Fundraising in the county supervisor race is neck and neck

September 30, 2022

By Emily Mibach
Daily Post Staff Writer

San Carlos Councilwoman Laura Parmer-Lohan and Menlo Park Councilman Ray Mueller are neck-and-neck in fundraising totals in the race to succeed Don Horsley on the San Mateo County Board of Supervisors.

Since the beginning of the campaign, Parmer-Lohan has raised $360,739 compared to Mueller’s $346,624.

Although Parmer-Lohan leads in fundraising, Mueller brought in more cash between July and September, according to fundraising documents released yesterday.

Mueller raised $74,028 to Parmer-Lohan’s $63,621.

Parmer-Lohan’s finance forms also include spending $31,700 on a poll from Godbe Research. A Mueller supporter, former San Carlos Councilman Mark Olbert, accused Parmer-Lohan of paying for a “push poll,” where negative statements are read about one candidate in order to make the other look better.

Parmer-Lohan denied Olbert’s claims.

Parmer-Lohan released information about the Godbe poll to the Post last month, where 340 likely November 2022 voters indicated that Parmer-Lohan would win with a 2-to-1 lead over Mueller come November. However, the poll indicated that 33.5% of poll respondents did not know or did not answer who they would vote for.

Parmer-Lohan also spent $39,880 on consultants between July and Sept. 24, according to finance forms.

During that same time period, Mueller spent $7,340 on consultants.

The two are locked in a heated competition for the seat that runs from Pacifica to Menlo Park. It includes Half Moon Bay, Atherton, Portola Valley, Woodside, San Carlos, and portions of many other cities.