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Measure A supporters Mark Thurmond and Elizabeth Watson have donated thousands of dollars to the campaign. (Al Seib/Los Angeles Times/TNS)
Editor’s note: The Times-Standard will regularly cover candidates and issues in the 2024 election through November. This is part of that coverage.
Most of the funding for Measure A, the controversial ballot initiative that voters will decide on in the March 5 election, came from the proponent himself, according to the latest campaign spending documents filed with the Fair Political Practices Commission. It is shown that
The commission reported collecting about $49,000 in 2024 and $19,000 in 2023 through CA 460 forms filed last week.
The Humboldt Cannabis Reform Initiative aims to limit the number and area of cannabis cultivation permits in Humboldt County’s General Plan for environmental reasons. After an analysis, the Humboldt County Planning Commission found that most legal farms would be out of compliance.
The largest donors are supporters, joined by a small number of other supporters. Elizabeth Watson donated $18,000 in 2023 and $6,000 in 2024. Mark Thurmond and his wife collectively donated about $29,000 in 2023 and $5,000 in 2024.
Expenditures slightly exceeded funds raised. Most of the commission’s spending goes to legal advice. Mr Thurmond said these costs were a combination of resolving measures and litigation. Growers and the Humboldt County Growers Alliance sued the initiative’s promoters last year, accusing them of failing to disclose the measure’s impact when collecting signatures. The case was dismissed by a judge in December 2023.
Mr Thurmond also reimbursed himself twice for print advertising costs in 2024.
The campaign spent far less money on advertising, mailings, billboards, etc. than the opposition party in Measure A. Thurmond declined to comment on his campaign strategy regarding spending, but insisted the pro-Measure A signs would be removed soon.
Thurmond believes some supporters are hesitant to donate because their names will be publicly visible. The California Fair Political Practices Commission requires donations of $100 or more to be identified on the Commission’s Form 460.
“A lot of people have been very supportive. They just really want to help us and never want to put their names out,” he said. In an email sent late Thursday, Mr Salmond asked the Times Standard not to publish the individual names of the donors, writing: “Doing so will only encourage further harassment and oppression.”
The next form submission deadline is July 31, 2024.
View documentation
To view the campaign’s financial documents, visit https://humboldtgov.org/DocumentCenter/Index/4782.
Sage Alexander can be reached at 707-441-0504.
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