Crowded art of influence

The lucrative business of peddling city hall influence has never been busier, according to a recently released tally of lobbyist activity by San Diego’s ethics commission. “During the 2013 calendar year, 69 lobbying firms and 47 organization lobbyists registered a total of 321 individual lobbyists with the City Clerk,” according to the October 3 report. “During 2013, lobbying firms reported receiving a total of $3,252,081 from their clients, and organization lobbyists reported making a total of 1,164 lobbying contacts with high-level City Officials.”

That translated into a major fundraising opportunity for city candidates. The lobbyists themselves came up with $377,213 in direct campaign donations and arranged $2,620,935 in fundraising activities for candidates and ballot causes. “It should be noted,” says the report, “that the definition of ‘fundraising’ is limited to: funds personally delivered to a City candidate; and contributions a lobbyist has taken some credit for raising with the candidate or the candidate’s controlled committee.” … Blue Shield of California apparently has the best health of the San Diego Democratic Party in mind, contributing $25,000 on October 11. Balancing that out was $15,000 from developers Scott and Mark McMillin to the local GOP on October 7. The same day, Jack in the Box’s Qdoba Mexican Grill outlet division forked over $5000 to support Jerry Brown’s Yes on 1 and 2 water-bond campaign. Brown’s wife Anne Gust used to be on the company’s board, and Brown’s personal financial disclosure reports say she still has a sizable stock holding in the firm.