Campaign donations show contrasts among Encinitas candidates

ENCINITAS — As the Encinitas City Council race heats up, the District 1 and District 2 candidates’ campaign finance reports reveal significant differences in fundraising strategies and donor bases, providing insight into how each campaign is building support ahead of the November election.

In reporting this story, The Coast News reviewed every candidate’s Form 460, a key campaign finance document that candidates, political committees and ballot measure committees must file to disclose their financial activities. The form provides a detailed breakdown of all contributions and expenditures, ensuring transparency and accountability in the electoral process. 

By itemizing donations over $100 and outlining campaign expenses, Form 460 allows the public to see who funds political campaigns and how that money is being spent. This gives voters insights into the financial backers and spending priorities of those seeking office.

The deadlines for filing the 460 forms are structured around the election calendar to keep voters informed about campaign finances throughout the election cycle. Candidates and committees must submit semi-annual reports twice a year, covering the periods from Jan. 1 to June 30 and July 1 to Dec. 31, respectively.

For this report, The Coast News only reviewed the 460 forms available from Jan. 1 to June 30. It also does not include itemized accounts of donations smaller than $100. While it may not show a candidate’s exact number of total donors, the total amount from these smaller donations is accounted for within this report. 

Next week, the newspaper will review and explore the mayoral candidates’ campaign finances. 

Preston vs. O’Hara

In District 2, where Destiny Preston and Jim O’Hara are vying for a council seat, the fundraising numbers tell a story of contrasting approaches. According to the campaign finance data, Preston has 99 donors contributing $100 or more, nearly twice the 46 reported by O’Hara.

O’Hara raised $9,767.88 over the specified period, while Preston raised $20,937.88 in the same timeframe. Of that total, Preston received $2,209 in monetary contributions under $100, while O’Hara received $346.24 in monetary contributions of less than $100 (these donations are not itemized in the publicly available Form 460s). 

Preston’s donor base (for donations of $100 or greater) has 55 contributions from Encinitas residents and 44 from outside the city. This mix suggests that while Preston has substantial local support, she also benefits from a broader network beyond Encinitas. Notable donors to Preston’s campaign during this period include Catherine Blakespear, Jeremy Blakespear, Tricia A. Smith, Allison Blackwell, Kellie Hinze, Joy Lyndes, Jim & Kathleen Stiven and Theresa Beauchamp.

“My work in public policy has created trust and support from people throughout the state,” Preston told The Coast News. “And my family, friends, college alumni circle and professional network all know that I am a dedicated public servant and will work hard for the people of Encinitas.”

In contrast, O’Hara’s campaign appears to focus more narrowly on local donors, with 36 contributors from Encinitas and only 10 from outside. Notable donors to O’Hara’s campaign during this period include Adam Robinson (RAF Pacifica Group), Seabreeze Properties and Scott Campbell (Encinitas Citizens Review Panel). 

O’Hara said this more localized approach reflects a campaign strategy that deepens connections with district residents.

“I think it’s important to bring this back to Encinitas and not have one political campaign outspending another with outside money,” O’Hara said in an interview with The Coast News. “This should be about what the local residents want.”

The percentage change in donor numbers between the two candidates highlights these differences starkly. While Preston has 91.67% more Encinitas donors, she has 400% more external donors than O’Hara.

“[My donors] invested in my campaign because they believe in me,” Preston said. “They know my track record of getting things done, and they know Encinitas deserves a council member who can actually deliver on advancing goals to improve our quality of life.”

Overall, Preston’s total donor count is 158.70% higher than O’Hara’s, underscoring her campaign’s extensive reach in Encinitas and beyond.

But while Preston has raised more than O’Hara, the candidate isn’t concerned about the disparity. O’Hara said his campaign approach is both a strategic choice and a reflection of his involvement in local matters.

“We don’t expect to out-fundraise her,” O’Hara said of Preston’s donations. “I believe in managing resources wisely, whether it’s in business, government or running a campaign. It’s not just about who has the most money, it’s about how you use it to connect with people and make a difference.”

Blackwell vs. Shaffer

In another closely watched race, Allison Blackwell and Luke Shaffer compete for a council seat with very different financial backers. Blackwell’s campaign has reported 71 total donors, with 34 from Encinitas and 37 from outside the city.

Shaffer raised $14,294.21 from 72 donors in the specified period, while Blackwell raised $20,826.80 in the same timeframe. Of that total, Blackwell received $1,145 in monetary contributions under $100, while Shaffer reported $418.18 in donations under $100 (these donations are not itemized in the publicly available Form 460s). 

Notable donors to Blackwell’s campaign during this period include Theresa Beauchamp, Jeremy Blakespear, Catherine Blakespear, Tony Kranz, Joy Lyndes, Kellie Hinze, Tricia Smith and Jim & Kathleen Stiven. 

Blackwell told The Coast News that her initial fundraising efforts coincided with a busy work life, hindering her abilities to raise money locally in the community. 

“I was going through a very stressful time at the company I was working with; it was heading for bankruptcy,” Blackwell said, adding that she couldn’t find enough time to conduct extensive fundraising efforts. “So I decided I would … reach out to everybody I know, friends, family, former colleagues, current colleagues. I did that.”

Meanwhile, Shaffer’s numbers show a stronger focus on local support, with 54 donors from Encinitas and 18 from elsewhere. Notable donors to Shaffer’s campaign during this period include Adam Robinson (RAF Pacific Group), Seabreeze Properties and Scott Campbell (Encinitas Citizens Review Panel).

Shaffer told The Coast News that these distributions indicate that his campaign is focused on direct fundraising efforts in Encinitas.

“Yes, being local has helped, but it’s not just being local, it’s about who I’ve always been as a local,” Shaffer said. “I’ve been around, done a lot for the community, and people know me as someone who’s always been here to give back.”

Shaffer and Blackwell’s donor totals are almost the same, with Shaffer slightly ahead by just one donor. Despite the even total, Blackwell remains ahead of funds raised, with about 45.7% more money raised than Shaffer. 

“I’ve raised significantly more funding from Encinitas-based donors, and I think that says a lot about my connection to this community and the trust people have in me as a local candidate,” Shaffer said.

The percentage change between the two candidates is telling. Blackwell had 37.04% fewer local donors than Shaffer, who had 105.56% more donors outside Encinitas. Blackwell said that since the filing deadline, she has had more opportunities to fundraise locally.

“I’m in between [professional] roles, and I decided to take some time off so I could concentrate on the campaign and do a good job with that,” Blackwell said. “So yeah, I have had several meet and greets and different kinds of informal settings to talk with neighbors in and around District 1 about what’s on their minds, which has also been a good chance to ask for their support.”

Implications for Voters

As the election approaches, voters will likely weigh these factors, considering the amount of money raised, where it comes from and what it might suggest about each candidate’s base of support and potential policy priorities.

These fundraising figures highlight key differences in how candidates approach their campaigns and could provide voters with insights into each candidate’s network of support and strategic priorities.

While local donors can signify deep community ties and grassroots support, Thad Kousser, professor of political science at UC San Diego, said external donors might reflect broader appeal or connections beyond the city.

“City council races have grown from people raising money from friends, family, local community connections, to races where the stakes of what California cities do are so high that you often have groups that are beyond the personal network of a candidate contributing,” Kousser said. “That’s increasingly the case for elections at every level in America.”