Campaign moola

The pro- and anti-gay-marriage campaigns continue to rack up prodigious contribution totals. Last week the Yes on 8 forces, seeking a constitutional amendment to ban gay marriage in the state, picked up $5000 from La Jolla’s Jim Vargas. Rancho Santa Fe’s Jonathan Bullen, CEO of Eagle Gate College Group, a Salt Lake City–based career college chain, gave $20,000 in favor of the measure, which lags in recent polls. … Democratic assembly candidate Marty Block, running to replace the GOP’s termed-out Shirley Horton, received a cool $208,500 from the Democratic State Central Committee last week. … Assemblywoman Lori Saldaña, running for her final term, threw two fund-raisers here last weekend. The first: her second annual “Golf Tournament and/or wine reception,” at Mission Valley’s Riverwalk Golf Club. Title sponsorships went for $3600. It was hosted by Speaker Karen Bass, with special guest John Laird, chairman of the powerful budget committee. Later, a VIP reception for Laird was held at Wine Steals in Hillcrest; the tab there was $1000 a person.