Telling them apart
District 3 City Council candidates fight over land use and fundraising
By Eric Wolff
Before W. Patrick Edwards would talk to CityBeat, he needed to determine whom he was representing: The North Park Main Street Business Improvement District, of which he is president? The North Park Redevelopment Agency Advisory Committee? The District 3 Library Task Force? The North Park Maintenance Assessment District? Or just himself, as a small businessman?
As that list reveals, Edwards is a guy who knows people—at least he knows people in North Park. And a connected guy in North Park is catnip for politicians who need North Park votes, like the candidates for the City Council District 3 seat. So, speaking only for himself, who would be most qualified to replace Toni Atkins? Todd Gloria or Stephen Whitburn?
“I’ve met both Stephen and Todd repeatedly during the campaign,” he said. “To be honest with you, it’s a week to go and I’m still undecided. It’s one of those happy situations where both of them are good for the community.”
Edwards’ struggle appears common in District 3 these days. Its boundaries contain Hillcrest, University Heights, North Park, Normal Heights and South Park and parts of Golden Hill and City Heights and is one of the smallest and most densely populated of San Diego’s eight districts. It’s also the most gay (both candidates are gay), the most liberal (both candidates are Democrats) and possibly the most diverse (Gloria has a mixed heritage, Whitburn grew up in Texas and New York). The two candidates would probably vote so similarly on issues that come before City Council that many in the district are left, like Edwards, searching for some way to tell the two apart.
That’s not to say the two aren’t doing their damnedest to separate themselves.
“I think we need someone with experience to do this job,” Gloria told CityBeat.
Few speaking opportunities go by without Gloria pointing out that he’s a third generation San Diegan. And, as part of his work in the employ of Congressmember Susan Davis, he has been a regular presence at community meetings.
With such deep roots in San Diego, Gloria has been able to draw support both for endorsements (he’s backed by labor and Mayor Jerry Sanders) and for fundraising. But in a district as liberal as D3, having establishment and developer names on campaign-finance forms raises red flags for voters, and Gloria has some high-profile names on his list: Sempra Energy, Black Mountain Ranch, Corky McMillin Companies and the white-shoe law firm Latham & Watkins all take star turns with contributions from multiple employees.
Whitburn has taken that list and gone on the attack, hammering home a message that says, in short, that a vote for Gloria is a vote for developer interests. He argues that Gloria was slow to oppose the residential tower proposed for 301 University Ave. in Hillcrest and to get on board with a height limitation on Uptown buildings, and that he supports a controversial development in Kensington.
“I think that history has shown that politicians who are significantly funded by developers and lobbyists are often influenced by those political contributions,” Whitburn said.
Gloria takes umbrage at the idea. He says he was right there with Whitburn on the Hillcrest building and the height limitation. And on the Kensington issue, he points out that the Kensington-Talmadge Planning Group had approved the construction unanimously, putting his views in line with the community. And he swears that no contributors will get extra access to his office.
“If anything, I have a reputation for being extremely accessible—it will not change depending on who contributes to me,” Gloria said.
But companies do have a long history of taking advantage of added pull with elected officials.
“If you have two phone calls, and one person has given contributions and the other hasn’t, guess which phone call you return,’ said ethicist Bob Stern from the Center on Government Studies.
Stern also said it’s acceptable for a company to encourage employees to donate or vote for a specific candidate.
CityBeat called donors on Gloria’s list, but no one would ’fess up to a company endorsement. A Sempra employee said the company had had a forum in which both candidates spoke, and she preferred Gloria. Chris Garrett, a partner at Latham & Watkins, lives in District 2 but contributed to Gloria’s campaign because one of his colleagues was a childhood friend of the candidate.
“She says he’s a really good guy,” he said. “I feel bad for people—they have to raise money; contribution limits are low. If no one contributes then there’s no democracy.”
Connections like that have given Gloria a substantial edge over Whitburn in funding. Since Jan. 1, he’s raised $190,000 and contributed nothing himself. Whitburn has raised $219,000, but he’s loaned or given $89,000 of it. He also received $74,000 from the San Diego Democratic Party. In the most recent filing, Whitburn raised $2,395, and had to contribute $22,000 of his own cash, mostly his own savings and loans against his 401(k).
