Look Who's Funding the LB/OC Congressional Race

The latest campaign spending reports have been made public for the newly created U.S. Congressional District that straddles Long Beach, Seal Beach and two neighboring communities. For some close political observers there was a bit of a surprise.

State Senator Alan Lowenthal (D-Long Beach), a former California assemblyman who has been elected to state office four times after being elected twice to the Long Beach City Council, has only amassed about $40,000 for this congressional race. About $5,000 is candidate funding and $5,000 is from political action committees, with the remaining 75% from individuals.

That compares with the nearly $500,000 combined from the three highest profile Republicans who have declared candidacy thus far.

They are: Gary DeLong, Long Beach's 3rd District Councilman, whose area includes Belmont Shore, Heights and Naples, $255,000, none of it from PACs or candidate; Los Alamitos City Councilman Troy Edgar, $221,000, 90% from the candidate himself; and former South Bay Congressman Steve Kuykendall, $23,200.

Entering the race with an Oct. 6 announcement was Edgar, who came out swinging with an early endorsement and a well-known Navy background in a district that has hardcore military roots with current (Seal Beach, Los Alamitos) or former bases (Long Beach).

Lowenthal, the the most veteran politician in the race as far as years served in elected office, has no declared Democratic contenders of equal-profile. But former state senator Joe Dunn of Garden Grove, currently head of the powerful California Bar Assn., is said to be weighing a campaign, the LBPost.com reported, although there is no source named nor confirmation by Dunn. Patch could not reach Dunn for comment late Tuesday.

The congressional district was created as part of the long and citizen-driven redistricting process with conclusions were announced just months ago. Long Beach and western Orange County are currently represented by Huntington Beach Representative and Republican Dana Rohrabacher.

http://www.thesenatorsfirm.com/meet-the-attorneys/senator-joseph-dunn

http://www.lbpost.com/news/staffreports/12572