INVESTIGATIVE REPORT
Campaign mailer from the the National Association of Realtors Fund supporting incumbent councilmember Jason Lyon (Photo – Graphics Dept.)
A review of campaign finance disclosures shows labor unions and organized political groups heavily backing Pasadena City Council incumbents, with union contributions alone totaling roughly $95,000 across three campaigns.
By Scott Phelps
The filings illustrate the financial advantages held by established officeholders in races against lesser-known challengers, with support coming from local unions as well as state and national organizations.
Jason Lyon
Councilmember Jason Lyon received substantial funding from a long list of individuals, unions, and state and national organizations. The most unusual contribution was an independent expenditure of $32,051.13 by the National Association of Realtors Fund, which paid for mailers and voter data.
Unions listed on the disclosure forms contributed a total of $58,400. The largest union donors were the Pasadena Police Officers Association PAC and the Pasadena Firefighters Local 809 PAC, which each gave $11,800. Other union contributions included:
- Laborers Union Local No. 777 PAC — $5,900
- Laborers’ International Union of North America Local 777 PAC — $5,900
- California Teamsters Public Affairs Council — $5,000
- Los Angeles/Orange Counties Building and Construction Trades Council — $4,500
- Sheet Metal, Air, Rail and Transportation Workers Local Union 105 — $2,500
- Laborers’ Local 300 Small Contributor Committee — $2,500
- Southern California District Council of Laborers — $2,500
- Western States Regional Council of Carpenters — $2,000
- Operating Engineers Local Union No. 12 Political Fund — $1,500
- International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers — $1,000
- Plumbers and Steamfitters Local 398 — $1,000
- Sprinkler Fitters UA Local 709 — $500
In addition, $24,869.52 came in from individual donors through ActBlue’s digital fundraising infrastructure, while various interest-group PACs and numerous individual donors also contributed substantial sums.
Justin Jones
Councilmember Justin Jones also received large contributions from individuals, unions, and other organizations. Unions listed on the disclosure forms contributed a total of $34,100.
The Pasadena Firefighters Local 809 PAC gave $11,800, while the Pasadena Police Officers Association PAC contributed $5,900. Additional union donations included:
- Laborers Union Local No. 777 PAC — $5,900
- Laborers’ Local 300 Small Contributor Committee — $2,500
- Southern California District Council of Laborers — $2,500
- Sheet Metal, Air, Rail and Transportation Workers Local Union 105 — $2,500
- Operating Engineers Local Union No. 12 Political Fund — $1,500
- Los Angeles/Orange Counties Building and Construction Trades Council — $1,500
Jones also reported loaning his campaign $21,750.
Jess Rivas
Two of the same unions also contributed to Councilmember Jess Rivas. The Los Angeles/Orange Counties Building and Construction Trades Council gave $1,500, while the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers contributed $1,000.
Rivas reported a relatively short donor list, perhaps because she is running unopposed. She also reported loaning her campaign $4,000.
I hate this. It takes so much money to run a successful campaign that all politicians end up beholden to their biggest donors. No wonder the US is on a fast track to the bottom.