UCSD exec, ex-politician each receiving annual $5,000 from La Jolla non-profit
Associate vice chancellor for extended studies and public programs joins ex-state senator on two boards of non-profits promoting charter schools and online news
Two La Jolla-based nonprofit corporations at the heart of San Diego’s great debate over public versus charter schools have been paying a pair of prominent academic and political players for their board service. http://sandiegoreader.com/users/photos/2013/apr/26/44450/ The Girard Foundation, a non-profit corporation …
Drone maker's PAC kicks in $2,000 to Vargas debt fund, filing shows
Honeywell International PAC only donor to committee owing $120,000 to Democratic congressman
As previously reported, La Jolla congressman Scott Peters recently filed a statement with federal campaign regulators saying that he had forgiven $2.25 million in personal loans he made to his campaign committee last year: http://sandiegoreader.com/users/photos/2013/apr/24/44344/ “Personal loans were made by …
GOP's Lincoln Club weighs in big for Democrat Crenshaw
As cash rolls in from Manchester executive, lobbyists, and Walmart, costs include pro-Crenshaw and anti-Cole material, disclosures show
The Lincoln Club of San Diego County, home to some of downtown's most influential Republican lobbyists, has entered the battle between Democrats Dwayne Crenshaw and Myrtle Cole for the 4th district city council seat left behind by Tony Young when …
Peters got $2600 from Microsoft Office president in weeks before CISPA vote
San Diego freshman Democrat who voted for cyber intelligence bill got campaign funds from industry-linked figures in month leading to House vote
Despite complaints by online activists and privacy advocates that the measure would allow agents of the U.S. government to make dangerous intrusions into Internet privacy, the Cyber Intelligence Sharing and Protection Act, known as CISPA for short, breezed through the …
Liquor store owners agree to $6,000 ethics fine in Filner hit piece case
Group run by outspoken Chaldean leader favoring Nathan Fletcher admits failing to fully identify itself and making late filings during last year's race for mayor
As reported here last May 29, the Neighborhood Market Association, a group representing various liquor stores and convenience markets around the county, unleashed a barrage of hit pieces against then-congressman Bob Filner, who was running for mayor. http://sandiegoreader.com/users/photos/2013/apr/18/44031/ One of …
San Diego county supervisor and super lobbyist are partners in Mission Hills restaurant
Dean of downtown San Diego influence peddlers and longtime GOP supervisor Ron Roberts have partnership interests in Brooklyn Girl Eatery, disclosures show
The world of San Diego politics and its well-heeled corporate lobbying corps has long been a clubby sort of place, where tickets, dinners, drinks, and entertainment tabs for elected officials and their staffs are covered by obliging influence peddlers, eager …
California's ethics watchdog takes another bite at San Diego conflict ruling
Advice letters fly regarding one-time consultant to lobbyist for controversial Jamul Indian casino
As reported here last June, marketing and economic consultant Michael Casinelli, then-chairman of the county's Jamul Dulzura community planning group, had a good customer in the form of MJE Marketing Services, the big downtown lobbying and public affairs outfit. http://sandiegoreader.com/users/photos/2013/apr/16/43809/ …
Hotel moguls spent $19,000 lobbying in Filner funding war, report says
Same lobbyist used by billionaire Irwin Jacobs for failed Plaza de Panama makeover employed in battle to force mayor to sign Sanders-negotiated deal
Another major San Diego controversy has paid off big for MJE Marketing Services, Inc., the influence peddling firm that was paid in excess of $100,000 during last year's ultimately unsuccessful quest by Qualcomm billionaire Irwin Jacobs to make over Balboa …
Downtown lobbyist from Carlsbad seeking San Diego city council seat
Interim president and CEO of Terry Brown-backed lobbying group seeks redrawn sixth council district spot, filing says
Chris J. Cate, interim president and CEO of the San Diego County Taxpayers Association - the lobbying organization that has been a key player in the effort to force Democratic Mayor Bob Filner to sign a funding contract negotiated by …
With horses dying, Del Mar's political giving very much alive
Del Mar track money to California politicos is healthier than ever, disclosure shows
