Propositions AA, EE: Bankers and Builders and The SDCTA…Oh My!

Brian BradyBrian Brady Leave a Comment

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Dr. Gary Gonsalves, MD, the founder of taxpayer advocacy group Stop Taxing Us, published the list of largest contributors to Proposition AA, the bond issue for the San Dieguito High School District, Proposition CC, the bond issue for the Del Mar Union School District, and Proposition EE, the bond issue for the Miracosta Community College District.

Stop Taxing Us has been firm in its opposition to all of the bond issues and wrote the opposition ballot statements to them.  Our opposition is an uphill battle.  The sheer size of the issues approaches a billion dollars and there are a lot of looters dying to feed at the public trough.  From Gonsalves’ article:

All these campaign donations were revealed in the final disclosure before the election covering October 1-20.

Prop AA:
Total campaign donations in last reporting period: $191,814
$190,414 – From contractors, attorneys, bankers, consultants & others not living in the area
$1,400 from local residents
99.3% from outsiders or corporations

Biggest contributors:
MVFT ($25,000)
Gilbane Building Co ($25,000)
Lionaks ($25,000)
Complete list of outside contributors here: http://bit.ly/AAoutsiders

Prop CC: 
Total campaign donations in last reporting period: $21,900
$0 from local residents
100% from outsiders or corporations

Biggest contributors:
Dolinka Group ($7,500)
Balfour Beatty Construction ($5000)
Stone & Youngberg, Bond Consultants ($5,000)
Complete list of outside contributors here: http://bit.ly/CCoutsiders

Prop EE:
Total campaign donations in last reporting period: $102,775
$102,075 – From contractors, attorneys, bankers, consultants & others not living in the area
$700 from local residents
99.3% from outsiders or corporations

Biggest contributors:
RBC Capital Markets ($17,000)
Piper Jaffrey ($17,000)
Gafcon Inc ($16,000)

It’s pretty ugly.  For what it’s worth, Dolinka Group is the consulting firm, which made a pretty penny in the Poway Unified Schools capital appreciation bond issue debacle.  That Poway Unified Schools bond issue carried the endorsement of the San Diego County Taxpayers Association with President Lani Lutar’s name at the top of the list:

The bond also had considerable cachet, thanks to a coveted endorsement from the San Diego County Taxpayers Association. Indeed, association President Lani Lutar’s name was first on a list of five local dignitaries named on the ballot as supporting the bond.

Maybe voters should think twice before trusting the SDCTA endorsement for bond issues.

DISCLOSURE: I am a volunteer board member of Stop Taxing Us

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