OCEANSIDE: Beach preservation group funds recall drive

By CRAIG TENBROECK – Staff Writer | Thursday, April 30, 2009 7:55 PM PDT ∞
OCEANSIDE —- A beach preservation group essentially funded the first months of an ongoing recall drive targeting City Councilman Jerry Kern, a campaign finance report filed Thursday revealed.

A political action committee seeking Kern’s ouster raised $5,471 from January through March, the report shows.

Most of its money —- $5,000 —- came from the Citizens for the Preservation of Parks and Beaches, a group founded by environmental activist Carolyn Krammer and former Councilwoman Shari Mackin.

It’s unclear how much Kern’s critics plan to spend on the recall, but the appearance of paid petition circulators in recent weeks has prompted speculation that parties with deep pockets may be involved.

While Thursday’s finance report gave an early glimpse at the campaign’s funds, it also raised questions.

It’s unclear where Citizens for the Preservation of Parks and Beaches came up with $5,000.

The group’s last campaign statement reported a balance of just $563 at the end of 2008.

It doesn’t have to file another statement until July 31, according to the California Fair Political Practices Commission.

Kern said the first finance report from the recall committee wasn’t particularly revealing.

“It will all come out in couple months,” he said. “If all they have is $5,000, which I doubt, all it is is a harassment campaign.”

Neither Krammer nor Mackin returned calls for comment.

In a statement e-mailed to reporters, Krammer wrote that her group had “received donations from the public who agree with our position.”

To trigger a special election, recall proponents need signatures from 11,389 registered Oceanside voters by July 23.

The committee reported paying $5,000 to The La Jolla Group, a political consulting firm, for petition circulating.

An additional $1,000 went toward print ads and a post office box.

Jim Sullivan, the committee’s spokesman, declined to discuss future spending plans.

“I’m not going to give you any information other than what is public,” he said.

Kern’s ouster could shift the balance of power on the oft-split council, as he is part of a three-member majority considered more friendly to business and development.

Krammer is among the 21 recall proponents listed on the petition.

Her Thursday statement accused the councilman of, among other things, “insulting, ridiculing and intimidating the public from exercising their right to free speech.”

Kern has had harsh words for Krammer’s group.

In a public meeting last year, he called it a “dishonest, disingenuous, deceitful group of people.”

Kern is up for re-election in November 2010.

Contact staff writer Craig TenBroeck at (760) 901-4062 or ctenbroeck@nctimes.com.

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