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

Byron Georgiou Long Shot for Nevada Senate Seat Vacated by John Ensign

Michele Bachmann’s happy to take Jenny Craig’s money.
Michele Bachmann’s happy to take Jenny Craig’s money.

Once again presidential election season is about to begin, with potential GOP candidates jostling for position in a crowded and confusing pack. A few possible contenders have already made their way to San Diego County to pick up campaign cash. Of special note is Minnesota’s conservative firebrand Republican congresswoman Michele Bachmann, who got $1000 from retired weight-loss magnate Jenny Craig of Rancho Santa Fe, as well as $500 from real estate investor John Peck Jr.…Meanwhile, ex–San Diego lawyer and politico Byron Georgiou is trying to carve out a new career in Nevada, where he’s running for the U.S. Senate seat vacated by scandal-plagued Republican John Ensign, who resigned last month, unable to revive his political fortunes following news of his affair with his top aide’s wife.

Sponsored
Sponsored

A onetime political prodigy here, Georgiou was legal affairs secretary for Democratic governor Jerry Brown during the early 1980s and ran for Congress in a 1990 Democratic primary against incumbent Jim Bates, who had been reproved by the House Ethics Committee in a 1989 sexual harassment case. Georgiou lost out to Bates by a 3 to 2 margin but was widely blamed by local Democrats for softening up the incumbent, who was taken down that November by Republican Randy “Duke” Cunningham, who is today serving a federal prison term on bribery and corruption charges.

In 1992, Georgiou again lost out in a nasty Democratic congressional primary, this time to Lynn Schenk, another ex–Brown aide. In that battle, Georgiou sued Schenk for libel and slander, citing Schenk’s campaign advertising, which featured allegations that Georgiou was a “professional liar,” among other things. Georgiou went into the casino business and worked with La Jolla’s legendary securities lawyer Bill Lerach in pursuing his fraud case against Enron. Lerach later copped a plea to kickback charges in a separate case and did time in federal prison. In July 2006, Georgiou traveled to Ashford Castle in Ireland to marry Thérèse Nora Collins in a lavish ceremony attended by many California political bigwigs. Earlier this year, the couple attended a Saint Patrick’s Day party at the White House, and Georgiou posed for a photo with Vice President Joe Biden.

Despite his big-time connections, and his hiring of the Democrats’ internet whiz Joe Trippi as a top advisor, Georgiou is considered a long shot for the Senate seat in Nevada. He is facing off in the primary against Congresswoman Shelley Berkley, who is directing most of her fire at Republican Dean Heller, a former congressman who was appointed last month to fill out Ensign’s Senate term. Berkley has been endorsed by Nevada Democrats and enjoys the support of Emily’s List, the feminist political action committee, but that hasn’t stopped Georgiou’s local, liberal Democratic friends from kicking in. They include former foe Schenk, who with husband C. Hugh Friedman gave a total of $2000 in March; La Jolla investor Murray Galinson, who came up with $2500; and Michelle Ciccarelli, who owns Cups, a trendy cupcake shop in La Jolla, and also happens to be married to Bill Lerach. Federal records show that through March 31 of this year, Georgiou had $1,073,907 in cash on hand, $500,000 of which he personally lent to the campaign.

According to his campaign website, “Byron currently oversees Georgiou Enterprises, with wide ranging interests throughout Nevada.” Among the firm’s local ventures, its website says, are Chula Vista’s Salt Creek golf club: “Located beneath the shadows of Mt. Miguel and adjacent to a State Wildlife preserve, Salt Creek offers a unique golf experience to all levels of players.”

The latest copy of the Reader

Please enjoy this clickable Reader flipbook. Linked text and ads are flash-highlighted in blue for your convenience. To enhance your viewing, please open full screen mode by clicking the icon on the far right of the black flipbook toolbar.

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

Poway’s schools, faced with money squeeze, fined for voter mailing

$105 million bond required payback of nearly 10 times that amount
Next Article

Gonzo Report: Eating dinner while little kids mock-mosh at Golden Island

“The tot absorbs the punk rock shot with the skill of experience”
Michele Bachmann’s happy to take Jenny Craig’s money.
Michele Bachmann’s happy to take Jenny Craig’s money.

