Who funds the City Council race? Outside PACs target election
Campaign records show a disparity in spending between candidates
Special interests, many from outside Sonoma County, are pumping significant money into the local election this year. More than $60,111 is being spent to oppose and support candidates using Political Action Committees, also dubbed Super PACs or Independent Expenditure Committees.
The PAC money in the races outpaces what most of the candidates raised themselves. While individual contributors are limited to a $200 maximum by Petaluma Municipal Code, there is no limit to donating to a Super PAC as long as the PAC does not directly coordinate with the candidates.
Candidates for Petaluma City Council
In the District 1 city council race, incumbent Janice Cader Thompson brought in more than $18,000 in local contributions, while challenger Alan LaPierre raised $350 and challenger Nate Martin filed a form indicating expenses of less than $2,000.
However, almost $6,000 in PAC money was spent opposing Cader Thompson, while the same PAC spent the same amount supporting LaPierre. Nate Martin had no PAC money supporting or opposing him.
In the District 2 race, incumbent John Shribbs raised just over $1,000 and challenger Brent Newell more than $5,000, with no PAC money targeting that race.
In the District 3 race, incumbent Karen Nau raised almost $7,000 while challenger Eric Vazquez raised more than $26,000. Nau was supported by a PAC spending close to $6,000, while Vazquez was supported by a PAC spending around $1,600.
Scroll to the bottom to see the campaign finance details on each council candidate.
Meanwhile, here is a local election primer.
What is the maximum amount for a campaign contribution?
Individual contributions are capped at $200, according to Petaluma Municipal Code. However, independent expenditures are uncapped according to the 2010 U.S. Supreme Court ruling known as Citizens United vs. the Federal Elections Commission.
How is money tracked?
Candidates are required to file their campaign finances – which includes expenditures, loans, outstanding payments – to show financial transparency for their campaign. Political action committees, also referred to as PACs, pool contributions from various contributors to oppose or support campaigns in what are called independent expenditures.
How can I find this data myself?
All of the candidates’ and independent expenditure filings are shown on the city’s NetFile site. Access the documents yourself here: https://netfile.com/public/pet/campaign. (Note: campaign filings for this election can also be found in the county’s portal here: https://netfile.com/public/SON/campaign.)
You can find all of the PAC filings here.
When are filings due?
Candidates are required, under state and local law, to document and file the contributions they receive, both monetary and non-monetary. They are also required to do the same for the money they spend in their campaigns.
Before the election, candidates (and their committees and campaigns) must file a Form 460 – a file that primarily details contributions and expenditures made toward a candidate, committee, or campaign. The last two filings were due on Sept. 24 and Oct. 22. The next filing is due Feb. 1, 2027.
There is some urgency behind certain filings. If a committee receives or spends more than $1,000 (or an equivalent non-monetary contribution) toward a candidate or measure, the committee must file a Form 497. The same amounts apply to PACs, however they file a Form 496.
Here’s the official filing schedule for candidates: https://www.fppc.ca.gov/siteassets/documents/tad/filing_schedules/2026/2026_local_nov_01_cand_final.pdf.
Here’s a list of all the filing schedules: https://www.fppc.ca.gov/learn/campaign-rules/when-and-where-to-file-campaign-statements/state-and-local-filing-schedules.
Who oversees the enforcement of these campaign rules?
These rules are overseen by the Fair Political Practices Commission, “a five-member independent, non-partisan commission” that is responsible for the administration of the Political Reform Act. Passed in 1974 in the wake of the Watergate scandal, the Political Reform Act “regulates campaign financing, conflicts of interest, lobbying, and governmental ethics.”
Commissioners ensure that public officials act fairly and unbiased in the decision-making process. They promote government transparency and try to foster the public’s trust in the political system.
Some violations of the Political Reform Act include: financial conflicts of interest; laundered campaign contributions; improper use of campaign funds, including personal use or nonfiling or late filing of statements and reports. When questions arise on whether the rules are being followed, the enforcement division steps in.
What happens if a candidate or campaign files incorrectly or violates campaign rules?
