Running for office in American Canyon is not as inexpensive as one might think.

Paul Maguire, one of three candidates running for mayor in Napa County's fastest-growing city, has spent more than $16,000 of his own money on the campaign since Aug. 1, campaign finance forms indicate.

For the first time since the city was formed in 1992, American Canyon residents will elect a mayor Nov. 7. Voters will also choose two city council members from a field of seven candidates.

The other mayoral candidates are Cindy Coffey, a city councilwoman since 2004, and Leon Garcia, the city's vice mayor who is up for re-election this year. Coffey will remain on the City Council even is she loses her bid in November.

Coffey, 45, raised about $4,900. Garcia, 63, has raised about $4,000 in individual contributions. Coffey has spent about $4,700, primarily on political signs.

Garcia has spent about $523, records indicate.

Maguire, the 42-year-old real estate owner and former owner of Napa Valley Casino, is running for the third time for political office in American Canyon.

He spent this year about $26,400, including more than $21,600 of his own money, to run for the seat vacated by Lori Luporini. He finished third in the special election won by Joan Bennett in June.

Maguire was out of town and could not be reached Friday. His campaign manager, Paul Lee, and a volunteer, Travis Garcia, said Maguire is investing in the race because he cares about the community. A campaign mailer will go out to 4,600 households next week, Lee said.

The campaign also uses television and print advertisements to inform the voters, Lee and Garcia said.

"We want to make a difference in American Canyon," Garcia said.

Coffey received $2,500 from three labor unions, according to the campaign finance records. Coffey, who said she is accessible and fair to all, said she was endorsed by labor groups in 2004 and 2002. Garcia was endorsed by labor in 2002.

Coffey received $1,000 from the United Association of Plumbers and Steamfitters Local 343; $1,000 from Firefighters Local 1186; and $500 from the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Political Action Committee of Napa.

Coffey said she will spend whatever she raises on her campaign. She said she is a "spend-as-you-go-kind-of person."

Maguire can spend his own money the way he wishes, she also said.

"He has it," Coffey said. "Me, I'd rather go to Europe."

Leon Garcia, who wants to spend $5,000 on his campaign, said $16,000 was " a lot of money."

Council candidates

Ed West, who is running for the second time for a City Council seat this year, said, he expects to spend about $6,000 on his campaign. He and Don Callison will save money by sending a combined mailer and splitting the $3,000 total cost, explained West, a 45-year-old Napa County corrections officer.

So far, West has raised about $2,360 for this November campaign, which includes a $500 loan, according to campaign records. His campaign has spent close to $1,800, according to the campaign finance papers.

Callison, a 46-year-old businessman and member of the American Canyon Planning Commission, has received about $1,000 in contributions, received another $1,000 loan and spent about $1,300, according to his campaign finance records.

J.T. Miller, a city council candidate for the second time and a deputy labor commissioner for the California Department of Industrial Relations, received $3,700 from labor unions since July. Miller, 58, has raised a total of $16,000 this year from unions.

Unions that have contributed to Miller's campaign include the IBEW Local 180 Political Action Committee of Napa; Firefighters Local 1186; and United Association of Journeyman Plumbers and Steamfitters Local 343.

Richard Grant, Miller's campaign manager, stressed Miller's basic support is "grass roots."

"There is no question that labor does support (Miller)," he said. "He is proud of that."

Candidates who raise or spend less than $1,000 do not have to file campaign disclosure statement, under campaign finance laws.

Cecil Shaver, the city's mayor, on Saturday said he raised $1,395 primarily from individuals. His campaign signs have cost about $500, said Shaver, a 58-year-old naval architect. He will also spend about $500 on mailers to mobile home parks where he is not allowed to walk door to door, he said.

Kym Gilson, Bill Russell and James Walker, all of whom have run for city council before and are on the November ballot, said they will raise and spend less than $1,000.

Russell, a businessman who last ran this spring, said he will spend between $200 and $500.

So far, he has spent about $80, mostly on poster boards, spray paint and masking tape to make six political signs. He will place them as the Nov. 7 election date nears because he does not want the rain to ruin his homemade signs, he said.

He does not accept donations larger than $20 and does not want to disturb people by banging on their doors. Instead, he wants to participate in a series of upcoming debates, he said.

Walker, an 18-year-old Napa Valley College student, said he wants to focus on his door-to-door campaign.