Skylar Peak has raised the most money in the Malibu City Council election race, with the other candidates trailing by thousands of dollars. Some candidates have opted out of the fundraising process, refusing to accept donations for their campaigns.
By Carly Erickson / Assistant Editor
The fundraising numbers for the Malibu City Council election race are in, and Skylar Peak, a local business owner, is leading the pack with nearly $16,000 in donations. John Sibert, Joan House and Hans Laetz are behind Peak, while Missy Zeitsoff did not disclose how much she’s raised, and Andy Lyon and Hamish Patterson have said they don’t plan on raising or spending any money during the election.
According to documents covering candidate fundraising between Jan. 1 and Feb. 25, Peak, a third-generation Malibu resident, has raised $15,975 in contributions. While many of Peak’s supporters live locally, he also received donations from supporters in Utah, Boulder, Colo. and Houston, Texas. Out of the funding he’s received, Peak’s campaign has spent just over $11,300 on consulting services, signs and advertising.
Sibert, the only incumbent in the election, has brought in the second-highest amount of money during the pre-election period, with $10,750 raised. Of that amount, most was donated by contributors and Sibert also loaned himself $1,000. Nearly all of Sibert’s supporters live in Malibu, with an additional few in Santa Monica and Los Angeles. So far in the election race, the Sibert campaign has spent $3,124.22 on filing fees, ads and website-related costs.
Next is House, whose campaign has raised $7,300. Most came from contributors, but House has also loaned herself $1,000. All House’s funding comes from supporters living in Southern California. Her campaign has spent about $2,750 on items similar to Peak and Sibert-namely advertising and website costs. House served on the Malibu City Council from 1992 until 2004 and has been mayor three times.
Laetz raised $2,200 during the pre-election fundraising period, $2,000 of which was a loan to himself. The Laetz campaign has spent some money as well, namely $610 on brochures and advertising.
Zeitsoff, a teacher, did not disclose the specific fundraising numbers from her campaign. Candidates who raise or spend less than $1,000 are not required to release fundraising information. Zeitsoff served as a member of Malibu’s first City Council.
Neither Lyon nor Patterson have raised or spent any money so far in the election. “I am not taking any sort of financial contributions of any kind in my campaign for City Council,” Patterson, a carpenter, said in a YouTube video regarding his campaign. Lyon, a Realtor and lifelong resident, has also expressed in public forums that he will not be fundraising during the election and is not accepting donations.
There are seven candidates competing for three open seats on the council, and at least two of them will be filled by new faces. Current city councilmember Pamela Conley Ulich is term-limited, while councilmember Jefferson Wagner is not running again. Current councilmember Sibert is running for reelection.
The last day to register to vote is March 26. Election day is April 10.
Upcoming City Council debates
The Malibu Chamber of Commerce and the Malibu Association of Realtors are hosting a candidates forum March 14 at HRL Laboratories, 3011 Malibu Canyon Rd., at 6 p.m.
The Point Dume Community Association is sponsoring a candidates forum March 21 at Point Dume Marine Science Elementary School, 6955 Fernhill Dr., at 6:45 p.m.
City Council candidate fundraising numbers
Skylar Peak
Total contributions received: $15,975
Total expenditures made: $11,330.22
Ending cash balance: $4,644.78
John Sibert
Total contributions received: $10,750
Total expenditures made: $3,124.22
Ending cash balance: $7,625.78
Joan House
Total contributions received: $7,300
Total expenditures made: $2,752.71
Ending cash balance: $4,547.29
Hans Laetz
Total contributions received: $2,200
Total expenditures made: $610
Ending cash balance: $1,590
K. “Missy” Zeitsoff
Information not disclosed
Hamish Patterson
No contributions received or expenditures made
Andy Lyon
No contributions received or expenditures made