Who’s Supporting Whom? L.A. Billboard Company Campaign Contributions

Billboard companies and their employees have contributed $162,000 to this year’s municipal election campaigns, according to City Ethics Commission records.

Just under $50,000 of that went to candidates for Mayor, City Attorney, Controller, and the City Council. The balance was spent to support passage of Proposition A, the half-cent sales tax increase on the March 5 primary ballot.

Leading the pack in combined direct contributions and independent expenditures reported through February is Van Wagner Communications. The New York company currently being sued by the city of L.A. over illegal supergraphic signs contributed $37,993, almost all to support Proposition A. Clear Channel and Regency Outdoor contributed $29,300 and $26,500, respectively, to the sales tax measure as well as to individual candidates on the ballot.

The candidate showered with the most billboard company largesse was City Councilman Joe Buscaino, who is running for re-election from the 15th District. Buscaino has received $14,500 in direct contributions and free billboard advertising from Clear Channel, Lamar Advertising, and CBS Outdoor, according to the Ethic Commission.

Also getting free billboard space were City Councilman Dennis Zine, who is running for City Controller; Bob Blumenfield, council candidate from the 3rd District; Felipe Fuentes, council candidate from the 7th District; and Curren Price, council candidate from the 9th District. The billboard space is being donated by Lamar Advertising and CBS Outdoor.

Initial Ethics Commission reports showed Lamar Advertising giving $5,000 in free billboard space to both Mike Bonin, City Council candidate from District 11, and Paul Koretz, who is running for re-election from Council District 5. Bonin said he did not solicit a donation from the billboard company, and both his and Koretz’s were later withdrawn.

A Lamar Advertising spokesperson said that ads for each of the candidates who did accept the donations would would be displayed on 10 to 20 billboards, depending upon the size and type of the sign.

In the hotly-contested mayoral race, Wendy Greuel has received $5,250 in direct contributions from billboard companies, while Eric Garcetti has only a $300 donation on record from National Promotions and Advertising, the company responsible for poster-style billboards on construction fences. Neither have been given free billboard advertising.

Full list of billboard industry contributions below. Some are directly from the companies and others are from company officials and employees.

Mayor

Wendy Greuel $5,250 from National Promotions & Advertising and National Outdoor Media

Network

Jan Perry $2,800 from Clear Channel and CBS Outdoor

Eric Garcetti $300 from National Promotions and Advertising

Controller

Dennis Zine $6,500 from Clear Channel and Lamar Advertising

City Attorney

Mike Feuer $1,300 from Clear Channel

Council District 1

Jose Gardea $1,500 from Clear Channel and Regency Outdoor

Gil Cedillo $500 from Regency Outdoor

Council District 3

Bob Blumenfield $5,500 from Lamar Advertising and Van Wagner Communications

Council District 7

Felipe Fuentes $6,200 from Clear Channel and Lamar Advertising

Council District 9

Curren Price $4,500 from CBS Outdoor

Ana Cubas $200 from Van Wagner Communications

Council District 13

Alexander Cruz De Ocampo $700 from National Outdoor Media Network

Council District 15

Joe Buscaino $14,500 from Clear Channel, CBS Outdoor, and Lamar Advertising

 

Campaign Donations by Sign Company are as follows:

Van Wagner Communications $37,993

Clear Channel $30,300

Regency Outdoor $26,500

Corona Outdoor Advertising  $25,000

Lamar Advertising $21,500

CBS Outdoor $14,500

NPA $2,950

National Outdoor Media  $2,000

Martin Outdoor  $1,300

Dennis Hathaway