Party like its 2016

With next year’s June primaries less than a year away and campaigns growing ever costlier, local politicos have been throwing a record number of parties to attract well-heeled donors. Democratic congressman Scott Peters, whose campaign victory over the GOP’s Carl DeMaio has become more controversial in the wake of the Todd Bosnich email faking scandal, touted a $1000 per political action committee baseball fundraiser on June 17. The Peters backers watched the Washington Nationals play the Tampa Bay Rays.

Back in San Diego, Republican city councilman Scott Sherman ballyhooed a June 30 $1100 per couple wingding at Tower 23, the posh waterfront hotel in Pacific Beach. Ringleader of the event — cohosted by the likes of lobbyists Robin Madaffer and husband Jim, the ex–city councilman — was Alan Ziegaus, the ex-Tribune reporter and big-time local influence peddler who runs Southwest Strategies with son-in-law Chris Wahl.

Another co-host was listed as Friends of the Maritime Industry. Ziegaus’s posse was tapped to blow up the Barrio Logan Community Plan with a referendum drive financed by General Dynamics and other military contractors.