Cash in Hand

San Diego — Campaign season is in full swing, and the mail is heavy with fund-raising invites. Democratic state insurance commissioner John Garamendi, in a close race with GOP state senator Tom McClintock, dropped into town last Tuesday for a party in La Jolla hosted by Jim Waring, top real estate development aide to San Diego Republican mayor Jerry Sanders. Cohosts included labor council honcho Jerry Butkiewicz, investor Murray Galinson, controversial super-lawyer Bill Lerach, ex-congresswoman Lynn Schenk, and city councilwoman Donna Frye, among others. The same night Garamendi was set to put in an appearance at the La Jolla Farms manse of Betsy and Bradd Milove, a securities lawyer. The sponsor list was much the same but also included "Cedar Fire Survivor Advocate" Karen Reimus, a fierce critic of termed-out Democratic assemblyman Juan Vargas for his repeated votes in favor of the insurance lobby.