Four Candidates for City Council?
Plus: Candidate Strength by the Numbers
- Bud Emerson | Klish Way
Four potential candidates have “pulled papers” as of today for the two open City Council seats up for grabs this November. One week away from the August 7 filing deadline, here’s how the race is shaping up:
Incumbent Terry Gaasterland formalized her candidacy by filing the required papers on July 27, with Registrar of Voters (ROV) verification of the signatures on her nomination papers occurring on July 29. Planning Commissioner Meghan Spieker filed her papers on July 29; her signatures are currently under review by the ROV.
Former Finance Committee member and Woodpecker founder Jeff Sturgis pulled papers on July 27, but has yet to file his completed papers. A fourth candidate has just emerged, with Planning Commissioner and former Finance Committee member Jas Grewal pulling papers just two day ago (July 29); she and other candidates have until Friday (Aug. 7) to file completed papers.
By late Friday afternoon (July 31), candidates Gaasterland and Spieker also filed required financial statements showing funds raised through June 30. The big revelation from those filings is a stunning $16,275 in cash contributions reported by Meghan Spieker, compared to $200 reported by Terry Gaasterland.
In comments to the Sandpiper, Gaasterland said, “I have not yet started fundraising for this year’s campaign. However, I have received one unsolicited early contribution.” Gaasterland’s total fundraising for her last campaign, in 2022, was $15,200 in cash contributions, as reported on her Dec. 2023 filing. Similarly, Jeff Sturgis told the Sandpiper, “With respect to fundraising, I have not started that effort yet.”
As for her own fundraising, Spieker told the Sandpiper: “I appreciate every dollar my supporters have contributed. Just as meaningful is the broad coalition they represent—people from across generations, political affiliations, and every neighborhood in Del Mar.”
The next financial reporting deadline is September 24, applicable to all candidates who have raised at least $2,000 in contributions by September 19th.
Editors’ Note: The Sandpiper does not publish a print edition in August, but will be publishing candidate statements and responses to questions in its September issue, and will continue to report on the campaigns by email and on its website as newsworthy developments occur.