Ryan Carter
State Sen. Jack Scott is running unopposed in the March 2 primary,
and his only competitor is a Glendale Libertarian with little
campaign funding. But that hasn't stopped the 70-year-old senator
vying for his final term from raising money.
A look at his most recent finance statement from the Secretary of
State's Office shows that he has compiled $161,000 between his Jack
Scott for State Senate and his Re-elect Jack Scott '04 accounts.
It's not the kind of money raised by his fellow Assemblyman Dario
Frommer (D-Glendale), who has raised $700,000 in his reelection
effort. And it's certainly not close to the more than $1 million
Scott raised in his 2000 campaign against Republican Scott Wildman.
But so far, it's sufficient, Scott said.
"My 2000 race was a very tough battle, but this year, no
Republican has filed against me," Scott said. "When you are in a very
intense battle, you are motivated to raise more money and frankly,
people will give you more money."
Still, Scott is continuing to raise money and will be throughout
the year, in order to pay for mailers and local cable television
spots.
"My goal is to raise $300,000," he added.
So far, Scott has been the recipient of a diverse group of donors,
based on campaign finance reports through the end of 2003.
Scott's contributors included the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla
Indians of Palm Springs, AT&T Wireless, the Recording Industry Assn.
of America, Blue Cross of California and Chevron Texaco Corp., each
with $1,000.
Financial supporters also included a smattering of police
officers' associations, car dealer coalitions, a plumbers' union and
the California Cable Telecommunications Assn.
The political action committees set up by Warner Bros. and
Southland Title Corp. -- both based in Burbank -- gave Scott $1,500.
And the Glendale-based Nestle USA contributed $1,000 to Scott's campaign.
Nestle officials sized up their support of political candidates as
part of trying to be a corporate citizen, but Scott was a target for
funds.
"We particularly share in his commitment to education, which is
why we support him," said Laurie MacDonald, vice president of
corporate and brand affairs for Nestle USA.
Scott said donors do not affect his votes, and he said he does not
take tobacco or gun lobby money. Scott recently ran into criticism
from the California School Employees Assn., which he said gave him
money in the past, because of a vote that went against their stand on
school contract workers.
Still, donors seem to be willing to take the chance, even in the
case of labor, which Scott has courted.
"We have found Jack to be a supporter of the labor union," said
Bill Bailey, president of the Glendale Firefighters Assn., part of
the California Professional Firefighters. Democrats make up about 80%
of the candidates that the union supports. The union gave Scott
$1,000 last year.
"He has been an ear for us when we need to let him know the fire
and police needs of the community," Bailey said.
