Eckert Challenger Proves Successful as Fund Raiser

Board of Supervisors candidate Clyde Romney out-raised incumbent Paul Eckert since Romeny declared his candidacy for the 5th District seat, campaign finance statements filed with the county show.

Romney, an Escondido lawyer and former chief aide to Rep. Ron Packard (R-Oceanside), raised more than $37,000 between Jan. 1, when he officially announced his candidacy, and March 17, the end of the most-recent filing period. He reported he had more than $27,000 of that amount still on hand. Also, he has loaned his campaign $10,786 of his own money.

Eckert still leads his opponents in the total amount of funds raised for the June 3 primary election race for the 5th District seat, but Romney has raised more since Jan. 1 than any of the other candidates, the state-required statements of economic interest show.

Eckert, seeking his third term representing the North County district, reported raising about $33,600 since Jan. 1, with total contributions of more than $128,200. Eckert reported that he has about $42,300 left to spend. He has yet to use any of his own money in the campaign.

Eckert’s three other major opponents--Carlsbad City Councilman Richard Chick, Oceanside Councilman John McDonald and Vista Mayor Mike Flick--have raised a combined total of about $19,700 since Jan. 1, the documents showed.

Chick, who had previously raised $25,380, reported $7,400 in new contributions between Jan. 1 and March 17. He has only $137 left in his campaign fund. McDonald has raised about $11,344 since Jan. 1 but reported being more than $2,600 in debt. Flick has raised about $1,000 in the same period and reports being $715 in debt.

Also in the race are Richard Repasky from La Costa and Edmund Fitzgerald of Escondido. Neither reported raising any funds.