Moo shu political pork

It’s election season in San Diego, and however unexpected its timing, wealthy folks from all over America have been lining up to make their financial contributions to pay for the TV commercials and hit pieces that are already arriving in local mail boxes. Among the more exotic: Ming Shin Kou, of Palos Verdes, with $1000 to Republican-turned-Democrat Nathan Fletcher. According to Forbes, the donor is chief executive of the Red Chamber Group of Vernon, “a large importer, exporter and processor of seafood and other fine foods. The Group’s companies include Neptune Foods, OFI Markesa International, Tampa Bay Fisheries, Kitchens of the Oceans, Mid-Pacific Seafoods, California Specialty Cheese Company, and the Ice Creamery.”

Closer to home, once-imprisoned Democratic super lawyer Bill Lerach of La Jolla has given $5000 to “Restoring Trust in San Diego, a Committee to Support Nathan Fletcher for Mayor 2013.” Lerach also gave $1000 to Fletcher’s committee, as did his wife and fellow lawyer Michelle Lerach and family members Hannelore and John Ciccarelli, also of La Jolla. Former Democratic congressional candidate and aide to Jerry Brown, Bryon Georgiou, now of Las Vegas, gave $1000, as did Theresa Collins-Georgiou. The Qualcomm executive has also gotten $1000 each from Sempra Energy president Mark Snell of Rancho Santa Fe and SDG&E vice president for government affairs Eugene Mitchell of Carlsbad. Meanwhile, Republican Kevin Faulconer has picked up $2000 from Donald and Margret Parrish of Ojai. Listed as retired, he has been a real estate lawyer. Another developers’ attorney, Sheppard Mullin’s Christopher B. Neils, who has done a lot of work for U-T San Diego owner Douglas Manchester over the past years, gave $1000.