Juan’s political tripping

Speaking of Barona, this summer the tribe’s resort was the scene of a “fundraising dinner and golf event” for the 2014 re-election committee of Congressman Juan Vargas. According to the invitation, Vargas patrons kicked in $2500 for golf and dinner, or just $1500 for golf, with the freshman Democrat.

According to his most recent campaign disclosure filed with the Federal Election Commission on October 15, Vargas has so far raked in more than $289,000 this cycle, but expenses left his fund with only $94,915 in the bank. Donors included Qualcomm executive and mayoral hopeful Nathan Fletcher ($250); serial entrepreneur Barbara Bry of La Jolla ($500); the American Dental Political Action Committee ($1000); Blue Shield of California PAC ($1000); and Simnsa Health Plan founder Frank Carrillo ($2600).

Among expenses: $13,000 paid to Vargas’s 2010 state-senate campaign committee, which still owes hefty consulting payments to various Vargas friends and associates. In addition, the congressional campaign committee paid out $1035 on August 2 to the El Castell Motel in Monterey for “Lodging/trip to No. CA” and $264 for a fundraising meeting at the Firehouse Restaurant in Chicago on July 30.