HUNTINGTON BEACH, CA — Campaign spending accelerated in the Huntington Beach City Council race as the local police union poured nearly $100,000 into independent ads targeting incumbents who voted against raises and supporting their opponents, according to the Voice of OC.
The Huntington Beach Police Officers Association spent more than $100,000 on council contests as of Oct. 13, according to disclosures cited by Voice of OC.
Most of that spending came through the union's political action committee, which reported $16,000 each opposing Mayor Casey McKeon and Councilmember Pat Burns after they voted against a nearly 18 percent raise for officers over three years.
The committee also reported more than $17,000 in ads supporting Councilmember Andrew Gruel, who voted for the raises, and an additional $5,900 donated directly to his campaign, Voice of OC said.
They're the largest independent spender so far, according to Voice of OC, while the Manufactured Housing Educational Trust PAC has put $15,000 into ads for McKeon, Gruel, Burns and Brian Thienes. One candidate has loaned more than $250,000 to his campaign and several challengers have outpaced the mayor in fundraising, in a field of 11 candidates competing for four seats that will shape city policy and Huntington Beach's push for local control.
Read the full report at the Voice of OC here.
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