Macias has difficulty managing his campaign budget

[Advisor]

Council funds, spending bunched up

By Marianne Love , Staff Writer
Monday, February 28, 2005 - The two mayoral candidates enter the home stretch of the campaign with vastly different financial pictures, according to a second round of spending statements in the March 8 race.

Diane Chagnon, a city councilwoman with two years remaining on her term, and Uriel Macias, Azusa's city treasurer - whose term is expiring - are facing off in the mayoral race, a two-year position.

Mayor Cristina Madrid is not seeking re-election.

Chagnon has spent $5,240 compared to Macias' $15,600.

Macias, 34, is using $7,500 of his own money, along with $2,300 in cash donations, plus another $2,025 in non-monetary contributions to finance his campaign.

Macias also lists $8,865 in outstanding debts and an ending- cash balance of $2,050.

Chagnon, 42, started campaigning last summer for mayor with $1,230 in past contributions.

Macias said he's not worried about his debt and that he'll pay it off when the bills come due. "I've saved money for this,' he said.

His main contributor is Michael Esquivel, general manager of an Azusa company, La Flor de Mexico, who contributed $1,000. Charles Wilson of Azusa contributed $500. In addition, Burke and Marcene Hamilton of Azusa contributed $500.

Macias has forgone his city treasurer pay and vows that if elected mayor, he will give his $400 monthly council stipend to charity. He said those moves show he's willing to put his money where his mouth is.

"I'm fully committed to being mayor,' Macias said.

In Macias' first campaign disclosure statement returned to him because it was handwritten and incomplete he reported a $3,000 loan to himself and $865 in expenses between Jan. 1 and Jan. 24.

In the second disclosure statement, he indicates in-kind contributions of signs, printed fliers and telephones, totaling $2,025.

Between July 1 and Dec. 31, Chagnon picked up $13,700, including $750 from Vulcan Materials Co. PAC, $1,000 from Arthur Services of Industry and $300 from Dan Baccani of Monrovia. She shows an ending- cash balance of $9,764 without any outstanding debts.

That was made possible with $1,000 contributions from IBEW Local 18 Water and Power Defense League and the Azusa Police Officers PAC.

"I'm fiscally conservative when it comes to spending city money and fiscally conservati ve when it comes to spending campaign funds ,' Chagnon said. "I feel it's important to communicate with the public and get my message out, but in a low-cost, effective manner .'

Onyx Environmental, in Azusa, contributed $600 in postage.

Chagnon has loaned herself $691.

Seven candidates are vying for two open seats on the City Council, including incumbent Joe Rocha. The term is for four years.

Angel Carrillo leads the pack with the most contributions $4,371, followed by Robert Donnelson with $3,505, Rocha with $3,472 and Robert Gonzales at $3,190.

Carrillo has $962 remaining in campaign funds, Donnelson has $1,351, and Rocha reports $1,500, while Gonzales has $1,900 in his coffers.

Keith Hanks collected $1,671 in campaign contributions and has $537 left to spend.

Karen Johnson and John Dierking reported they won't collect or spend more than $1,000 in their bids for a council seat.

Candidates for the city treasurer spot are Leslie Dierking and Marcene Hamilton.

Hamilton contributed $3,400 to her own campaign and is trouncing Dierking in campaign contributions. But her expenditures are right up there.

Hamilton reported $4,200 in contributions including $500 from Mike Esquivel of La Flor de Mexico and $4,051 in expenditures.

Dierking signed a short form declaring she'll receive less than $1,100 and spend less than $1,000.

Councilman Dick Stanford is not seeking re-election.

City Clerk Vera Mendoza is running unopposed.

Marianne Love can be reached at [phone], Ext. 2108, or by e-mail at [e-mail] .

[Outsider]

wow! if he can't seem to manage this tiny little budget how will he manage the city's? I thought he had a finance background? That is scarey.

[Azusa Voter]

yes he allegedly does have a finance background. He appears that he doesn't understand how to complete forms either. I think I'll vote for Diane!

[MC Watcher]

It seems the Tribune can't even get the stories right. They printed up Arthur Services of City of Industry as a contributor to Diane's campaign. When in fact it is Athens Services of City of Industry who contributed $1000 to her campaign. This is the same company that received a sole contract, without bids, to have the right to be the only company in Azusa that hauls our trash away.
Jan's Towing, also a major contributor, almost got a sole contract to have the city towing contract.
Onyx Environental, one of the valley's largest polluters, according to the AQMD, also a major contributor to Diane's campaign.
Vulcan Materials Mining, who wants to ravage our hillside, also a major contributor to Diane's campaign.
And she wants to start a conservancy to preserve to preserve our natural resources?? That is if we have any left if she gets in.

[True colors showing]

Wow, what a bizarre coincidence with the first three posts. Three anti-Macias posts all exactly within two minutes of eachother?! Next time someone decides to accuse Macias supporters on this board of being the same person based on the 'timing', 'writing style', and every other lame accusation I read, I think I'll just refer them back to this set of posts.

