. Simon has a propensity to disparage others in the press, especially when he disagrees with their opinion. ("More often than not Mr. Simon's articles seem to call out people he does not agree with.").
In the above article, Simon tells a government official who criticized financial affairs at SamTrans and CalTrains (organizations for which Simon worked as an executive) to provide evidence. "Put up or shut up." That may be true; I was not privy to the accusation.
However, Mr. Simon needs to learn to live by his own words. I have provided him with substantial data and evidence critiquing his glowing "opinion" of SMCCCD. He has yet to reply with anything but an ad hominem attack.... I am looking forward to the nickname he decides to call me in the press in lieu of a rational discussion of data and evidence.
For example, on Nov 21, 2019 he wrote, "Then some guy named Bill Collins writes a screed for Your Friendly Neighborhood Daily Journal attacking the San Mateo County Community College District. I don’t think it’s my job to stick up for the district, but he certainly seems to think it’s his to tear it down. His op-ed is riddled with factual errors and I can’t help myself."
Well, Mr. Simon, I can't help myself. You are an opinion columnist; on what basis, beside personal experience, is your opinion based? More importantly, your opinions are subject to the scrutiny of an educational researcher who understands data and academic excellence.
Keep the discussion civilized. Absolutely NO
personal attacks or insults directed toward writers, nor others who
make comments. Keep it clean. Please avoid obscene, vulgar, lewd,
racist or sexually-oriented language. Don't threaten. Threats of harming another
person will not be tolerated. Be truthful. Don't knowingly lie about anyone
or anything. Be proactive. Use the 'Report' link on
each comment to let us know of abusive posts. PLEASE TURN OFF YOUR CAPS LOCK. Anyone violating these rules will be issued a
warning. After the warning, comment privileges can be
revoked.
Please purchase a Premium Subscription to continue reading.
To continue, please log in, or sign up for a new account.
We offer one free story view per month. If you register for an account, you will get two additional story views. After those three total views, we ask that you support us with a subscription.
A subscription to our digital content is so much more than just access to our valuable content. It means you’re helping to support a local community institution that has, from its very start, supported the betterment of our society. Thank you very much!
(5) comments
I’m John Pimentel and I care so deeply about my independence that I’ve raided my savings account to have the opportunity to serve on the San Mateo Community College District Board of Trustees.
Self-financing my campaign allows me the political and intellectual independence to owe allegiance to no person or group other than good public policy and common sense.
As a result, I can invest my time understanding SMCCCD’s complex issues at such as the low number of students who successfully transfer to 4-year colleges.
Taxpayers invest almost a half-billion dollars a year in SMCCCD to send only 1,200 students per year on to 4-year universities. I want SMCCCD to provide affordable access to high-quality post-secondary education for more San Mateo County residents, especially those from disadvantaged communities and first-generation college families like mine.
I will make sure SMCCCD recruits more LOCAL transfer students and supports them to complete college. I will also push SMCCCD to improve career training programs and job placement to help more County residents prepare for higher-paying 21st Century jobs.
I do plan to communicate my positions widely, and I expect to enjoy broad support from many people and groups in the community. I simply don’t expect people to have to give me political donations to get my attention. Please see for yourself at https://www.johnpimentel.com/
Gee, Mark, I guess I didn't make enough of an impression on you after all :). Not that it matters, but for the record I'm finishing my second term on the San Carlos City Council, after previously serving for 10 years on the San Carlos School Board. Take care!
Mark -- I apologize for the oversight. It comes from relying on recollection, rather than looking it up. I always forget how bad my memory is. I have a fix in tomorrow's column.
Just a suggestion perhaps the Thursday papers could mirror the the Tuesday papers and we can alternate writers. More often than not Mr. Simon's articles seem to call out people he does not agree with. In the election period I do not think it is appropriate to discourage any candidate from running for office.
I certainly agree with Mr. Morgan that Mr. Simon has a propensity to disparage others in the press, especially when he disagrees with their opinion. ("More often than not Mr. Simon's articles seem to call out people he does not agree with.").
In the above article, Simon tells a government official who criticized financial affairs at SamTrans and CalTrains (organizations for which Simon worked as an executive) to provide evidence. "Put up or shut up." That may be true; I was not privy to the accusation.
However, Mr. Simon needs to learn to live by his own words. I have provided him with substantial data and evidence critiquing his glowing "opinion" of SMCCCD. He has yet to reply with anything but an ad hominem attack.... I am looking forward to the nickname he decides to call me in the press in lieu of a rational discussion of data and evidence.
For example, on Nov 21, 2019 he wrote, "Then some guy named Bill Collins writes a screed for Your Friendly Neighborhood Daily Journal attacking the San Mateo County Community College District. I don’t think it’s my job to stick up for the district, but he certainly seems to think it’s his to tear it down. His op-ed is riddled with factual errors and I can’t help myself."
Well, Mr. Simon, I can't help myself. You are an opinion columnist; on what basis, beside personal experience, is your opinion based? More importantly, your opinions are subject to the scrutiny of an educational researcher who understands data and academic excellence.
Put up or shut up.
Welcome to the discussion.
Log In
Keep the discussion civilized. Absolutely NO personal attacks or insults directed toward writers, nor others who make comments.
Keep it clean. Please avoid obscene, vulgar, lewd, racist or sexually-oriented language.
Don't threaten. Threats of harming another person will not be tolerated.
Be truthful. Don't knowingly lie about anyone or anything.
Be proactive. Use the 'Report' link on each comment to let us know of abusive posts.
PLEASE TURN OFF YOUR CAPS LOCK.
Anyone violating these rules will be issued a warning. After the warning, comment privileges can be revoked.