Disney has dropped nearly $1 million so far on Anaheim’s city council election a little over two years since a corruption scandal first broke in OC’s largest city, which alleged Disneyland resort influences hold outsized influence on city hall.
Hospitality interests like Marriott hotels, real estate interests like the California Association of Realtors and local public safety unions are also spending significantly in the Anaheim City Council races.
The money comes after city hall was rocked with two corruption probes, in which FBI agents and independent investigators with decades of law enforcement experience allege Disneyland Resort interests heavily influence policy making in Anaheim.
The name of Disney’s typical political spending committee – the Support Our Anaheim Resort political action committee (SOAR) – pops up in a FBI affidavit and an independent corruption page report.
In those pages, independent investigators hired by city officials write they found Disney’s spending lined up with that of resort area hoteliers and the Anaheim Chamber of Commerce – another prominent organization called out in the corruption scandal.
One SOAR board described the committee to investigators as a mechanism to “groom” resort-backed candidates and politicians.
This election, however, Disney isn’t throwing cash at their preferred candidates through SOAR.
[Read: Disney Comes in With Late Spending in Anaheim City Council Races]
Instead, the entertainment juggernaut has spent nearly $950,000 this far across three political action committees supporting District 4 Councilwoman Norma Kurtz, District 1 Parks and Recreation Commissioner Ryan Balius and District 5 Culture and Heritage Commissioner Kristen Maahs so far.
Hoteliers and hospitality interests like William O’Connell and the Marriott International as well as the California Association of Realtors have also spent tens of thousands of dollars in support of those candidates through the same PACs.
Meanwhile, the Anaheim Police Officers Association has spent nearly $192,000 on Maahs’ opponent in the District 5 race, former La Mirada Mayor and former cop Andrew Sarega.
District 1
A Political Action Committee dubbed Anaheim Residents, Small Businesses, and Public Safety Leaders for Ryan Balius for City Council 2024 funded primarily by Disney has spent over $448,000 in support of Balius as of Oct. 24.
Public Safety unions and hotel interests are also spending thousands of dollars on Balius.
The Anaheim/Orange County Hotel & Lodging Association has spent over $10,000 on campaign literature in support of Balius as of Oct. 23.
The Anaheim Police Association has spent over $9,000 on mailers in support of Balius while the Anaheim Firefighters Association spent over $4,000 on text messages in support of the candidate so far.
Ojaala Ahmad, a former Anaheim Housing and Community Development commissioner, running against Balius has raised over $16,000 in campaign contributions this year as of Oct. 19.
Records don’t show any independent expenditures on behalf of Ahmad.
Balius has raised over $50,000 in campaign contributions this year including a $10,000 loan to himself.
District 4
Anaheim Residents, Small Businesses, and Public Safety Leaders for Norma Campos Kurtz for City Council 2024 – primarily funded by Disney – has spent over $447,000 in support of Kurtz as of Oct. 26.
The committee has also received funding from hospitality interests and real estate interests like Marriot, Wincome USA and the California Real Estate political action committee.
The National Association of Realtors has spent over $16,000 on Kurtz.
The Anaheim Firefighters Association has spent nearly $4,000 on text messages in support of Kurtz.
Kurtz was appointed as the District 4 representative in early 2023 after former Councilman Avelino Valencia was elected to the state assembly.
She also has sat on SOAR’s advisory committee in the past.
City campaign finance disclosures show her opponent, Franciso Rojas – an aircraft mechanic, has not raised any money as of Oct. 28.
Records also don’t show any independent expenditures on behalf of Rojas.
Kurtz has raised over $41,000 in campaign contributions so far this year.
District 5
Anaheim Residents, Small Businesses, and Public Safety Leaders for Kristen Maahs for City Council 2024, funded primarily by Disney, has spent over $425,000 in support of Maahs.
One committee dubbed “A Better Orange County,” funded by the California Alliance of Family Owned Businesses – an advocacy group aimed at helping family owned businesses – also gave the same PAC $100,000.
The alliance is made up of various business interests, including business consulting firms and companies that run a string of McDonald’s franchises.
The Anaheim Firefighters Association has spent over $4,000 on text messages in support of Maahs.
The Anaheim/Orange County Hotel & Lodging Association has spent over $31,000 on things like political literature in support of Maahs so far.
This election cycle sees a rare split in local interests.
The Anaheim Police Officers Association – which political spending usually mirrors resort interets – are spending in support of two candidates running against Maahs.
The association has spent over $192,000 on Andrew Sarega, the former La Mirada Mayor and police officer.
Disneyland resort employee Cristal Ruiz, another candidate in the race, has raised over $2,800 in campaign contributions this year including a $2,500 donation from the Anaheim Police Officers Political Action Committee.
Records show no independent expenditures on behalf of Ruiz.
Sarega has raised over $105,000 in campaign contributions this year including an over $58,000 loan to himself.
Maahs has raised over $80,000 in campaign contributions this year including an over $10,000 loan to herself.
Hosam Elattar is a Voice of OC reporter and corps member with Report for America, a GroundTruth initiative. Contact him at helattar@voiceofoc.org or on Twitter @ElattarHosam.
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