(Jan. 30, 2009, updated w/ candidate response) -- Materials filed by the campaign to make Robert Garcia LB's next 1st district Councilmember indicate that during the period ending Dec. 31, 2008, the largest sums came from LB's two public public safety employee unions, followed by multiple cigar/smoking/tobacco related businesses and several lobbyists/developer reps.

The two largest contributions during the reporting period ($2,500 each, the legal maximum per PAC) came from the political action committees for LB's Police and Firefighter unions...which endorsed Mr. Garcia before the filing period for other candidates had opened.

As previously reported by LBReport.com, the unions video recorded questions they asked Council candidates, including Mr. Garcia, but LB's police union rep, Lt. Steve James has refused to let the public see/hear the recordings. (Mr. Garcia has said he doesn't object to release of his recording).

A number of campaign contributions, including some at the $1,000 maximum for non-PAC contributors, came from cigar/smoking/tobacco related businesses. [A proposal to amend LB's current No Smoking ordinance to facilitate certain smoking/cigar/hookah lounges is on the February 3 City Council agenda and has stirred controversy.]

The filing indicates that the Garcia campaign collected $33,602 as of Dec. 31. Of that amount, $2,328 comes from unitemized contributions of less than $100.

The Garcia campaign made an online effort to collect contributions under $100 online. At year's end, the campaign website sought contributions of $100, $50 or $25 online that could "be counted for the first reporting period" [that is, now]. LBReport.com has listed and sorted salient contributors by the amount contributed. :

12/18/08	LB Police Officers Ass'n Political Action Committee	$2,500
12/18/08	LB Firefighters Political Action Committee	$2,500
12/31/08	A Side Inc. DBA Cohiba Night Club, Surfside CA 90743	$1,000
12/31/08	Anto's Cigar Lounge, Inc., LB 90803	$1,000
12/31/08	Bo's Cigars, LB 90808	$1,000
12/31/08	Smokey Joe LLC, LB 90806	$1,000
12/18/08	Jenny Oropeza for State Senate	$1,000
12/18/08	Joshua Lowenthal, LB 90814	$1,000
12/28/08	George Medak, LB 90803	$1,000
12/31/08	Brian O'Leary Bennett, LB 90803	$1,000
12/18/08	Murchison Consulting, Inc. LB 90806	$1,000
12/31/08	Mitchell Rouse [business address] Gardena, CA 90249	$1,000
12/19/08	Cloy J. [Michael] Walter [Harbor Comm'r]	$1,000
12/31/08	Meta Housing Corporation, Los Angeles 90025	$1,000
12/31/08	The 6400 Corporation DBA SeaPort Marina Hotel, LB 90803	$800
12/18/08	Phillip R. Appleby, LB 90802	$500
12/31/08	Long Beach Yellow Cab Cooperative Inc., Gardena 90249	$500
12/31/08	Frank Colonna, LB 90803	$500
12/31/08	John Molina, LB 90803	$500
12/31/08	Michelle Molina, LB 90803	$500
12/21/08	William Simons, LB 90806	$500
12/31/08	Vopak North America & Subsidiaries, Houston TX 77027	$500
12/28/08	Sean Zullo [Exec. Dir. Choices Recovery Services]	$300
12/31/08	Big Daddy's Cigars, LB 90803	$250
12/21/08	Leslie Gentile, LB 90803	$250
12/31/08	Gerald Miller, LB 90815	$250
12/31/08	Taylor's Tobacco House, Inc. LB 90808	$250
12/31/08	Albert Briones, LB 90814 (Owner Smoke Temple Cigar Shop)	$250
12/19/08	Theresa Bixby, LB 90805 [lists herself as Children Today co-founder]	$250
12/18/08	Brian Ulaszewski, LB 90813	$100
12/24/08	Committee to Elect Larry Forrester, Signal Hill	$100
12/21/08	Craig Smith [CSULB Prof]	$100
12/31/08	Jack C. Smith	$100

To view the full list of contributors, click here

Candidates who received or expended more than $1,000 for their campaigns are required to file the disclosures on or before Feb. 2.

[update] Canidate response: Candidate Garcia Comments On His Campaign Contributions