Whitburn said he “dramatically cut down” his fundraising hours but that he’s also run into a lot of people who are just tapped out.
“Certainly people are stretched thin,” he said.
Gloria highlighted Whitburn’s self-funding in a recent press release, and because both candidates have made political donations an issue in the race, area voters are aware of it. Not that it has really helped them make a decision.
“It does kind of bother me, that money in some way in politics reflects support,” says Edwards, the undecided voter from North Park. “One of the things about [Whitburn] not raising money is that he’s not effectively working in a system that requires you to raise money to get votes. Does that indicate to me that Stephen is an idealist that won’t compromise? On the other side, did Todd sell out?”
Write to ericw@sdcitybeat.com and editor@sdcitybeat.com.
Published: 10/28/2008
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Comments
Here's the response to Patrick Edwards final question:
Todd Gloria has done a great job of fundraising from over 1,500 individual contributors.
Stephen Whitburn has greased his campaign with nearly $200,000 of his own money from an unaccounted for source.
Why does Todd have so many invidual contributions? Because he's a 3rd generation native of San Diego and dedicated is life to public service. He is well-known, well-liked and part of the civic fabric of our city.
Why is Whitburn buying this eleciton with is own, unaccounted for funds? Because Whitburn moved here a few years ago and is seeking an ego-driven opportunity.
At the end of the day, they're both Democrats, both gay and would vote on issues before council very similarly.
The choice is between someone who is effective at getting resources for his district (street repair, public safety, health, etc.). Todd has lived here is whole live and knows the district intimately. He will get things done.
CityBeat wrote: "We are very impressed with Gloria's depth of knowledge and his willingness to express his veiws candidly." That speaks for itself.
Gloria is the best choice for our neighborhoods at both a grassroots and policy level.
All anyone needs to do is look at the Building Industry Voter Guide. The BIA is the developer lobbyists : They are asking people to vote for Todd. What does that say?
If Stephen loaning himself money was so "scandalous" and was from some top secret developer, don't you think the BIA would be touting him. And don't you think the Democratic Party that is endorsing him would have something to say. I mean, this person on this smear campaign against Stephen doesnt want to turn that finger on himself. Isnt loaning yourself money ALOT better than taking max contributions from Lou Wolfsheimer, Walmart lobbyist and Sherm Harmer, president of the BIA, and Perry Dealy, President of Manchester. If I had tons of money I would love to run for office and make this place better.
http://www.biasandiego.org/pdfs/BIAvoter...
here is the link to the Building Industry voter guide. This tells me more than all the campaign literature in the world anyone could mail me.
I still dont know why you sold your soul Citybeat. When this election is over, Im breaking up w/ you.
Whitburn is just another tainted political hack.
Here are FIVE things he is trying to cover up:
1.He greased his campaign with over $100,000. Surprisingly, Whitburn has no assets besides a 1991 Honda Civic. Where does a person who can’t afford a car with power windows come up with $100,000 for a political race?
Why won’t Whitburn come clean about the source of his money? Was it illegally obtained? If not, is this the type of shabby fiscal management we need at City Hall?
2. Stephen Whitburn accepted an out-of-state contribution from a Texas attorney at the law firm of Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP. This firm was lead counsel for George W. Bush in Bush vs. Gore, which gave Bush the election and sent our country on a spiraling downward path.
Why can’t Stephen Whitburn make better decisions?
3. Whitburn claims to be a San Diegan, but he is from back East, doesn’t own a home in our City and has moved at least three times in the last 8 years. If elected, most District 3 residents will have been in their area longer than their councilmember.
4. Whitburn is not an involved community member, but instead a calculating opportunist.
Is Whitburn fit to hold office when he has such a limited history and understanding of the District and its needs?
Whitburn’s campaign propaganda claims he will stand up to developers and lobbyists. In fact, Whitburn has accepted thousands of special interest dollars from:
Developers, Real Estate Executives and Mortgage lenders, including campaign cash from firms that have foreclosed on hundreds of San Diego’s working families.
