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

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 San Diego.

http://www.sandiegoreader.com/users/photos/2013/sep/27/53809/

The tab to get into the California Republican Leadership Fund's bash isn't cheap. According to a report in the Sacramento Bee, it's $15,000 for regular admission all the way to $100,000 for sponsorship bragging rights, but many Sacramento lobbyists say the tony price is more than worth the investment, both for the golf and scrumptious food spread and specialty drinks that Manchester is famous for, as well as the free and easy access to elected officials.

An invitation to 2011's version of the event promised top level sponsors "8 Players in the Golf Tournament on Friday, 8 Deluxe Guest Rooms for Friday and Saturday Night, 16 Tickets to All General Activities and Forums," as well as "Weekend Memorabilia."

Lower end donors got one golf ticket, one room, and party and dinner admissions, along with "Photo Opportunities with Weekend VIPs."

The event is closed to the media, the guest list is secret, and organizers have endeavored to keep the privacy level high, lest dissidents get wind of the goings on and stage unseemly demonstrations. The downtown Hyatt, which Manchester used to own, drew frequent and noisy pickets by bullhorn wielding gay and union protestors until he unloaded it.

As they did during such confrontations at Manchester’s waterfront property, San Diego police and private agents are expected to be close at hand and maintain a low-key cordon of tight security and surveillance at this weekend's event.

This year the stakes for having a private and peaceful big bucks gathering are higher than ever for Manchester and his executive sidekick John Lynch as they and their U-T San Diego mini media empire lead the local GOP's major money charge to obtain the mayorship for city councilman Kevin Faulconer. He's running against, among others, ex-GOP Assemblyman turned Democrat Nathan Fletcher, backed by billionaire Qualcomm founder and Obama Democrat Irwin Jacobs.

San Diego has long been a popular venue for private getaways of the political rich and famous, including well-heeled Democrats and their lobbyist backers.

http://www.sandiegoreader.com/users/photos/2013/sep/27/53810/

As Dave Rice reported in March of last year, state Democrats held a "Pro Tem" golf blowout at Torrey Pines, costing only slightly less than the Manchester shindig.

Party contributors looking for access to [Senate President Pro Tem Darrell] Steinberg will fork over up to $60,000, an increase of $10,000 from similar events in 2011 and 2008, the Sacramento Bee reports.

That amount will buy a “Two Day Platinum” package, including two days’ worth of golf for four people, two nights’ lodging, attendance at an awards barbecue with “commemorative gifts,” and an evening with Steinberg.

The event already has attracted title sponsors from the cable television industry, including the California Cable and Telecommunications Association, Comcast, and Time Warner Cable.

The Democrats are justifying the grab for cash as necessary in a quest to win a two-thirds “super majority” in the legislature’s upper chamber, especially given that redistricting has opened up competition for some seats.

The granddaddy of all such secretive hyper-money events held here was the June 2012 "Path to Freedom" conference sponsored by the conservative billionaire Republican Koch Brothers at North County's posh Park Hyatt Aviara. As local NBC affiliate KNSD reported:

http://www.sandiegoreader.com/users/photos/2013/sep/27/53811/

A reporter for our media partner, the North County Times and freelancer Eric Wolff breached security and entered the hotel through the golf course. He took photos of the gathering, which was swarming with security guards.

The North County Times was purchased two months later by the GOP's Manchester and folded into his U-T San Diego media operation, which has since partnered on editorial projects with the Koch-linked non-profit Franklin Center for Government and Public Integrity.

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

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 San Diego.

http://www.sandiegoreader.com/users/photos/2013/sep/27/53809/

The tab to get into the California Republican Leadership Fund's bash isn't cheap. According to a report in the Sacramento Bee, it's $15,000 for regular admission all the way to $100,000 for sponsorship bragging rights, but many Sacramento lobbyists say the tony price is more than worth the investment, both for the golf and scrumptious food spread and specialty drinks that Manchester is famous for, as well as the free and easy access to elected officials.

An invitation to 2011's version of the event promised top level sponsors "8 Players in the Golf Tournament on Friday, 8 Deluxe Guest Rooms for Friday and Saturday Night, 16 Tickets to All General Activities and Forums," as well as "Weekend Memorabilia."

Lower end donors got one golf ticket, one room, and party and dinner admissions, along with "Photo Opportunities with Weekend VIPs."

The event is closed to the media, the guest list is secret, and organizers have endeavored to keep the privacy level high, lest dissidents get wind of the goings on and stage unseemly demonstrations. The downtown Hyatt, which Manchester used to own, drew frequent and noisy pickets by bullhorn wielding gay and union protestors until he unloaded it.

As they did during such confrontations at Manchester’s waterfront property, San Diego police and private agents are expected to be close at hand and maintain a low-key cordon of tight security and surveillance at this weekend's event.

This year the stakes for having a private and peaceful big bucks gathering are higher than ever for Manchester and his executive sidekick John Lynch as they and their U-T San Diego mini media empire lead the local GOP's major money charge to obtain the mayorship for city councilman Kevin Faulconer. He's running against, among others, ex-GOP Assemblyman turned Democrat Nathan Fletcher, backed by billionaire Qualcomm founder and Obama Democrat Irwin Jacobs.

San Diego has long been a popular venue for private getaways of the political rich and famous, including well-heeled Democrats and their lobbyist backers.

http://www.sandiegoreader.com/users/photos/2013/sep/27/53810/

As Dave Rice reported in March of last year, state Democrats held a "Pro Tem" golf blowout at Torrey Pines, costing only slightly less than the Manchester shindig.

Party contributors looking for access to [Senate President Pro Tem Darrell] Steinberg will fork over up to $60,000, an increase of $10,000 from similar events in 2011 and 2008, the Sacramento Bee reports.

That amount will buy a “Two Day Platinum” package, including two days’ worth of golf for four people, two nights’ lodging, attendance at an awards barbecue with “commemorative gifts,” and an evening with Steinberg.

The event already has attracted title sponsors from the cable television industry, including the California Cable and Telecommunications Association, Comcast, and Time Warner Cable.

The Democrats are justifying the grab for cash as necessary in a quest to win a two-thirds “super majority” in the legislature’s upper chamber, especially given that redistricting has opened up competition for some seats.

The granddaddy of all such secretive hyper-money events held here was the June 2012 "Path to Freedom" conference sponsored by the conservative billionaire Republican Koch Brothers at North County's posh Park Hyatt Aviara. As local NBC affiliate KNSD reported:

http://www.sandiegoreader.com/users/photos/2013/sep/27/53811/

A reporter for our media partner, the North County Times and freelancer Eric Wolff breached security and entered the hotel through the golf course. He took photos of the gathering, which was swarming with security guards.

The North County Times was purchased two months later by the GOP's Manchester and folded into his U-T San Diego media operation, which has since partnered on editorial projects with the Koch-linked non-profit Franklin Center for Government and Public Integrity.

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

More Walmart cash arrives for GOP's mayoral campaign

Big money mayor's race rages on behind the scenes
Next Article

Democrat Jacobs rips GOP's Lincoln Club in mega-millionaires' political war

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