Walmart pumps $515,000 through Encinitas-based dark money group
Arkansas discount giant that bought its Oceanside liquor license from "Papa Doug" Manchester flexes political muscle using cash from North County-based 501 (c) 4 non-profit
In a possible preview of things to come in San Diego's big money mayoral contest, retail giant Walmart has employed an Encinitas-based dark money non-profit to convey more than half a million dollars to a campaign for a new Walmart …
County Office of Education hit with warning letter over travel freebies
Long running state political watchdog's investigation of controversial conduct of education office ends with a whimper as agency told not to break law again
The San Diego County Office of Education has long been a troubled patch on the corpus of local government. http://www.sandiegoreader.com/users/photos/2013/oct/15/54782/ As reported here in February 2010 by Dorian Hargrove, whistleblower Roger Hartnett has spent years in a legal battle with …
Papa Doug hawks his hotel's booze license to Walmart
While blasting Jacobs-backed Democrat Fletcher for "disdain" of Arkansas retail giant, Faulconer-favoring GOP publisher quietly sells $65,000 liquor license to Walmart
U-T San Diego, the mini media empire of La Jolla’s Douglas Manchester, has become noted in local political circles for putting its words where the money of its wheeler-dealer GOP publisher is. http://www.sandiegoreader.com/users/photos/2013/oct/14/54740/ From a bid to install a huge …
Obama data whiz paid by Jacobs-backed Fletcher campaign
Big data maven from Berkeley business school specializing in crunching numbers on individual voters gets $11,500 so far from newly minted Democrat
The campaign of Ex-Republican Assemblyman turned Democratic mayoral candidate Nathan Fletcher has paid a San Francisco Bay area start-up run by an Obama campaign veteran who drills down on the habits and predilections of individual voters, giving Fletcher-backing billionaire Democrat …
Papa Doug hasn't forgotten Carl D.
U-T San Diego publisher and hotel magnate chips in $5000 to Carl DeMaio committee owing big money to the candidate himself.
He's come under fire by San Diego State University-owned and operated KPBS, the public broadcast operation heavily funded by Qualcomm billionaire Democrat Irwin Jacobs, but Carl DeMaio and his "Reform San Diego with Carl DeMaio" political fund has recently gotten …
A Bilbray, not Brian, runs for Congress
Daughter of Democratic Nevada ex-congressman Jim Bilbray, cousin of San Diego's Brian Bilbray, is a candidate for swing district congressional seat
Anyone thinking that the long congressional run of the Bilbray family ended with the ousting of the GOP's Brian Bilbray from his long-held San Diego seat by La Jolla Democrat Scott Peters will have to stand by a bit longer: …
Papa Jacobs gives $37,500 in growing proxy battle with GOP's Manchester
Qualcomm founder and La Jolla Democratic billionaire antes up for Nathan Fletcher as war of the super rich white guys glows white hot
As reported earlier today, Qualcomm's Jacobs family may be taking off the gloves against the local Republican establishment, comprised of some of the most powerful San Diego old boys, including U-T San Diego owner and real estate magnate Douglas Manchester, …
Democrat Jacobs rips GOP's Lincoln Club in mega-millionaires' political war
Qualcomm CEO defends virtue of cell phone giant and its newly minted Democratic executive, demands "full apology and retraction" of "slanderous attack on our company"
The political proxy war between billionaire La Jolla Obama Democrat Irwin Jacobs and his Koch brothers-linked Republican rival Douglas Manchester just got a lot hotter. http://www.sandiegoreader.com/users/photos/2013/oct/09/54585/ In a letter dated yesterday, Irwin's son Paul, chief executive of Jacobs-founded cell phone …
GOP fat cats go after super rich Qualcomm Democrats in mayoral proxy war hit piece
Wealthy Republicans target Qualcomm's Nathan Fletcher, and by implication, firm founder and billionaire Democrat Irwin Jacobs in season's first hit piece
Subtle it isn't. Ex-Republican Assemblyman turned Democrat Nathan Fletcher, duded up in a tuxedo and wearing a red rose, hoists a glass of the bubbly in front of an executive jet on which some very white looking corporate types are …
San Diego State marijuana lobbyist and big back taxes
Sacramento paper breaks story about troubles of fabled mega million-dollar influence peddling firm founded by SDSU alum
One of San Diego's proudest claims to political fame in California's capital is the lobbying and "governmental affairs" firm of California Strategies, founded by Bob White, standout San Diego State alumnus and longtime aide to ex-San Diego mayor, U.S. senator …
Miramar's air show and military contractor bash cancelled by D.C. politics?
