Anchor ads are not supported on this page.

4S Ranch Allied Gardens Alpine Baja Balboa Park Bankers Hill Barrio Logan Bay Ho Bay Park Black Mountain Ranch Blossom Valley Bonita Bonsall Borrego Springs Boulevard Campo Cardiff-by-the-Sea Carlsbad Carmel Mountain Carmel Valley Chollas View Chula Vista City College City Heights Clairemont College Area Coronado CSU San Marcos Cuyamaca College Del Cerro Del Mar Descanso Downtown San Diego Eastlake East Village El Cajon Emerald Hills Encanto Encinitas Escondido Fallbrook Fletcher Hills Golden Hill Grant Hill Grantville Grossmont College Guatay Harbor Island Hillcrest Imperial Beach Imperial Valley Jacumba Jamacha-Lomita Jamul Julian Kearny Mesa Kensington La Jolla Lakeside La Mesa Lemon Grove Leucadia Liberty Station Lincoln Acres Lincoln Park Linda Vista Little Italy Logan Heights Mesa College Midway District MiraCosta College Miramar Miramar College Mira Mesa Mission Beach Mission Hills Mission Valley Mountain View Mount Hope Mount Laguna National City Nestor Normal Heights North Park Oak Park Ocean Beach Oceanside Old Town Otay Mesa Pacific Beach Pala Palomar College Palomar Mountain Paradise Hills Pauma Valley Pine Valley Point Loma Point Loma Nazarene Potrero Poway Rainbow Ramona Rancho Bernardo Rancho Penasquitos Rancho San Diego Rancho Santa Fe Rolando San Carlos San Marcos San Onofre Santa Ysabel Santee San Ysidro Scripps Ranch SDSU Serra Mesa Shelltown Shelter Island Sherman Heights Skyline Solana Beach Sorrento Valley Southcrest South Park Southwestern College Spring Valley Stockton Talmadge Temecula Tierrasanta Tijuana UCSD University City University Heights USD Valencia Park Valley Center Vista Warner Springs

Punting the mayoral Puetz

Ex-trash lobbyist and major donor is mayor’s new staff chief

Faulconer and Faucett. Unmentioned is Faucett’s prior employment as a lobbyist for waste hauler Republic Services and her role as a key member of the mayor's ill-fated 2015 Chargers stadium task force.
Faulconer and Faucett. Unmentioned is Faucett’s prior employment as a lobbyist for waste hauler Republic Services and her role as a key member of the mayor's ill-fated 2015 Chargers stadium task force.

Confirming word first reported here May 30, Stephen Puetz, controversial chief of staff to San Diego mayor Kevin Faulconer, is departing his job at city hall for a gig with Missouri-based political consultant Axiom Strategies.

Puetz is re-joining Axiom Strategies of Kansas, run by Jeff Roe, guru behind Ted Cruz's primary campaign.

"Puetz has served as Mayor Faulconer’s Chief of Staff since he took office, and led his City Council office in 2013," notes a mayoral news release posted June 15 on the city's website.

Puetz's role with Faulconer became problematic in the run-up to the city council rejection of the mayor's push for a special November election.

"He ran Faulconer’s successful mayoral campaign in 2014 and the 2012 City Council campaigns of current Councilmembers Mark Kersey and Scott Sherman. Puetz won the 2014 'Campaign Manager of the Year' award from the American Association of Political Consultants. Puetz, a graduate of California State University San Marcos, previously worked for Axiom during the 2010 election cycle.

Sponsored
Sponsored

At least one encounter between Faulconer and SoccerCity's Mike Stone was held at Morgan Dean Oliver's dining room in his downtown office complex.

As reported here in January 2016, Kansas City-based Axiom is run by Jeff Roe, the notoriously take-no-prisoners campaign guru behind last year's failed presidential primary bid of senator Ted Cruz of Texas.

Puetz's role with Faulconer became problematic during the painful run up to this week's politically embarrassing city council rejection of the mayor's push for a $5 million special November election in a gambit to gain voter approval for SoccerCity, the plan to privatize much of the 166-acre publically-owned real estate now occupied by Qualcomm Stadium.

Documents obtained from San Diego State University under the state's public record act showed that Faulconer had been secretly meeting with SoccerCity promoter Mike Stone and his associates since early last year, with at least one encounter hosted by developer and Faulconer donor Morgan Dean Oliver, held in Oliver's posh dining room at his downtown office complex.

