It's Politics: Challenger leads incumbents in fundraising for Whittier council race

You've got two long-term incumbents, a longtime school board member and one brand-new challenger in the April 13 Whittier City Council election.

So guess who's raised the most money so far? The answer is ... Fred Hawthorne, a personal trainer who has never run for office before.

He's raised $4,805 and has $982 left, according to campaign finance documents filed with the Whittier City Clerk's Office. They reflect the period from July 1 through Dec. 31 of last year.

"I'm very happy," Hawthorne said of the money he's raised. "Remember, we're in a recession and you count every dollar as two. I appreciate people offering their hard-earned money at this time."

But both longtime incumbents say they're not worried, in part because they're just getting started. Mayor Bob Henderson reported that he has loaned his campaign $100 and Councilman Greg Nordbak has no money in his account.

"I'll probably go out in about two weeks and get serious about fundraising," said Henderson, who is seeking his sixth four-year term. "Whittier's not the U.S. Senate."

Nordbak, who is seeking his fifth four-year term, said he never gets started until after Jan. 1.

"I want to get through the holidays and Christmas," Nordbak said. "I've always started it once you know who the opponents are."

Alex Morales, a former school board member for 26 years, didn't have to post a report because he didn't file his candidacy papers until after Jan. 1.

SOCIAL SECURITY: Rep. Linda Sanchez, D-Lakewood, is leading a Democratic effort to force Republicans into a politically charged vote on privatizing Social Security.

Sanchez and Connecticut Rep. John Larson, chairman of the House Democratic Caucus, introduced a resolution Friday expressing the will of the House of Representatives to preserve Social Security "against severe changes ... for generations to come."

The resolution - which is non-binding and aimed at making a statement - has more than 20 co-sponsors and, if it makes it to the floor, would force Republicans to say on the record, during an election year, whether they support privatizing Social Security.

It comes in response to a new GOP proposal to address federal budget woes, in part, by allowing people to invest some of their Social Security payments in private accounts. The proposal is part of the GOP's budget plan Roadmap for America's Future by Wisconsin Republican Rep. Paul Ryan - the top GOP member of the House Budget Committee.

Sanchez slammed the idea.

"When the stock market crashed in 2008, it was apparent that the Republicans' push to privatize Social Security was a bad idea. Americans have not forgotten the dangers of tying their retirement security to the whims of Wall Street. It was a bad idea then, and it is a bad idea now," she said in a statement.

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