Comments by aide to GOP's Hunter suggest shutdown of Marine air show backed by military contractor cash is Obama political move
It's a tale of two air shows. Up in Sacramento, according to a report in today's Sacramento Bee, the stunt flying will go on as scheduled this weekend at the California Capital Airshow, while San Diego's famous Miramar air show …
Donor in big money Filner border scandal turns to Fletcher
Moneyman who gave $56,000 to Bob Filner, key booster of controversial sole-source "Bajagua" plan to treat U.S. sewage in Mexico, shows up on disclosure of Qualcomm-favored Democrat
During his final decade in Congress, Democrat Bob Filner and his Republican House colleague Brian Bilbray were doing some big favors for their mutual campaign donor, Rancho Santa Fe's Enrique Landa, who was promoting a plan to treat United States …
More mobster friend Molasky money for San Diego GOP
Las Vegas developer, investigative focus of Iowa Republican senator in San Diego FBI building Chinese money intrigue, forks over for Faulconer and the GOP
A partnership linked to Las Vegas developer Irwin Molasky, friend and longtime business associate of late mobster Moe Dalitz and a focus of inquiries by Iowa GOP Sen. Charles Grassley over whistle-blower alleged irregularities in the financing of San Diego's …
San Diego pols got lots of Del Mar fair freebies
Political party class uses public clout to obtain and distribute free admissions to fair and rock concerts
It's an annual ritual of summer, the running of San Diego officials, both elected and non-elected, out to the county fair in Del Mar for a slew of free admissions and related gratuities, courtesy of the state's 22nd District Agricultural …
Predator drone maker and pot foe throws down for San Diego GOP
Uranium miner General Atomics, maker of deadly drones and other high-tech battle gear, joins the war for San Diego mayor
U-T San Diego publisher Douglas Manchester, the well-heeled Republican hotel magnate and associate of the conservative Koch brothers, has just received some more big time conservative reinforcement in his mayoral proxy war with San Diego's richest man, billionaire Obama Democrat …
GOP fat cats set to party hearty at Manchester resort this weekend
Exclusive California Republican Leadership fund kicks off high-end cash raising event with Friday golf tournament and lavish party closed to media at publishing magnate's Grand del Mar
U-T San Diego publisher Douglas Manchester, known for his extravagant party giving, is playing host to California Republican Party officials, lawmakers, and their monied financial backers this weekend at his sprawling Grand del Mar resort in the northern reaches of …
AFSCME rolls for Alvarez; GOP spends for Faulconer
Labor vs. capital vs. not so idle rich, as special interests continue to shovel big money into San Diego mayor's race
While those two rich guys from La Jolla, Democrat Irwin Jacobs and Republican Douglas Manchester, are battling it out for their respective mayoral candidates and putative future control of San Diego's city hall, big labor hasn't remained idle. http://www.sandiegoreader.com/users/photos/2013/sep/26/53760/ A …
Mayoral battle joined as billionaire Jacobs goes for Fletcher
$1000 likely first volley in cash war between George Soros Democrat Jacobs and Koch brothers-linked Republican publisher and hotel mogul Manchester
With a thousand dollar contribution to Nathan Fletcher, Qualcomm founder Irwin Jacobs has finally made it official: http://www.sandiegoreader.com/users/photos/2013/sep/25/53715/ Two super rich, aging white men from La Jolla are mustering their big money and media influence in a political death battle …
San Diego's freest traveling member of congress on the road, again
Chronically junketing California Democrat Susan Davis heads off for Ethiopia to hear about the evils of Chinese investment in the African continent
In the game of musical chairs that is San Diego politics, many political insiders expect Congresswoman Susan Davis to retire sooner or later, making way for her one-time staffer, city councilman Todd Gloria. http://www.sandiegoreader.com/users/photos/2013/sep/24/53629/ But while Gloria basks in newfound …
Billboard cash attempts mayor's race influence
Money from one of nation's biggest billboard companies flows to GOP's Faulconer and Democrat Alvarez as battle to loosen city's outdoor advertising regulations comes to mayoral campaign
The future of San Diego's restrictions on billboards could be determined by cash pouring into the current race for mayor, judging by campaign disclosures filed by two top contenders. On September 19, Christopher Tavarides of Washington, D.C. based Capitol Outdoor, …