For cases that may be resolved without a penalty, the FPPC’s enforcement division may issue a letter to notify candidates of a violation. In other instances, violators may be subject to fines, criminal prosecution by a local district attorney, or civil action led by either the public, government agencies, or the enforcement division.
Violations are subject to fines of up to $5,000, and advertising disclaimer violations may be subject to three times the cost of the advertisement.
Details of campaign finance reports for council candidates
This information is based on the candidates’ most recent Form 460 filings, covering Sept. 20 to Oct. 17, 2026, or Form 470 filings for one candidate, and cumulative totals from prior reports.
District 1
Alan LaPierre
Notable contributors: Debbie Zetzer, property manager ($200)
How many contributors: One
Year to date contributions: $350
Expenditures made this year: $2,941
Significant expenses: Food for meet and greet events, $733
Outstanding loans or debts: $150 loan to himself and $2,854 in debts owed to the campaign credit card
PACs opposing him
None
PACs supporting him
- California Future Fund PAC, based in the Merced County town of Hilmar, CA, officials listed as Kelly and Casey Lawler
- Filed Oct. 26, 2026
- Funders include PG&E, which contributed $1,500, and Harmony Communities, the mobile home company that is suing the city over its mobile home rent stabilization rules. The company is seeking to close Petaluma’s Little Woods Mobile Villas, at the same time that owners are trying to impose rent increases. The company contributed $30,000 toward the PAC, according to a search of state records.
- $922 for postage, Oct. 22, 2026
- $5,000 for design and printing, Oct. 23, 2026
- Cumulative to date $5,922 spent in support of LaPierre
To see all of his filings, visit https://netfile.com/public/pet/campaign/filingsByCandidate/217454263-LaPierre,_Alan.
District 1
Janice Cader Thompson
Notable contributors: North Bay Labor Council AFL-CIO ($200), North Coast States Regional Council of Carpenters Power PAC ($200), Petaluma Federation of Teachers ($200), Northcoast Citizens for a Better Economy, a PAC of the North Coast Builders Exchange ($200), Resource Conservation PAC, sponsored by the Marin Resource Recovery ($200), Mike McGuire, California senator ($150), Brian Barnacle, current council member ($37)
Number of individual contributors: 92
Year to date contributions: $18,448
Expenditures made this year: $10,327
Outstanding loans or debts: $5,404 to herself
Entire campaign contributions (if started fundraising in 2025): N/A
Significant expenses: Sonia Taylor for campaign literature, postage, and campaign consultant work ($8,101)
PACs supporting her
None
PACs opposing her
- California Future Fund PAC, based in the Merced County town of Hilmar, CA, Kelly and Casey Lawler
- Filed Oct. 26, 2026
- Funders include PG&E, which contributed $1,500, and Harmony Communities, the mobile home company that is suing the city over its mobile home rent stabilization rules. The company has sought to close Petaluma’s Little Woods Mobile Villas, at the same time that owners are trying to impose rent increases. The company contributed $30,000 toward the PAC, according to a search of state records.
- $922 for postage, Oct. 22, 2026
- $5,000 for design and printing, Oct. 23, 2026
- Cumulative to date $5,922 spent in opposition
To see all of her filings, visit https://netfile.com/public/pet/campaign/filingsByCandidate/204342596-Cader_Thompson,_Janice.
District 1
Nate Martin
Note: Martin filed a Form 470, intended for campaigns that intend to receive less than $2,000 or spend less than $2,000 during the calendar year.
Year to date contributions: Less than $2,000
PACs supporting him
None
PACs opposing him
None
To see his filings, visit netfile.com/public/pet/campaign/filingsByCandidate/217447276-Martin,_Nate.
District 2
Brent Newell
Notable contributors: Petaluma Federation of Teachers COPE ($200), North Bay Labor Council AFL-CIO ($200), Teresa Barrett, former mayor ($200), Kathy Tresch, dairy farmer ($100)
How many contributors: 27
Year to date contributions: $5,295
Expenditures made this year: $4,366
Outstanding loans: $640 owed to himself
Significant expenses: Santa Rosa Printing Co., Inc for yard signs, postcards, and business cards $3,147
PACs supporting him
None
PACs opposing him
None
To see all of his filings, visit netfile.com/public/pet/campaign/filingsByCandidate/217437791-Newell,_Brent.
