Madueño leads Riverbank race in cash raised

RIVERBANK -- Former Councilwoman Virginia Madueño remains the leader in the six-way race for mayor when it comes to campaign cash.

She raised $6,605 this period, bringing her total to $12,356. She has lent her campaign $1,300 and received $500 in nonmonetary contributions.

Councilman Dave White gave his campaign $5,000, bringing his total to $10,000. He has financed his entire campaign.

Grocery store manager Richard O'Brien reported raising $1,725 and receiving $150 in nonmonetary contributions for this period. He has raised a total of $3,375 for his campaign.

Among the other three candidates, Mark Ensley, a shop superintendent with an Oakdale steel fabricator, and business owner Larry King have filed documents stating they will not raise or spend more than $1,000. Former Councilman Paul Gutierrez has not filed paperwork with the city. He has not returned several phone calls from The Bee.

Contributors to Madueño's campaign for this period include $1,000 from the California Association of Realtors Central Valley political action committee, $100 from Stanislaus County Superior Court Judge Ricardo Cordova and $2,000 from World Tile Design in Riverbank.

She received $100 each from the Rev. Debra Brady, pastor at First United Methodist Church in Modesto and William Redford, principal of the Riverbank Language Academy, a charter school that teaches students Spanish and English along with core academics.

White, who has been on the council for 18 of the past 25 years, said that although he once accepted contributions, he hasn't done so in at least his past three campaigns.

"There's nothing wrong with it," he said. "It's just not me."

He acknowledges his way can be expensive. He expects to spend $15,000, the most he's ever spent, by the time voters go to the polls Tuesday.

O'Brien, who manages one of his family's three grocery stores, reported receiving $500 each from brothers Michael, a veterinarian, and Chuck, who founded the O'Brien's chain.

He said the nonmonetary contributions were old campaign signs from nephew Bill O'Brien, the former Riverbank mayor who is now a Stanislaus County supervisor.

The most recent campaign finance forms cover Sept. 20 through Oct. 17. The final round of finance forms will be due Feb. 1.

Bee staff writer Kevin Valine can be reached at kvaline@modbee.com or 578-2316.