Mayor Leads Councilman in Race for Funds in Pomona

POMONA — Mayor Donna Smith has raised more than $27,000 for her reelection bid, easily outstripping the fund-raising efforts of Councilman Tomas Ursua, her opponent in the April 16 runoff election.

Ursua missed last Thursday’s deadline for filing his statement of contributions and expenditures, but said he has raised about $18,000. He said he will file his report this week, paying a penalty of $10 for each day beyond the deadline.

Ursua said he was untroubled by the fund-raising gap. “The money she has raised shows that she represents money,” he said. “I think I have more of a grass-roots campaign.”

Smith was out of town and could not be reached.

Smith, who has been endorsed by city employee unions, including the police and fire associations, received $1,500 from Pomona firefighters and $1,198 from the city employees association.

Other donations included $1,000 each from the Western Mobilehome Assn. Political Action Committee in Sacramento, B.H. Plumbing and Heating in Long Beach and Pomona property owners J. Sherman of San Gabriel and Paul H. McAlister of Long Beach.

In Council District 1, Nell Soto raised more than $15,000 for her tough reelection battle against Robert Jackson, a teacher who collected nearly $8,000. Soto’s contributions included $1,000 from the Operating Engineers union. Jackson, who said he would not accept contributions more than $500 from any single contributor, received that amount from both the Pomona firefighters and city employees associations.

In Council District 4, Paula H. Lantz has raised $5,623, slightly more than her opponent, Bill Shelton, who has collected $4,753.