Big business is spending big money on Salinas City Council elections.

How much money does it take to win a local election? In Salinas, business interests are betting it takes six figures. Out of 14 candidates seeking four open council seats and the role of mayor this Nov. 5, three have already raised in excess of $100,000. While the next campaign finance reporting deadline is Sept. 26, a review of filings so far – including individual reports of gifts that exceed $1,000 – shows more than $681,000 has already flowed into these five races.

And more is coming.

In June, retired county supervisor Butch Lindley registered a PAC called Protect Salinas. That enables donors to give sums that exceed the $5,500 individual maximum, such as $25,000 each from Church Brothers, D’Arrigo Bros., Tanimura & Antle and Scattini Farms’ companies. The PAC now has over $110,000 in the bank.

On Sept. 20, Protect Salinas reported spending just about $5,000 on slate mailers supporting three candidates for council: Jose Barajas (District 1), Gloria De La Rosa (District 4) and Aurelio Salazar Jr. (District 6).

Meanwhile, those three have also raised significant funds. Along with Margaret D’Arrigo (for District 3) and Dennis Donohue for mayor, these candidates have collectively raised over $538,000 as of Sept. 24. (That compares to $143,000 total for the nine candidates running opposite the business-backed slate.)

The California Real Estate PAC gave the maximum $5,500 to each council candidate on the slate; agribusiness companies Braga Fresh, Ocean Mist Farms, the Nunes Company and Taylor Fresh Foods gave multiple candidates on the slate $5,500 each.

Perhaps it should come as no surprise that business interests are throwing their weight into Salinas City Council elections. There was a time that they enjoyed a certain amount of influence in City Hall.

A new, fiercely progressive council has been seated in Salinas, and it’s been uncomfortable. For example, on Sept. 24, they passed Monterey County’s first rent stabilization ordinance.

Beyond policy, there is the matter of style that has upended the way things used to be in Salinas City Hall. First-term councilmembers Orlando Osornio (District 4) and especially Anthony Rocha (District 6) are not deferential. They are not afraid to disrupt the status quo.

Salazar, a Hartnell College trustee who is challenging Rocha, says the current council is governing through bullying and intimidation. “It’s failed leadership,” Salazar says. He sees the money coming in as proof that Rocha has pushed too far: “If you create an uncomfortable business environment for ag and for hospitality, what are you going to do when they pack up and leave? His politics are going to push this into being a ghost town.”

Notably, nobody is running for council on an anti-business platform. Many opposite the business-backed slate are in fact businesspeople. Chris Barrera, who is running for mayor, is a real estate agent; in District 1, Alex Ayala is a general contractor; Osornio previously operated a food truck catering business.

There are some heavy hitters on the other side. Former county supervisor Jane Parker cofounded the Monterey County New Progressives PAC, which gave $5,500 each to Barrera, Rocha and Cary Swensen in District 3. Unions and small businesses are throwing down. (Osornio, for example, received $1,000 each from the Sheet Metal Workers’ Local 104 and Coastal Dental.) But overall, it’s a tough matchup.

Rocha, who has raised $40,000 in “corporate-free” contributions, is unsurprised by the hefty spending in support of his opponent (Salazar has raised nearly triple, $114,500, so far).

“The City Council is making significant strides in changing the power structure of our community to make sure residents are heard,” Rocha says. “Groups that are used to being in control are upset they have to be one stakeholder amongst many. We are not saying we are not interested in hearing from business – we want to hear from business as one stakeholder.”

And there is precedent. Jyl Lutes, one of Rocha’s predecessors in District 6, lost her seat of 18 years when she was outspent 4-to-1 by Tony Villegas in 2016.

Besides trying to win, industry appears to be sending a message: If your policies don’t reflect our agenda, we will try to unseat you.

SARA RUBIN is the Weekly’s editor. Reach her at sara@montereycountynow.com.