Where are the Rocklin City Council candidates getting their money from?

The Abridged version:

• Three candidates are running for two seats on the Rocklin City Council this November, with nearly $100,000 poured into the races as of early October.
• Incumbent City Council members Jill Gayaldo and Bill Halldin have each raised over $40,000, and political action committees associated with home development and real estate have donated over $11,000 to each of them.
• A significant minority of contributions to each campaign has come from individuals.

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This November, Rocklin voters will see three candidates vie for two City Council seats. Where are they getting their campaign dollars from?

Rocklin City Council seats are all elected on an at-large basis, and though two council seats are up for election, voters are only able to select one candidate on their ballots. Incumbents Jill Gayaldo and Bill Halldin are running to stay in office, while political newcomer Walter Moore hopes to score a seat on the council.

Here’s where each campaign is getting its money from.

Jill Gayaldo

Gayaldo began serving on the City Council in 2017, being appointed mayor twice throughout her tenure. She has lived in the area since her childhood, and aside from her work in government, she’s owned a small business and directed transportation operations for the Elk Grove Unified School District. She’s served on several area boards and committees during her time in public service and is currently chair of the Sacramento Area Council of Governments.

Top campaign priorities, Gayaldo said in campaign materials, include public safety, expanding open spaces and ensuring Rocklin is on solid financial footing.

She’s been endorsed in this race by her four fellow Rocklin City Council members, several current and former officials in cities throughout the region, Placer County Sheriff Wayne Woo, Placer County Supervisor Cindy Gustafson, state Senator Roger Niello, the Rocklin area chamber of commerce, the union representing firefighters in the Sacramento area and the Rocklin police union.

Election filings indicate that Gayaldo’s original 2026 recipient committee first formed in 2023, carrying over about $23,600 from her previous campaign — a significant proportion of which she ultimately donated to other candidates and causes. Since then, she’s reported a total $45,458 in contributions, with over 42% coming from individual donors. Several donors are government officials or leaders at prominent construction and development companies, including Niello and people associated with Taylor Builders and Pacific Coast Building Products.

A total of $14,500 has come from political action and contributor committees, unions, and committees from other officials’ past campaigns. Top donors in this category include the California Real Estate Political Action Committee ($5,900), the home development industry’s Committee for Home Ownership of the North State Building Association ($5,500), and the Sacramento area firefighters’ union Local 522 ($1,000).

Gayaldo received nearly 22% of contributions from companies and private organizations from 2024 to 2026, including the United Auburn Indian Community of the Auburn Rancheria ($5,900), Lund Construction ($1,000), and Rocklin-based Pacific Erectors ($1,000).

Bill Halldin

Halldin, who Rocklin voters elected to the City Council in 2018, has lived in Rocklin for nearly three decades. He has worked in public relations throughout his time in the city, and he has also served as a board member at several nonprofits. Currently, Halldin sits on the Placer County Economic Development Commission.

Throughout his campaign, Halldin has named responsible financial management, public safety and engagement with local residents and schools among his priorities.

He’s been endorsed by three other Rocklin City Council members, three Placer County supervisors, Assemblymember Joe Patterson, state Senator Niello, the local firefighters’ and police unions, and the Placer County Republican Party.

Halldin has reported a total $42,724 in contributions this election cycle. About 46% of contribution dollars have come from individuals, including assembly member Patterson ($500) and several county and local education officials.

A total of $13,775 in Halldin campaign contributions came from political action and contributions committees, unions, and committees for other officials’ past campaigns. Top donors include the California Real Estate Political Action Committee ($5,900), the Committee for Home Ownership of the North State Building Association ($5,500), and Local 522 ($1,000).

Contributions from private companies made up about 15.7% of campaign funding. Top company donors include Parkside Plaza shopping center ($1,000), Lund Construction ($1,000), Taylor Builders’ holding company Domeyko Taylor Holdings ($500), and former mayor Scott Yuill’s financial services company ($500), among others.

Walter Moore

Longtime Rocklin resident Moore managed employees and recruitment efforts at Pacific Gas & Electric for nearly 36 years and founded a local nonprofit serving people impacted by lupus. He’s also participated in multiple community organizations and previously served as the Placer County grand jury foreperson. Currently, Moore is a senior pastor at Mt. Moriah Church.

The Placer County Democrats have endorsed Moore in the Rocklin City Council race. He’s named affordability, support for the local economy and responsible planning for growth among his key priorities in Rocklin.

Moore’s monetary and nonmonetary campaign contributions totaled $9,450 as of Sept. 19, with $5,100 coming from a loan to himself. A little over 23.5% of contributions were made by individual donors, including former Roseville City Council member R. Scott Alvord, and Moore also received a donation of $300 from the Roseville Junction Democratic Club.

Advanced Development Concepts and Advanced Publishing Concepts, which are both operated by Alvord, has given Moore’s campaign a total $1,900 in nonmonetary contributions.

To learn more about where the City Council candidates stand on key local issues, check out Abridged by PBS KVIE’s voter guide.