"The lunch will be at noon at Oliver McMillan (they have a private dining room and chef in-house). I do not have an agenda and doubt there will be a formal one," emailed Stone aide Tracy L. Houdmann December 22. 2015.

It subsequently came to light that Oliver opened his lavish Point Loma bayfront mansion to host Puetz's August 2015 wedding.

“I consider him a friend and a mentor,” Puetz was quoted by the Union-Tribune as saying of Oliver.

In addition to his high-profile relationship with Faulconer-funder Oliver, campaign disclosure filings showed that while employed as the mayor's chief of staff, Puetz remained financially tied to Faulconer’s reelection campaign,/receiving $1462.74 for “office expenses,” with a $277.66 balance still owed, per a March 2, 2016 disclosure report.

A year-end 2016 filing by the Faulconer campaign showed a debt to Puetz of $2725 in un-itemized "office expenses." In addition, the chief of staff was reimbursed by the campaign $1347 for "airfare to assist No on Prop 57," an ultimately failed effort to defeat Democratic governor Jerry Brown parole reform measure.

Puetz also got $460 for a "staff thank you event — Currant American Brasserie," and $369 for airfare to San Jose on Southwest Airlines for a November 14 "political mtg."

Other payments from the Faulconer campaign to Puetz included a $239 lodging tab from September 15 through September 16 at the Fairmont Newport Beach hotel for a "political mtg." Katherine Stuart, the mayor's wife, was paid $275 to cover lodging at the same hotel on the same dates.

$106 for a September 26 "polit mtg" Puetz had with Faulconer at the Hamilton in Washington DC was also billed to the campaign. A month later, on November 29, Puetz, Faulconer, and five others spent $1149 on another "polit mtg" at Fleming's steakhouse.

Additionally, according to his personal financial disclosure report for 2016, filed March 24, Puetz was paid between $1001 and $10,000 by the San Diego county Republican Party as a fee for "consulting." He also received between $1001 and $10,000 as a political consultant for the San Diego Regional Chamber of Commerce.

Puetz's replacement as the mayor’s chief of staff, Aimee Lepore Faucett, is currently executive vice president of the San Diego Regional Chamber of Commerce and a longtime operative for GOP elected officials.

"The San Diego State graduate previously served as Deputy Chief of Staff for former Mayor Jerry Sanders and as Chief of Staff to then-Councilmember Faulconer and former Councilmember Jim Madaffer, among other positions at City Hall. Aimee currently serves on the Convention Center Board of Directors," notes the mayoral news release.

Unmentioned is Faucett’s prior employment as a lobbyist for waste hauler Republic Services and her role as a key member of the mayor's ill-fated 2015 Chargers stadium task force.

A prodigious Faulconer campaign giver in her own right, Faucett came up with $7000 for Faulconer’s 2013 election fund. Her spouse, real estate man Erik Faucett of Lee & Associates, kicked in $7150, records show. In addition, she gave $1550 to the mayor's 2016 reelection campaign, as well as $550 to the reelection effort of Republican Scott Sherman, a proponent of SoccerCity.

Here's something you might be interested in.
Submit a free classified
or view all
Previous article

Summit Fellowship wants to be a home of belonging

Unitarian Universalism allows you to be exactly who you are in the moment
Next Article

Flowering pear trees in Kensington not that nice

Empty dirt plots in front of Ken Cinema
Faulconer and Faucett. Unmentioned is Faucett’s prior employment as a lobbyist for waste hauler Republic Services and her role as a key member of the mayor's ill-fated 2015 Chargers stadium task force.
Faulconer and Faucett. Unmentioned is Faucett’s prior employment as a lobbyist for waste hauler Republic Services and her role as a key member of the mayor's ill-fated 2015 Chargers stadium task force.

Confirming word first reported here May 30, Stephen Puetz, controversial chief of staff to San Diego mayor Kevin Faulconer, is departing his job at city hall for a gig with Missouri-based political consultant Axiom Strategies.

Puetz is re-joining Axiom Strategies of Kansas, run by Jeff Roe, guru behind Ted Cruz's primary campaign.