Whether horse racing is good for horses or not, one thing appears sure, it's great for political fundraisers. http://sandiegoreader.com/users/photos/2013/apr/11/43565/ A report in today's UT San Diego sheds new light on the long-smoldering controversy over horse fatalities at the state's racetracks. …
"Papa Doug" backs a Bush with lunch at UT San Diego headquarters
$1000 a person luncheon set to raise Texas campaign cash in newspaper's "Headliners Club," invite says
Fresh from a dust up over the price of campaign ads sold to favored San Diego candidates, UT San Diego publisher Douglas Manchester is throwing a political fundraising lunch next month at the Headliners Club on the fifth floor of …
Dumanis draws first re-election opponent
Heavily backed by Evans hotel family and other local financial interests, incumbent District Attorney already out fundraising for 2014
San Diego county District Attorney Bonnie Dumanis - who badly lost her bid for mayor last year, but has already proclaimed her candidacy for re-election next year - has her first official opponent, according to an April 4 filing posted …
U.S. grant for "urban surveillance" drone run from Point Loma naval base
University of Arizona professor working on "tracking and shepherding " drone overseen by San Diego naval research office
The robotic birds aren't flying over Point Loma just yet, but according to a document posted online by Muckrock, a Boston-based public records request service, the U.S. Office of Naval Research here is overseeing at least one experimental drone research …
San Diego hotel mogul's political reach extends to Big Apple
Evans Hotel executive, key fundraiser behind San Diego council's Todd Gloria, contributes cash to New York's bribery-torn mayor's race
Robert Gleason, the CFO and general counsel at Evans Hotels - one of three homegrown San Diego hotel empires behind the lawsuit filed against Democratic mayor Bob Filner in an unsuccessful effort to force him to sign a city funding …
U.S. audit hits San Diego non-profit housing operation for $5 million trust fund misuse
Bay Vista Methodist Heights used millions in restricted funds for "ineligible operating expenses," HUD review finds
A non-profit corporation founded in 1966 by the late Grandison Phelps, Jr., pastor of St. Paul United Methodist Church for 37 years, has been called out by the inspector general's office of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development …
San Diego city attorney dances to lobbyists' tune in banquet video
Video posted by business lobbying group features Jan Goldsmith in chorus line to "help us roast our new mayor"
Lobbyists' banquets have not always been kind to Republican city attorney Jan Goldsmith. Back in February, newly elected Democratic mayor Bob Filner took to the microphone at the Downtown Partnership's dinner and reportedly poked a little fun at Goldsmith's infamous …
Another unreported DeMaio contribution disclosed by Sheppard Mullin law firm
Tally of previously undisclosed San Diego political contributions by hoteliers' law firm mounts, shedding additional light on anti-Filner money
Add another $500 to the list of campaign contributions heretofore undisclosed by the San Diego office of Sheppard Mullin, the giant international law and influence peddling firm that has represented some of the city's biggest industrial, corporate, and hotel interests, …
Lobbyist for Fox Sports in Padres cable blackout also represents pot vending machine maker
Southwest Strategies, whose ex-employees include spokesman for city attorney Jan Goldsmith, seeks to cash in lobbying for medical marijuana law
As reported here two days ago, Southwest Strategies LLC, the influence peddling boutique founded by ex-San Diego Tribune reporter Alan Ziegaus, has been lobbying city hall of late on behalf of Fox Sports San Diego regarding Time Warner Cable's blackout …
Personal and campaign gifts to council Democrats a long tradition at GOP's Evans operation
Todd Gloria only the latest in a long line of pro-Evans council members to get campaign cash, tickets, food, and other blandishments from major city lessee.
Now that San Diego's GOP hotel moguls have reportedly decided to call off their lawsuit and cut a deal with Democratic mayor Bob Filner - in what the mayor's fellow Democrat, La Jolla city councilwoman Sherri Lightner called a "kumbaya" …
Obama bundler, not Filner, gets top spot at county Democrats' gala
San Diego mayor not mentioned in invitation to county party's Paint the Town Blue May awards dinner
He's the first Democrat since 1988 to get elected mayor of America's eighth-largest city and currently engaged in an epic legal, political, and editorial war with the town's wealthy and powerful GOP hotel moguls - including UT San Diego publisher …