Ballot Watch: Cash spigot flows full force into capital-region races as primary nears

With just more than three weeks until the June 3 legislative primaries, the money is starting to pour into local political races – and in big chunks.

Take former Rep. Doug Ose, a multimillionaire Sacramento land developer running against state Sen. Tom McClintock of Thousand Oaks for the GOP nomination to succeed Rep. John Doolittle.

Ose reported this week that he has loaned his campaign another $700,000.

That brings Ose's loans so far this year to $1,549,000. Under the law, he could raise money to repay the loans, but he hasn't in past campaigns.

'Independent' funds benefit Hegyi

With contribution limits of $3,600, many well-heeled interests have turned to "independent" campaigns to promote their candidate of choice.

These campaigns are not constrained by spending caps, but they also are not allowed to coordinate with the candidates themselves.

EdVoice, an education advocacy group, reported the first so-called "independent expenditure" in the race to replace termed-out Assemblyman Alan Nakanishi, R-Lodi.

EdVoice, funded by some of the state's wealthiest business leaders, including developer Eli Broad, Netflix founder Reed Hastings and Gap Inc. founder Donald G. Fisher, reported spending nearly $50,000 to send out political mailers touting the candidacy of Paul Hegyi, one of three GOP primary candidates.

The infusion of fliers should be a boost for Hegyi, who trails his opponents in fundraising.

Hegyi, on leave as chief of staff to Assemblyman Van Tran, R-Garden Grove, is running against Jack Sieglock, a former San Joaquin County supervisor, and David Sander, the former mayor of Rancho Cordova. The 10th Assembly district stretches from northern Stockton to Rancho Cordova, encompassing Amador and parts of Sacramento, El Dorado and San Joaquin counties.

Teachers open wallet

The same education group is also weighing in on behalf of West Sacramento Mayor Christopher Cabaldon, a Democrat who served as president of the organization until earlier this year.

EdVoice has already earmarked $350,000 for its former leader's campaign.

But a coalition of labor groups, led by the California Teachers Association, recently opened an account to support Cabaldon's opponent, Mariko Yamada, a Yolo County supervisor.

The teachers union deposited $250,000 into the account.

Cabaldon and Yamada are campaigning to succeed termed-out Assemblywoman Lois Wolk, D-Davis, who represents Assembly District 8.

Optometrists eye Kamena

In the four-way Republican primary for Assembly District 15, the California Optometric Association has reported spending more than $144,000 to back Scott Kamena.

Kamena is, you guessed it, an optometrist.

He is running to replace termed-out Assemblyman Guy Houston, R-San Ramon, in a district that sprawls from Livermore to Elk Grove.

Kamena faces Abram Wilson, the mayor of San Ramon, Robert Rao, a former auto dealership owner, and Judy Lloyd, a businesswoman.

About the writer:

• Call Shane Goldmacher, Bee Capitol Bureau, (916) 326-5544. David Whitney of The Bee Washington Bureau contributed to this report.