High-priced Downtown Lawyers, including contributions from a law firm whose lead lawyer is in Lompoc Federal Prison for multiple felonies, including, fraud and racketeering.
Oil and Gas Executives responsible for outrageous gas prices that are gouging middle class working families. If Whitburn is so close to the special interests, aren’t the residents of District 3 sure to lose with Steven Whitburn? How can the voters put their trust in a candidate that says one thing and does another?
5. Whitburn proudly touts the endorsements he received from a convicted criminal. John Hartley, a former candidate for District 3, plead guilty to a lewd conduct in public charge during the election and is listed as a proud supporter of Whitburn. After his plea, Hartley was banned from his day job-- substitute teaching in the San Diego Unified School District.
Is this someone you would be proud to have support you?
OK now the Gloria people are lying about who they are? Fred obviously supports Stephen and would never post this.
Todd you have major problems w/ the integrity of your people. You may want to look into this.
Admin, please remove the fake poster using my name.
Best,
Fred Williams
The choice is clear.
Stephen Whitburn stands for reform. He's endorsed by Donna Frye.
Todd Gloria stands for developers. He's endorsed by Sempra, Sunroad, and Sanders.
This election is too important to allow the corrupt establishment downtown to remain in power. Vote for Stephen Whitburn.
Also the recent the big revelation of Todds hit piece on Stephen is the idea of "independent expenditures" Gloria gets to take all this money from developers that are doing his dirty work and not count in in his famous "17%".
The organization that was created to put out the campaign mailer, San Diego Voter Education Project.
Who are they:
The mailer funded by: Thomas Sudberry, the President of Sudberry Properties, the developer of the recently approved Quarry Falls development, provided $1,000 for the mailer, ostensibly to support the position on two propositions. Thomas Sudberry, a registered City lobbyist, had previously donated $540 to the Todd Gloria Campaign. His wife, Jane Sudberry has also contributed the maximum amount of $540 to Gloria. Other registered City lobbyists who are employees of Sudberry Properties and who have contributed to Gloria’s campaign include Stephen Haase, $540, Jeffrey Bradley, $270, Marco Sessa, $540, and Colton Sudberry, $270. With the possible exception of Lehman, none of these people live in District 3.
The group lists as its Treasurer registered City lobbyist Paola Avila. Paola Avila is also a registered lobbyist–; Otay Mesa Ventures, LLC, rezone from industrial to residential; OLP Community Outreach Mr. Avila personally contributed $540 to Todd Gloria’s campaign. One of Mr. Avila’s clients is Our Lady Of Peace parochial school; he serves as their Community Outreach specialist.
The Voice of SD story on how McMillin paid 16000 to fly Goldsmith banners around---from developers--Independent expenditures are a goldmine for developers. They dont have to register as regular contribution. More evidence that Todd is the developers schill.
If you want change, you have to vote for Stephen Whitburn.
If you want secretive back room deals to benefit developers like Sudberry, well, you go right ahead and stay home on election day, please.
San Diego has been plunged into crisis by the same people backing Gloria. We're facing a now unknowable pension deficit, slashes in the budget, and a declining national economy.
Do you really trust someone like Gloria, who benefits from all the dirty money in this campaign while resorting to trick or treat tactics in presenting himself to the voters?
No, me neither.
That's why I'm voting for Stephen Whitburn. When Donna Frye choses someone she can trust, and he gathers support from the whole community instead of the downtown special interests, he's more qualified for a seat on the City Council today than yet another tool for the good old boys.
Stephen Whitburn stands up for our neighborhoods.
Vote for Change in San Diego.
Best,
Fred Williams
(yeah, the REAL one from Normal Heights)
Admin,
Please remove the fake posts written under my name by someone who appears to also write identical posts under the handles "2muchsense", "stephen davis from south park" and "district3resident".
The first long and misleading post by "Fred_williams" above is NOT by me. Isn't this a violation of site rules?
Please remove fake posts by somebody deliberately trying to deceive your readers by impersonating me and using my name.
Thank you,
Fred Williams
Normal Heights
Still waiting for the admin to remove blatantly false posts under someone using my name.
