Two donations $50k or more for pro-Faulconer committee

The money-slinging has officially begun for the special mayoral election to be held on February 11. On December 29, the San Diego Regional Chamber of Commerce and the Associated General Contractors of America wrote big checks to conservative candidate and current District 2 councilmember Kevin Faulconer.

On Saturday, December 28, the local chamber of commerce, run by former mayor Jerry Sanders, donated $58,000 to the pro-Faulconer political action committee dubbed “San Diegans to Protect Jobs and the Economy.” Sanders has long supported Faulconer's run for mayor. Last year, it was Sanders who allegedly went to bat for the councilmember at a gathering held at real estate magnate Thomas Sudberry's La Jolla home.

During that meeting, as reported by online news site Voice of San Diego, Sanders butted heads with U-T San Diego publisher Doug Manchester over who the candidate should be. Sanders backed Faulconer and Manchester backed former councilmember Carl DeMaio. Sanders was the victor.

With the $58,000 check, Sanders (who draws a reported $300,000 salary from the nonprofit chamber) is putting his nonprofit organization's money where his mouth is.

On December 30, the Associated General Contractors of America —"the VOICE of the Construction Industry!" — opened up its pocketbook as well, giving the same pro-Faulconer committee $50,000.