District 2
John Shribbs
Notable contributors: Bryant Moynihan, real estate broker ($200)
How many contributors: 13
Year to date contributions: $1,035
Expenditures made this year: $5,159
Outstanding debts: $4,124 owed
Significant expenses: Sprint Copy Center for flyers, signs, and mailers, $4,408
PACs supporting him
None
PACs opposing him
None
To see all of his filings, visit https://netfile.com/public/pet/campaign/filingsByCandidate/204432670-Shribbs,_John.
District 3
Eric Vazquez
Notable contributors: Petaluma Federation of Teachers COPE ($200), Frank Quint, current council member ($150), Wine Country Young Democrats ($200), Teamsters Union Local No. 665 ($200), SEIU Local 1021 ($200), Dave Alden with Urban Chat ($50), Eric Jones ($200), Caitlin Quinn, Petaluma City Schools board member ($200), Pamela Torliatt-Ghirardelli, former mayor ($200), Latino PAC of Sonoma County ($200)
How many contributors: 153
Year to date contributions: $18,418
Expenditures made this year: $15,671
Outstanding loans and debts: $0
Cumulative campaign contributions (Vazquez started fundraising in 2025): $26,018
Significant expenses: Santa Rosa Printing Co., Inc. for campaign flyers and mailers $7,834
PACs opposing him
None
PACs supporting him
California Working Families Party PAC, based in Brooklyn, NY, filed Oct. 23, 2026
- Notable contributors of the PAC: Patty Quillin (philanthropist and wife of Netflix co-founder Reed Hastings), Rachel Gelma, Mary Quinn Delaney and Wayne Jordan. Notable officials of the PAC: Jorge Contreras, Maurice "Mory" Mitchell, Mike Boland, Anna Sanchez
- $284 for texting, Oct. 10, 2026
- $970 for direct mail, Oct. 22, 2026
- $320 for advertising, Oct. 22, 2026
- Cumulative to date $1,574 spent in support
To see all of his filings, visit https://netfile.com/public/pet/campaign/filingsByCandidate/215407244-Vazquez-Izaguirre,_Eric.
District 3
Karen Nau
Notable contributors: Northcoast Citizens for a Better Economy, a PAC of the North Coast Builders Exchange ($200), Northern California Engineering Contractors Association PAC affiliated with the Northern California Engineering Contractors Association ($200), real estate broker and former council member Bryant Moynihan, real estate broker ($200), Mike Healy, former council member ($200)
How many contributors: 17
Year to date contributions: $6,970
Expenditures made this year: $3,073
Outstanding loans and debts: Nau loaned $4,000 to herself
Significant expenses: $1,000 loan repayment to herself, Quality Printing Services $515
PACs opposing her
None
PACs supporting her
- California Future Fund PAC, based in Hilmar, CA, officials listed as Kelly and Casey Lawler
- Filed Oct. 26, 2026
- Funders include PG&E, which contributed $1,500, and Harmony Communities, the mobile home company that is suing the city over its mobile home rent stabilization rules. The company has sought to close Petaluma’s Little Woods Mobile Villas, at the same time that owners are trying to impose rent increases. The company contributed $30,000 toward the PAC, according to a search of state records.
- $781 for postage, Oct. 22, 2026
- $5,000 for design and printing, Oct. 23, 2026
- Cumulative to date $5,781 spent in support
To see all of her filings, visit https://netfile.com/public/pet/campaign/filingsByCandidate/204432815-Nau,_Karen.
Jennifer Sawhney is a reporter and co-founder of Petaluma Voice. She can be reached at jsawhney@petalumavoice.org.
Tobias Young is an editor and reporter at Petaluma Voice. He can be reached at tyoung@petalumavoice.org.
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