The Pre-Primary campaign finance reports for Oro Valley incumbents Mayor Hiremath, and council members Hornat, Snider and Waters reveal a multi-year pattern of dependence on developers and Special Interest donors. As a group, the incumbents collected an additional $27,450 for the filing period [July 1 – August 11] from developers, builders and special interest Political Action Committees. Combined with the 2nd Quarter donations of $56,750, the incumbents have accepted over $84,000 from groups, companies and individuals looking to influence the Oro Valley town election in the August 28 Primary.
The top donors are HSL Properties and its employees with $24,500 in total contributions. HSL will require Council approval for its proposed spa and a rezoning for neighborhood commercial, senior care and multi-family uses on El Conquistador Way.
Special interest Political Action Committees (PACs) contributed $11,000 to the incumbents’ campaigns. The largest PAC contributors are Realtors of Arizona and Southern Arizona Home Builders Association (SAHBA). Both are hoping for continued growth within the Town.
In stark contrast to the incumbents’ campaign, the challengers’ campaign is driven by donations from the community. Joe Winfield, Melanie Barrett, Joyce Jones-Ivey and Josh Nicolson raised a combined $29,311 from 300+ individual Oro Valley residents that hope to change the direction of Oro Valley and break the developers and special interest groups’ power over the current Council. The challengers also self-funded their campaigns with $10,314 in personal monies.
In mayoral hopeful Joe Winfield’s opinion, “Campaign contributions of this magnitude, from landowners, developers, and special interest groups to government officials – who approve land rezoning applications – are unacceptable. Large campaign donations buy access, increase influence and improve outcomes. My commitment has been to not accept any campaign contributions from special interest groups or developers. I have run my campaign by self-funding and raising donations from individuals with no financial ties to the town. This will allow me to represent the citizens of Oro Valley and not developers and special interests.”
The Primary election will be held on Tuesday, August 28. Polls open at 6 a.m. and close at 7 p.m.
Campaign Finance reports are available on the Town website: http://docs.orovalleyaz.gov/weblink8/CustomSearch.aspx?SearchName=Elections