Alex Spanos Plays Small Role in Ensign Soap Opera–Like Scandal

The decision by GOP senator John Ensign of Nevada to scrap his 2012 reelection bid was generally expected by those who have been following the soap opera–like scandal arising from his affair with a staffer’s wife and the subsequent hush money he arranged to be paid by his family and the lobbying jobs he arranged for the wronged husband. But the news is especially bad for Chargers owner Alex Spanos and family, whose A.G. Spanos Companies was Ensign’s third-largest donor in the 2010 campaign cycle, with a total of $38,700, according to OpenSecrets.org…On April 28, Democrat Bob Filner, said to be interested in running for mayor, is holding a big congressional fund-raiser at the Mission Bay Hilton, according to Sunlight Foundation’s Party Time website. The contribution to “chair” is $5000; to “co-host” is $1000. The turnout may play a role in his final decision whether to run for the city job.