On the Tribune article, not that they've exactly been objective in this whole thing, I do really like that they are showing how Macias is investing his own tab into his campaign and not relying on special interests like almost all of Chagnon's does. Your criticism is shallow and baseless. It's not the taxpayer's money he's spending, it's his own. Just because he's chosen to borrow and spend his own money on his campaign does not constitute mismanagement.

When it comes to the taxpayer's money and his performance as City Treasurer, he has probably done the best job in the position's entire history and saved us from a budget crisis and from having to pay more taxes. His work managing our city funds has been beyond reproach and I'm sure you know it, but I guess you just forgot to mention that in your comments.

[MC Watcher]

Case in point. Where do the candidates stand on this? With the residents or with special interests?

Quarry proposal opposed

Vulcan planning to step-up operations in Azusa

By Marianne Love , Staff Writer

A group of Duarte residents say they are vehemently opposed to a mining company stepping up its operations at a rock quarry at the base of the Angeles National Forest in Azusa.
A proposed excavation plan, expected to reach the Azusa City Council for approval sometime this spring, will cause noise, dust, truck traffic and health problems, they said.

Duarte resident Daniel Hyke has lived in the Fish Canyon area for 11 years and said the community was told mining at Azusa Rock, now owned by Vulcan Materials Co., was over years ago.

"Now, they want to take down the mountain. The scarring will decrease our property values,' Hyke said.

Vulcan officials said they will move forward with their plans.

Karen Herrera, assistant to Duarte's city manager, told about 50 people at Tuesday's Duarte City Council meeting that the city's ability to stop Vulcan is limited, because the quarry is in Azusa adjacent to Duarte's border between the forest and the Foothill (210) Freeway.

"But, through the environmental impact report process, we can get our thoughts across. Noise, dust and particulate matters are concerns,' she said.

Duarte officials have submitted a request to the South Coast Air Quality Management District for more air-quality monitors.

"Mining will be visible everywhere in the community. Having ridge lines expire in unacceptable,' said Duarte Councilman John Fasana. "It's going to be an uphill battle. We'll use all of the leverage and authority we can.'

The newly formed Duarte/Azusa Neighborhood River Association plans to launch an opposition plan too. It's made up of residents, business owners, hikers, cyclists and equestrians keen on preserving quality-of- life issues.

"We're in for the fight,' said group member Karen Vance.

Vulcan, which took control of the 350-acre quarry in 1999 from CalMat, and Azusa city officials are in a dispute.

Under a 1956 agreement, Azusa must grant Vulcan permission to dig. The point of contention is whether mining the 80 acres would constitute an expansion. Azusa officials say it does, Vulcan disagrees.

Jim Gore, Vulcan's manager of permitting and governmental affairs, told the Duarte City Council his company plans to move forward.

Gore said Vulcan spent three years and $1 million on a plan to return the hillside to its natural state in concert with mining operations.

"We'll be here until 2038. We have a legal, binding contract and have the right to be here,' Gore said.

Duarte resident Stan Kiernicki said he vacuums the dust and dirt in his back yard every day from other mining operations and is fearful that will increase if Azusa approves a deal with Vulcan.

"I might as well get myself a shovel,' he said.

Vulcan is scheduled to make a presentation to the Duarte City Council March 22.

-- Marianne Love can be reached at [phone], Ext. 2108, or by e-mail at [e-mail] .

[Quid Pro Quo]

Don't be so defensive when it comes to criticism of Macias. Like you've said before posing a one of the five different people you pretend to be " Politicians are subject to public criticism--it comes with the territory" I suppose It's ok as long as it's not your preferred candidate that is being critiqued.... Politicians that are incapable of raising money on their own have to use their own money or else they couldn't run an effective campaign. It is worth mentioning that he has spent more than he raised including his own money and Diane has a $9,000+ ending balance. If you can't manage your own money how can we expect him to manage our's? ;D

[True Colors]

You are straightup delsuional Quid. Are you so obsessed that you can not accept that people share like opinions? I don't use a specific screen name on here, but I haven't even been to this board in at least a week. Who ever did say that probably didn't deserve your personal attack - - though I doubt you have any conscience enough to care.

[MC Macias Supporter]

Didn't anyone notice that the tribune endorsed Dianne. Of course it makes sense that they (Marianne Love) would try to make him look bad. Marianne Love has a tendency to do that. Also if he is spending more than Dianne it must mean he wants the opportunity more than she does. Personnally I think she is a fine candidate but is kind of complacent. She thinks that just because she has been there for a while that everyone will just automaticaly assume she is the best candidate. And as far as some of the Dianne supporters who say everyone else is mud-slinging, maybe you should look at yourselves first. Also it makes sense that vested-connected-advisor-cove walker would be in Dianne's camp as they themselves say they are in the "connected group" Could there be ulterior motives? Are they expecting some sort of payoff-favors or endorsements in the future? I have no other motive than to see the city of Azusa progress. Sorry, my vote is not negotiable, I vote for the best candidate for the city not the best one for me personally.

[MC Watcher]

I personally have to ask, what is she saving her campaign funds for? Christmas?

[MC Macias Supporter]

Personally, I think she feels like she might loose so she is saving to run for re- election in two years. Getting more campaing contributions might be tough down the road if she looses this time.