Why are developers trying to buy two seats on the City of Oakley City Council Dais? This is the question Oakley voters need to ask themselves, at least in my perspective. Two candidates for the City Council, Hugh Henderson and Shannon Shaw, have accepted a total of more than $11,000.00 from developers during the current election campaign. Yes, if you believe the developers expect the two to “give them what they want” I would say you are correct.

Here is the breakdown of the two regarding developer contributions.

Hugh Henderson, candidate for District 2:

California Real Estate Political Action Committee – $3500.00

California Real Estate Political Action Committee is a Los Angeles based organization   

      involved in real estate sales and development throughout California.

G. Ferrabee Co. – $500.00

     G. Ferrabee Co. is a property developer located in Concord, CA.

Ponderosa Homes – $250.00

     Ponderosa Homes is a Pleasanton, CA., property developer

Build Jobs Political Action Committee – $1000.00

     A political group out of Concord, CA. Indications are the PAC is backed by Seeno Developers   

     and O’Hara Properties.

C. A. Lauritzen, LLC – $250.00

     Chris Lauritzen is a local developer and a owner of Big Break Marina. He is also a member of     

     the Rotary Club of Oakley, and an elected member of the Ironhouse Sanitary District. DeNova Homes – $1000.00

     DeNova Homes is the developer building homes on the Northeast Corner of East Cypress

     Road and Bethel Island Road

JMI Properties – $500.00

     JMI Properties is a developer out of Clayton, CA

Chris Lauritzen – $100.00

     Chris Lauritzen is an owner of Big Break Marina. Mr. Lauritzen is also an elected member of

     the Board of Directors of the Ironhouse Sanitary District, and a member of the Rotary Club of

     Oakley.

O’Hara Properties – $2000.00

     O’Hara Properties is owned by Mathew and Stephen Beinke in Danville, CA. Mathew Beinke   

     recently attempted to have a McDonald’s and a Quick Quack Car Wash built on Laurel Plaza,

     across from Laurel Elementary School.

Total Developer Contributions – $9,100.00

A link to Henderson’s contributions is below:

Shannon Shaw, candidate for District 4:

DeNova Homes, $1,000.00

     DeNova Homes is developing the Northeast corner of Bethel Island Rd and East Cypress

     Rd., which is located in District 4.

California Real Estate Political Action Committee, $1,000.00

     The California Real Estate Political Action Committee is a PAC that operates throughout   

     California promoting real estate transactions and land development.

JMI Properties, $500.00

     JMI Properties is a land developer located in Clayton, CA.

David Wahl, $100.00

     David Wahl is a Brentwood resident and a founding member of the Rotary Club of Oakley.

Total Contributions – $2,600.00

A link to Shaw’s campaign reports listing contributions is below:

Total Henderson/Shaw developer contributions – $11,700.00

George Fuller, MPA, MA
      City Councilmember, City of Oakley 

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