OCEANSIDE -- Mayor Jim Wood knocked his political rival Wednesday for accepting money from a partnership that the city is suing over a proposed landfill in Pala.

According to campaign finance reports filed this week, Councilman Rocky Chavez -- who is trying to unseat Wood in the Nov. 4 election -- received a $2,500 donation Aug. 21 from Gregory Canyon Ltd., the partnership developing the controversial landfill.

On Sept. 17, Chavez accepted $2,500 from the Missouri-based Herzog Contracting Corp., which would build the landfill near Highway 76, about three miles east of Interstate 15.

The city of Oceanside has long opposed the landfill, saying it could leak into the nearby San Luis Rey River and potentially jeopardize the city's water supply.

In 2004, the city, the environmental group RiverWatch and the Pala Band of Mission Indians filed suit against San Diego County and Gregory Canyon Ltd. over a report analyzing the environmental effects of the landfill.

That legal battle is ongoing.

Wood said Wednesday that accepting the campaign donation from Gregory Canyon Ltd. seems wrong in light of the city's lawsuit.

"I wonder why he's taking such a large sum of money from somebody we're battling in litigation," Wood said of his rival.

Chavez denied it was inappropriate to accept the money. He pointed to the mayor's contributions from the city's public safety unions, saying "we're in litigation all the time with police officers."

Asked his position on the Gregory Canyon project, Chavez declined to comment.

"That's something we're discussing in closed session. … It's not appropriate that I discuss it at this time," he said.

Chavez also said Wednesday he was familiar with Herzog through its work with the North County Transit District and was unaware of the company's connection to Gregory Canyon.

In 2004, Oceanside's council unanimously passed a resolution opposing the Gregory Canyon landfill, which then-Mayor Terry Johnson called a potential "environmental disaster."

Nancy Chase, a Gregory Canyon spokeswoman, said Wednesday that her group contributes to candidates throughout the county, "especially those that understand the facts of landfills. The facts and not the myths."

"I think Rocky recognizes all the environmental protections that we're offering," she added. "That's really all I can say."

Councilman Jack Feller, who is running for re-election, also collected $2,500 from Herzog, campaign disclosure reports show.

Contact staff writer Craig TenBroeck at (760) 901-4062 or ctenbroeck@nctimes.com.