Once again presidential election season is about to begin, with potential GOP candidates jostling for position in a crowded and confusing pack. A few possible contenders have already made their way to San Diego County to pick up campaign cash. Of special note is Minnesota’s conservative firebrand Republican congresswoman Michele Bachmann, who got $1000 from retired weight-loss magnate Jenny Craig of Rancho Santa Fe, as well as $500 from real estate investor John Peck Jr.…Meanwhile, ex–San Diego lawyer and politico Byron Georgiou is trying to carve out a new career in Nevada, where he’s running for the U.S. Senate seat vacated by scandal-plagued Republican John Ensign, who resigned last month, unable to revive his political fortunes following news of his affair with his top aide’s wife.

Sponsored
Sponsored

A onetime political prodigy here, Georgiou was legal affairs secretary for Democratic governor Jerry Brown during the early 1980s and ran for Congress in a 1990 Democratic primary against incumbent Jim Bates, who had been reproved by the House Ethics Committee in a 1989 sexual harassment case. Georgiou lost out to Bates by a 3 to 2 margin but was widely blamed by local Democrats for softening up the incumbent, who was taken down that November by Republican Randy “Duke” Cunningham, who is today serving a federal prison term on bribery and corruption charges.

In 1992, Georgiou again lost out in a nasty Democratic congressional primary, this time to Lynn Schenk, another ex–Brown aide. In that battle, Georgiou sued Schenk for libel and slander, citing Schenk’s campaign advertising, which featured allegations that Georgiou was a “professional liar,” among other things. Georgiou went into the casino business and worked with La Jolla’s legendary securities lawyer Bill Lerach in pursuing his fraud case against Enron. Lerach later copped a plea to kickback charges in a separate case and did time in federal prison. In July 2006, Georgiou traveled to Ashford Castle in Ireland to marry Thérèse Nora Collins in a lavish ceremony attended by many California political bigwigs. Earlier this year, the couple attended a Saint Patrick’s Day party at the White House, and Georgiou posed for a photo with Vice President Joe Biden.

Despite his big-time connections, and his hiring of the Democrats’ internet whiz Joe Trippi as a top advisor, Georgiou is considered a long shot for the Senate seat in Nevada. He is facing off in the primary against Congresswoman Shelley Berkley, who is directing most of her fire at Republican Dean Heller, a former congressman who was appointed last month to fill out Ensign’s Senate term. Berkley has been endorsed by Nevada Democrats and enjoys the support of Emily’s List, the feminist political action committee, but that hasn’t stopped Georgiou’s local, liberal Democratic friends from kicking in. They include former foe Schenk, who with husband C. Hugh Friedman gave a total of $2000 in March; La Jolla investor Murray Galinson, who came up with $2500; and Michelle Ciccarelli, who owns Cups, a trendy cupcake shop in La Jolla, and also happens to be married to Bill Lerach. Federal records show that through March 31 of this year, Georgiou had $1,073,907 in cash on hand, $500,000 of which he personally lent to the campaign.

According to his campaign website, “Byron currently oversees Georgiou Enterprises, with wide ranging interests throughout Nevada.” Among the firm’s local ventures, its website says, are Chula Vista’s Salt Creek golf club: “Located beneath the shadows of Mt. Miguel and adjacent to a State Wildlife preserve, Salt Creek offers a unique golf experience to all levels of players.”

Comments
Sponsored

The latest copy of the Reader

Please enjoy this clickable Reader flipbook. Linked text and ads are flash-highlighted in blue for your convenience. To enhance your viewing, please open full screen mode by clicking the icon on the far right of the black flipbook toolbar.

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

Gonzo Report: Eating dinner while little kids mock-mosh at Golden Island

“The tot absorbs the punk rock shot with the skill of experience”
Next Article

Undocumented workers break for Trump in 2024

Illegals Vote for Felon
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.

This Week’s Reader This Week’s Reader