"Puetz has served as Mayor Faulconer’s Chief of Staff since he took office, and led his City Council office in 2013," notes a mayoral news release posted June 15 on the city's website.

Puetz's role with Faulconer became problematic in the run-up to the city council rejection of the mayor's push for a special November election.

"He ran Faulconer’s successful mayoral campaign in 2014 and the 2012 City Council campaigns of current Councilmembers Mark Kersey and Scott Sherman. Puetz won the 2014 'Campaign Manager of the Year' award from the American Association of Political Consultants. Puetz, a graduate of California State University San Marcos, previously worked for Axiom during the 2010 election cycle.

Sponsored
Sponsored

At least one encounter between Faulconer and SoccerCity's Mike Stone was held at Morgan Dean Oliver's dining room in his downtown office complex.

As reported here in January 2016, Kansas City-based Axiom is run by Jeff Roe, the notoriously take-no-prisoners campaign guru behind last year's failed presidential primary bid of senator Ted Cruz of Texas.

Puetz's role with Faulconer became problematic during the painful run up to this week's politically embarrassing city council rejection of the mayor's push for a $5 million special November election in a gambit to gain voter approval for SoccerCity, the plan to privatize much of the 166-acre publically-owned real estate now occupied by Qualcomm Stadium.

Documents obtained from San Diego State University under the state's public record act showed that Faulconer had been secretly meeting with SoccerCity promoter Mike Stone and his associates since early last year, with at least one encounter hosted by developer and Faulconer donor Morgan Dean Oliver, held in Oliver's posh dining room at his downtown office complex.

"The lunch will be at noon at Oliver McMillan (they have a private dining room and chef in-house). I do not have an agenda and doubt there will be a formal one," emailed Stone aide Tracy L. Houdmann December 22. 2015.

It subsequently came to light that Oliver opened his lavish Point Loma bayfront mansion to host Puetz's August 2015 wedding.

“I consider him a friend and a mentor,” Puetz was quoted by the Union-Tribune as saying of Oliver.

In addition to his high-profile relationship with Faulconer-funder Oliver, campaign disclosure filings showed that while employed as the mayor's chief of staff, Puetz remained financially tied to Faulconer’s reelection campaign,/receiving $1462.74 for “office expenses,” with a $277.66 balance still owed, per a March 2, 2016 disclosure report.

A year-end 2016 filing by the Faulconer campaign showed a debt to Puetz of $2725 in un-itemized "office expenses." In addition, the chief of staff was reimbursed by the campaign $1347 for "airfare to assist No on Prop 57," an ultimately failed effort to defeat Democratic governor Jerry Brown parole reform measure.

Puetz also got $460 for a "staff thank you event — Currant American Brasserie," and $369 for airfare to San Jose on Southwest Airlines for a November 14 "political mtg."

Other payments from the Faulconer campaign to Puetz included a $239 lodging tab from September 15 through September 16 at the Fairmont Newport Beach hotel for a "political mtg." Katherine Stuart, the mayor's wife, was paid $275 to cover lodging at the same hotel on the same dates.

$106 for a September 26 "polit mtg" Puetz had with Faulconer at the Hamilton in Washington DC was also billed to the campaign. A month later, on November 29, Puetz, Faulconer, and five others spent $1149 on another "polit mtg" at Fleming's steakhouse.

Additionally, according to his personal financial disclosure report for 2016, filed March 24, Puetz was paid between $1001 and $10,000 by the San Diego county Republican Party as a fee for "consulting." He also received between $1001 and $10,000 as a political consultant for the San Diego Regional Chamber of Commerce.

Puetz's replacement as the mayor’s chief of staff, Aimee Lepore Faucett, is currently executive vice president of the San Diego Regional Chamber of Commerce and a longtime operative for GOP elected officials.

"The San Diego State graduate previously served as Deputy Chief of Staff for former Mayor Jerry Sanders and as Chief of Staff to then-Councilmember Faulconer and former Councilmember Jim Madaffer, among other positions at City Hall. Aimee currently serves on the Convention Center Board of Directors," notes the mayoral news release.

Unmentioned is Faucett’s prior employment as a lobbyist for waste hauler Republic Services and her role as a key member of the mayor's ill-fated 2015 Chargers stadium task force.

