A power-hungry queen. A high-placed senator and bureaucrat. Wealthy land-owners. A subservient council.
Are these characters from Game of Thrones?
No.
The developers, attorney, SANDAG executive, state senator, Facebook executive and Encinitas City Council members are cast members of my opponent’s power-play — her Sphere of Influence.
Of particular interest are the people signing checks to reelect her.
At least nine developers who will be enriched by my opponent’s policies each have contributed the maximum amount of $250.
More insidious, however, is the influence of generously-funded political action committees. Two of them are throwing money at my opponent and the two councilmembers seeking reelection, as shown in campaign disclosure statements.
The North County Action Network PAC is the creation of Facebook Vice President Michael Verdu. As the PAC’s sole contributor, Verdu donated $30,000. So far, he has paid out $5,125 for Facebook and Instagram ads. (Does he get a discount?)
Marco Gonzalez, the blustery attorney to developers and owner of Conserve North County PAC, donated $2,000 of his own money before receiving $9,500 from Michael Cohen Perez and $9,000 from Larry Jackel, both developers.
The financial forms show that these PACs still have thousands of dollars on hand to defeat me.
What will these donors expect in return?
My opponent’s Sphere of Influence is overdue for cancellation.
