GILROY
– Mayoral hopeful Al Pinheiro has a campaign problem most
candidates wish they had – too much money.
GILROY – Mayoral hopeful Al Pinheiro has a campaign problem most candidates wish they had – too much money.
Pinheiro is nearly $3,000 over the $22,487 campaign spending limit imposed by a City Council ordinance adopted this year. It was the main reason the incumbent Councilman canceled two fund-raising events that had been scheduled for this week.
“I don’t need any more money,” Pinheiro said. “I am humbled by the response. I’m very appreciative of the broad support. People who I didn’t even ask have been sending in checks.”
Under the city’s law, candidates are allowed to raise as much money as they’d like. However, spending is limited to 50 cents per Gilroy resident, totaling $22,487.
According to City Clerk Rhonda Pellin, the law allows candidates to keep the extra money in their campaign accounts for future races. The funds also can be used during a person’s term to reimburse oneself for expenses.
There is a third option, and that’s the one Pinheiro is promising to use. Win or lose on Nov. 4, Pinheiro will donate the excess money to charity.
If he loses, Pinheiro said he will donate the money to local charities immediately. If he wins, Pinheiro will donate to charities and other local causes throughout his term.
Pinheiro said a good example of what he would donate to during his term is the downtown flag project. The city is trying to rekindle the tradition of raising flags along Monterey Street on patriotic holidays such as Veteran’s Day and the Fourth of July.
“That’s a perfect example. It backs up everything I’ve been preaching about for the downtown,” Pinheiro said.
Pinheiro said if he is elected he would keep a portion of the extra money in his account for potential future elections. Pinheiro carried over roughly $3,700 from his 1999 City Council campaign into his 2003 mayoral campaign fund.
The deadline for the second round of campaign finance filings was Thursday at 5 p.m. As of Thursday morning, only Pinheiro and City Council candidate Peter Arellano had turned in their latest documents. Pinheiro has raised a total of $25,393 and Arellano has raised $3,493.
