Where candidates get their money

Jim Drummond - Political Perspectives

Yorba Linda Star - Sept. 21, 2006 - Viewpoints Section

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Naturally, candidates seeking the two City Council seats on the Nov. 7 ballot are telling voters about their qualifications for office and their grand ideas for Yorba Linda’s future.

But they’re also revealing a few details about their business interests and income sources.

The state’s Political Reform Act, a citizen-sponsored initiative approved by voters in 1974, requires candidates to report their investments, positions in business entities, real property and income from sources that are located in or doing business in Yorba Linda.

The reporting requirements involve only wide-range monetary categories, including amounts up to $10,000, from $10,000 to $100,000 and from $100,000 to $1 million.

Walter Bruckner reports he earns more than $100,000 as president and treasurer of WSB Marketing and Sales, a manufacturing sales agency he gives a market value of $100,000 to $1 million.

He also owns stock he values at $100,000 to $1 million in BellSouth Corp.

Steven Brunette reports income from $10,000 to $100,000 from his Prospect Avenue law firm, which he gives a market value of $2,000 to $10,000.

He lists a $10,000 to $100,000 salary as general counsel and vice president of Window Rock Enterprises in Brea.

Brunette also reports he’s a managing member of New Way Foods, which he lists as worth $2,000 to $10,000. (Although Brunette is not actively campaigning, his name will appear on the ballot, and his candidate statement will be mailed with the sample ballots.)

Doug Dickerson, who recently retired as a Brea police captain, lists only the $1,000 to $10,000 salary he earns as a governing board member of Placentia-Linda Hospital.

Jan Horton’s report lists only the $10,000 to $100,000 salary she earns as a supervisor of therapy services and an occupational therapist at St. Jude Medical Center in Fullerton.

Alex Mikkelsen, who lost his Old Town business to eminent domain proceedings, now owns American Roadster, a welding and fabrication firm in Placentia. He lists his salary as $10,000 to $100,000 from the venture he reports as worth $100,000 to $1 million.

Keri Wilson, the lone incumbent seeking re-election to a second term, is owner-operator of a real estate appraisal service, which she values at $10,000 to $100,000. She lists her income as $10,000 to $100,000 from the business.

Candidates listing no reportable interests are John Anderson, a county prosecutor who oversees a gang suppression unit; Mike Burns, a senior software engineer; Diana Hudson, a businesswoman and racecar driver; and Mel Woodward, a retired police lieutenant. Only the two winners will continue filing the financial reports, on an annual basis each April, along with the rest of their council colleagues and specified city employees. Of course, losers might file again, if they seek council seats in future elections.

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