As reported here two weeks ago, the folks over at the local Republican party seem to have become the town’s unrivaled masters at moving cash around in creative ways that, whether intentional or not, have the effect of obscuring the moneys' origin and destination.
http://www.sandiegoreader.com/users/photos/2013/sep/17/53269/
One faithful donor, U-T San Diego publisher and real estate developer extraordinaire Doug Manchester gave $5,000 to a $70,000 kitty that the San Diego party routed from its federal committee back to its state committee, which on the same day distributed the amount to two of its endorsed San Diego city council candidates.
The big cash switch was made on July 30, with a transfer of $70,000 from the county GOP's federal committee where the funds were originally deposited and itemized by contributor, to its state-regulated committee, called the Republican Party of San Diego County, where no itemized donor list was provided, effectively concealing the actual identities of the well-heeled contributors and amount of their donations.
A footnote to the federal filing says:
"This transfer from our federal to non-federal account is to fund activities in support of local candidates."
"These funds are being used only in support of such candidates and are not being used to influence the election or defeat of any federal candidate."
California disclosure records show that on the very same day, July 30, two San Diego city council campaigns, those of incumbent and special Wal-Mart friend Lorie Zapf, running in the newly re-drawn second district, and Chris Cate, employed by the San Diego County Taxpayers Association, the downtown lobbying outfit closely linked to Terry Brown, received a total of $70,000.
Now, based on a filing by Manchester yesterday, the newspaper man and hotel mogul appears to have trumped himself in the money-moving derby, kicking in $100,000 to the California Republican party committee, headquartered in Burbank.
Will any of Manchester's big party cash somehow find its way back to San Diego's mayors race, where GOP city councilman Kevin Faulconer has been collecting funds from old time party stalwarts, including federal felon Bud Alessio and criminal ex-mayor Roger Hedgecock, who now works for Manchester's U-T operation?
Stay tuned.
As reported here two weeks ago, the folks over at the local Republican party seem to have become the town’s unrivaled masters at moving cash around in creative ways that, whether intentional or not, have the effect of obscuring the moneys' origin and destination.
http://www.sandiegoreader.com/users/photos/2013/sep/17/53269/
One faithful donor, U-T San Diego publisher and real estate developer extraordinaire Doug Manchester gave $5,000 to a $70,000 kitty that the San Diego party routed from its federal committee back to its state committee, which on the same day distributed the amount to two of its endorsed San Diego city council candidates.
The big cash switch was made on July 30, with a transfer of $70,000 from the county GOP's federal committee where the funds were originally deposited and itemized by contributor, to its state-regulated committee, called the Republican Party of San Diego County, where no itemized donor list was provided, effectively concealing the actual identities of the well-heeled contributors and amount of their donations.
A footnote to the federal filing says:
"This transfer from our federal to non-federal account is to fund activities in support of local candidates."
"These funds are being used only in support of such candidates and are not being used to influence the election or defeat of any federal candidate."
California disclosure records show that on the very same day, July 30, two San Diego city council campaigns, those of incumbent and special Wal-Mart friend Lorie Zapf, running in the newly re-drawn second district, and Chris Cate, employed by the San Diego County Taxpayers Association, the downtown lobbying outfit closely linked to Terry Brown, received a total of $70,000.
Now, based on a filing by Manchester yesterday, the newspaper man and hotel mogul appears to have trumped himself in the money-moving derby, kicking in $100,000 to the California Republican party committee, headquartered in Burbank.
Will any of Manchester's big party cash somehow find its way back to San Diego's mayors race, where GOP city councilman Kevin Faulconer has been collecting funds from old time party stalwarts, including federal felon Bud Alessio and criminal ex-mayor Roger Hedgecock, who now works for Manchester's U-T operation?
Stay tuned.