The REAL Fred Williams is supporting Stephen Whitburn.
Fakes, which Gloria's campaign seems to hire to smear and lie about others, have no place in San Diego, and for City Beat to refuse to remove obviously misleading posts like that above shows not only bias, but an utter lack of professionalism.
Please remove the fake posts.
Thank you,
Fred Williams
Normal Heights
Fred,
I now believe you're a good soul and care about our community, rather than serving as Whitburn's mouthpiece. Truly, I mean that.
But there's a huge difference between good guys like you and Todd Gloria compared to Stephen Whitburn.
See, both you and Gloria have good hearts and a long history of service in our neighborhoods.
Stephen Whitburn is not the same. The CityBeat says Whitburn, "came to San Diego six years ago in search of a career in politics." Coupled with the fact that Whitburn has dumped over $240,000 of his own, unaccounted for campaign cash into his coffers, would lead anyone to the logical conclusion that Whitburn is a carpetbagging political opportunist trying to buy the 3rd Council District seat.
I hope that when the dust has settled and Todd Gloria is doing a great job on City Council, that you and he will be able to partner together to improve all of our quality of life.
Best,
Stephen Davis
Admin, the post purported to be from "2muchsense" but signed by the equally ficticious "Stephen Davis" is copy/pasted from the Reader:
Look here:
http://www.sandiegoreader.com/weblogs/ab...
It's verbatim.
Funny how 2muchsense signs his name as "Stephen Davis"...whoops!
If you like this kind of stuff, vote for Gloria. If you want reform, open and honest government, then vote for Whitburn.
The REAL Fred Williams
Will the real Fred Williams please stand up?
Here's the response to Patrick Edwards final question:
Todd Gloria has done a great job of fundraising from over 1,500 individual contributors.
Stephen Whitburn has greased his campaign with nearly $200,000 of his own money from an unaccounted for source.
Why does Todd have so many invidual contributions? Because he's a 3rd generation native of San Diego and dedicated is life to public service. He is well-known, well-liked and part of the civic fabric of our city.
Why is Whitburn buying this eleciton with is own, unaccounted for funds? Because Whitburn moved here a few years ago and is seeking an ego-driven opportunity.
At the end of the day, they're both Democrats, both gay and would vote on issues before council very similarly.
The choice is between someone who is effective at getting resources for his district (street repair, public safety, health, etc.). Todd has lived here is whole live and knows the district intimately. He will get things done.
CityBeat wrote: "We are very impressed with Gloria's depth of knowledge and his willingness to express his veiws candidly." That speaks for itself.
Gloria is the best choice for our neighborhoods at both a grassroots and policy level.
Gloria: Please don't slap me any more, you know I love you and I'll do anything for you. Why do you treat me this way?
Developer: Shut up Gloria, just be a good bottom and do what you're told. I paid for you, now you work for me. I'm taking you into the council chambers now...
Gloria: Oh, why did I ever leave my principles behind...mother!
Developer: Knock off your whining, it's time to shake your money maker.
Council President: The meeting will come to order....
Gloria: I vote YES to the new condos! Give a subsidy to my top developer.
Gloria: I vote YES to privatizing Balboa Park! Give away the citizens' property to top corporations.
Gloria: I vote YES to bailing out top developers downtown! They need help from the taxpayers.
Gloria: I vote NO to any more audits or corruption investigations! We need to save money.
Council President: This meeting is adjourned, the next meeting will be held when the developers tell us and will be about whatever they want us to do for them. Have a nice day.
Ha! "Stephen Davis" a.k.a. 2muchsense is pwn3d by the real Fred Williams.
Stephen Whitburn earns ~$55,000 working for a non-profit and doesn't own a home.
How, then, can Stephen Whitburn dump nearly $200,000 to grease his campaign?!
Whitburn has refused to come clean about the true source of his campaign cash. Did someone give it to him? If so, who will he be beholden to?
Remember, he just moved to town a few years ago. There is no way that Stephen has the depth of knowledge necessary to represent us effectively.
It seems clear that Whitburn is an out of town political hack trying to buy this election.