Perez Outpaces Harnik by 2-1 in Fundraising

V. Manuel “Manny” Perez raised nearly double that of his only opponent, Jan Harnik, in the race for Riverside County’s Fourth District Supervisorial District, according to reports filed Thursday with the Riverside County Registrar of Voters.

Perez raised more than $266,000 in total contributions during the most recent fundraising period, Jan. 1, 2018 to April 21, 2018 and has a cash-on-hand total of $392,951 a lead of more than $89,000 over his opponent for the same period.

Harnik, a member of the Palm Desert City Council since 2010, raised nearly $136,000 during the same four-month period. She reported cash on hand of $303,572.

 

Since May 25, 2017, Perez has raised $819,319 for his campaign for Riverside County Supervisor.

Some noteworthy donors to Perez’s campaign in the most recent fundraising period include the California Desert Association of Realtors, California Correctional Police Officers Association, the Riverside Sheriffs’ Association, the Riverside County Deputy District Attorneys Association, and longtime Coachella Valley business leader wind energy pioneer Fred Noble.

Perez also received $2,000 from the Committee to Re-elect Dana Hobart. Some other locals are Palm Springs City Councilmembers Christy Holstege and Geoff Kors, Cathedral City Councilman John Aguilar and Raymond Gregory, who is seeking a seat on the Cathedral City City Council in November.

“I’m humbled by the outpouring of support our campaign has received from a diverse array of individuals and organizations,” Perez said in a prepared statement. “Our strong fundraising is reflective of the bipartisan support we have earned in every corner of Riverside County’s Fourth Supervisorial District.”

Perez said he plans to run traditional television, radio, and direct-mail advertising campaigns, along with making a significant investment in new media platforms.

“Most importantly, our campaign has the resources needed to run a large-scale, get-out-the-vote operation, which will focus on increasing turnout by having as many one-on-one conversations with voters as possible between now and June 5,” Perez said.

Perez served on the Coachella Valley Unified School District Board of Trustees from 2004 to 2008. He served our region in the California State Assembly for three terms between 2008 and 2014, rising to the role of majority leader. Following his service in the State Assembly, Perez was elected to the Coachella City Council. He was appointed to the Riverside County Board of Supervisors in May following the death of John J. Benoit.

Some of Harnik’s cash supporters include Indio City Councilmember Elaine Holmes, former Palm Springs Police Chief and City Councilmember Lee Weigel, former College of the Desert President Bill Kroonen, Dick and Janice Oliphant and Gary Pelzer, spouse of Kimberlin Brown Pelzer who is running for the 36th Congressional District seat.

Harnik did not return two messages seeking comment.