Huntington Beach police union gives maximum campaign contributions to 2 councilmembers
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Huntington Beach City Council members Andrew Gruel and Gracey Van Der Mark each received the maximum political contribution, $5,900, from the Police Officer Assn., election records show.
Gruel, who was appointed to a vacancy on the council in March 2025, is running for reelection. Van Der Mark is running for the state Assembly in District 72.
Gruel’s campaign filed a form indicating the monetary contribution from the police union on Aug. 19, according to public records. Van Der Mark’s campaign filed hers on Aug. 31.
Both candidates are endorsed by the POA.
“The cornerstone of the reason I got onto council was specifically to maintain public safety, fire and police,” Gruel said. “I think that’s what draws our tourism in. I think that is the impetus for our strong tourism numbers, and a significant amount of our revenue comes from [Transient Occupancy Tax] and ultimately, the surplus of sales tax by virtue of our tourists. That has been my battle cry from Day One.”
Gruel said he was endorsed by the POA in July, prior to the council negotiating a new contract with the union.
A memorandum of understanding between the city and the union, which provides a 17% total raise over three years, passed on a 4-3 vote on Sept. 1.
Mayor Pro Tem Butch Twining and Councilman Chad Williams joined Gruel and Van Der Mark in support of the contract.
Mayor Casey McKeon and Councilmen Pat Burns and Don Kennedy dissented, citing concerns about ballooning budget deficits.
Gruel said he received the campaign donation on July 21.
“When it was ultimately sent out, posted and cashed and all of that by my treasurer, I don’t really control that,” he said. “That was later on, probably closer to our first discussion [on the new contract]. But it obviously was unrelated. My endorsement was well before that.”
Van Der Mark said she was endorsed by the POA months ago, before the June primary.
“I support my law enforcement, and I always will,” she said. “I will always stand behind them. As somebody who grew up in a city with no police department of our own, I know how quickly a community can become unsafe. I will have no part of that. I will do everything I can to make sure our community is as safe as possible.”
