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Congressman Bob Filner and City Attorney Mike Aguirre held a press conference in front of headquarters of Sempra Energy today (Oct. 31). They pointed out, as Matt Potter showed in the current Reader, that the utility holding company gave $100,000 to the Lincoln Club, which has historically served as a pass-through for money going to local Republicans. On the same state government form 460 on which the $100,000 was reported, Lincoln revealed that it had given almost $40,000 to support Goldsmith this month for such things as an email list, email blast, video production, radio, and slate mailer. The Lincoln Club has given almost $52,000 to Goldsmith thus far this year. The question is whether Sempra's $100,000 also went to him surreptitiously. (The $100,000 was not earmarked on the form.) At the press conference, Filner pointed out that the city attorney race is supposed to be non-partisan, but Goldsmith has turned it into a conservative Republican referendum, and Sempra appears to be facilitating the effort. Under Aguirre, the city attorney's office has been one of several entities suing Sempra for its role in the 2007 fires. (Public Utilities Commission investigators concluded that the SDG&E subsidiary of Sempra was responsible for 2 of the 3 major fires, and also charged that the utility attempted to obstruct the investigation.) Aguirre has also badgered SDG&E for its slow progress on putting emphasis on renewable energy. A spokesman for Sempra did not return a call seeking comment. Another Sempra official told the city attorney's office that the $100,000 was meant to influence two propositions.
Congressman Bob Filner and City Attorney Mike Aguirre held a press conference in front of headquarters of Sempra Energy today (Oct. 31). They pointed out, as Matt Potter showed in the current Reader, that the utility holding company gave $100,000 to the Lincoln Club, which has historically served as a pass-through for money going to local Republicans. On the same state government form 460 on which the $100,000 was reported, Lincoln revealed that it had given almost $40,000 to support Goldsmith this month for such things as an email list, email blast, video production, radio, and slate mailer. The Lincoln Club has given almost $52,000 to Goldsmith thus far this year. The question is whether Sempra's $100,000 also went to him surreptitiously. (The $100,000 was not earmarked on the form.) At the press conference, Filner pointed out that the city attorney race is supposed to be non-partisan, but Goldsmith has turned it into a conservative Republican referendum, and Sempra appears to be facilitating the effort. Under Aguirre, the city attorney's office has been one of several entities suing Sempra for its role in the 2007 fires. (Public Utilities Commission investigators concluded that the SDG&E subsidiary of Sempra was responsible for 2 of the 3 major fires, and also charged that the utility attempted to obstruct the investigation.) Aguirre has also badgered SDG&E for its slow progress on putting emphasis on renewable energy. A spokesman for Sempra did not return a call seeking comment. Another Sempra official told the city attorney's office that the $100,000 was meant to influence two propositions.