White and Nowinski lead in campaign contributions in El Cerrito City Council race
Challengers Kimberly White and Wally Nowinski have raised the most money in the race for two El Cerrito City Council seats so far, according to financial disclosure documents posted on the City of El Cerrito website as of 10 am Friday, Sept. 25. The deadline for reporting contributions made between July 1 and Sept. 19, 2026, was Sept. 24, according to the Fair Political Practices Commission website.White’s form shows monetary contributions totaling $16,267.50 and nonmonetary contributions of $112.50 through Sept. 19, plus another $888.00 contributed by an El Cerrito resident Sept. 21. White’s donations are all from individuals, with the bulk of them El Cerrito residents. The largest contribution was $1,500 from an El Cerrito resident.
The FPPC 460 form shows she has spent $5,039.03, with the largest expenditures going for yard signs, fliers, postcards, stickers, and cards.
Nowinski’s form shows monetary contributions totaling $12,570.50 and nonmonetary contributions of $112.50 through Sept. 19. His donations include $500 from the California Real Estate PAC. All of his other contributions were from individuals, the majority of them El Cerrito residents. The largest donation was $1,500 from an El Cerrito resident.
He has spent $4,850.43, with the largest expenditures going to signs, fliers, postcards, stickers, and cards.
Incumbent Gabe Quinto shows $6,335.34 in contributions through Sept. 19 plus another $3,000 contributed Sept. 23 with the bulk of the money coming from two PACs. His largest contributions so far are the $3,000, which came from Bay Area Jewish Action PAC, and $2,000 from the Martinez-based International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers 302 Community Candidates PAC.
He has spent $1,832.75, with the largest payment going to The Next Generation for campaign management.
Challenger Mary Ann “MJ” Jawili reported $7,989 collected as of Sept. 19, with the majority of her donations coming from El Cerrito residents. Her largest contributor was Aurora Jawili of Bakersfield who contributed $1,000.
She had spent $3,661 as of Sept. 19, with the majority going to campaign materials.
Incumbent Carolyn Wysinger’s form shows contributions totalling $6,180. The largest donations are $2,000 from the Martinez-based International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers 302 Community Candidates PAC and $1,000 from the Martinez-based Plumbing Industry Consumer Protection Fund.
The 460 form shows she has spent $3,054, with the largest expenditure going to the Oakland-based Next Generation.
Wysinger’s form was not on the city website when this article was written Sept, 25. Her treasurer, Jordan Eldridge, said it was submitted by email and provided a copy to El Cerrito Wire. [UPDATE: As of Sept. 29, the form is on the city website.]
Challenger Forrest Lanning included a form, FPPC 470, in his packet when he filed for office, indicating he does not plan to raise or spend $2,000 or more. An earlier version of this article incorrectly stated that none of his forms were on the city website. This was an error by El Cerrito Wire based on the fact that his forms were not posted on the campaign disclosure page with the documents of other candidates.
The six candidates are vying for two four-year terms on the Nov. 3, 2026 ballot.
To see the forms posted on the city website, including more on who contributed to each campaign and how much, and expenditures made, go to https://www.elcerrito.gov/215/Campaign-Disclosure
Filing schedule from the FPPC: https://www.fppc.ca.gov/siteassets/documents/tad/filing_schedules/2026/2026_local_nov_01_cand_final.pdf
For more election news, see https://elcerritowire.blogspot.com/p/nov-3-2026-el-cerrito-city-council-and.html