A prodigious Faulconer campaign giver in her own right, Faucett came up with $7000 for Faulconer’s 2013 election fund. Her spouse, real estate man Erik Faucett of Lee & Associates, kicked in $7150, records show. In addition, she gave $1550 to the mayor's 2016 reelection campaign, as well as $550 to the reelection effort of Republican Scott Sherman, a proponent of SoccerCity.

Comments
Sponsored
Here's something you might be interested in.
Submit a free classified
or view all
Previous article

Reader Music Issue short takes

Obervatory's mosh pit, frenetic Rafael Payare, Lemonhead chaos, bleedforthescene, Coronado Tasting Room
Next Article

Centennial Salute to San Diego’s Military, East Village Block Party, Birding Basics Class

Events March 29-March 30, 2024
Comments
Ask a Hipster — Advice you didn't know you needed Big Screen — Movie commentary Blurt — Music's inside track Booze News — San Diego spirits Classical Music — Immortal beauty Classifieds — Free and easy Cover Stories — Front-page features Drinks All Around — Bartenders' drink recipes Excerpts — Literary and spiritual excerpts Feast! — Food & drink reviews Feature Stories — Local news & stories Fishing Report — What’s getting hooked from ship and shore From the Archives — Spotlight on the past Golden Dreams — Talk of the town The Gonzo Report — Making the musical scene, or at least reporting from it Letters — Our inbox Movies@Home — Local movie buffs share favorites Movie Reviews — Our critics' picks and pans Musician Interviews — Up close with local artists Neighborhood News from Stringers — Hyperlocal news News Ticker — News & politics Obermeyer — San Diego politics illustrated Outdoors — Weekly changes in flora and fauna Overheard in San Diego — Eavesdropping illustrated Poetry — The old and the new Reader Travel — Travel section built by travelers Reading — The hunt for intellectuals Roam-O-Rama — SoCal's best hiking/biking trails San Diego Beer — Inside San Diego suds SD on the QT — Almost factual news Sheep and Goats — Places of worship Special Issues — The best of Street Style — San Diego streets have style Surf Diego — Real stories from those braving the waves Theater — On stage in San Diego this week Tin Fork — Silver spoon alternative Under the Radar — Matt Potter's undercover work Unforgettable — Long-ago San Diego Unreal Estate — San Diego's priciest pads Your Week — Daily event picks
4S Ranch Allied Gardens Alpine Baja Balboa Park Bankers Hill Barrio Logan Bay Ho Bay Park Black Mountain Ranch Blossom Valley Bonita Bonsall Borrego Springs Boulevard Campo Cardiff-by-the-Sea Carlsbad Carmel Mountain Carmel Valley Chollas View Chula Vista City College City Heights Clairemont College Area Coronado CSU San Marcos Cuyamaca College Del Cerro Del Mar Descanso Downtown San Diego Eastlake East Village El Cajon Emerald Hills Encanto Encinitas Escondido Fallbrook Fletcher Hills Golden Hill Grant Hill Grantville Grossmont College Guatay Harbor Island Hillcrest Imperial Beach Imperial Valley Jacumba Jamacha-Lomita Jamul Julian Kearny Mesa Kensington La Jolla Lakeside La Mesa Lemon Grove Leucadia Liberty Station Lincoln Acres Lincoln Park Linda Vista Little Italy Logan Heights Mesa College Midway District MiraCosta College Miramar Miramar College Mira Mesa Mission Beach Mission Hills Mission Valley Mountain View Mount Hope Mount Laguna National City Nestor Normal Heights North Park Oak Park Ocean Beach Oceanside Old Town Otay Mesa Pacific Beach Pala Palomar College Palomar Mountain Paradise Hills Pauma Valley Pine Valley Point Loma Point Loma Nazarene Potrero Poway Rainbow Ramona Rancho Bernardo Rancho Penasquitos Rancho San Diego Rancho Santa Fe Rolando San Carlos San Marcos San Onofre Santa Ysabel Santee San Ysidro Scripps Ranch SDSU Serra Mesa Shelltown Shelter Island Sherman Heights Skyline Solana Beach Sorrento Valley Southcrest South Park Southwestern College Spring Valley Stockton Talmadge Temecula Tierrasanta Tijuana UCSD University City University Heights USD Valencia Park Valley Center Vista Warner Springs
Close

Anchor ads are not supported on this page.