SD Democrats’ Scandal Inside a Scandal
SD Democrats’ Scandal Inside a Scandal
$30 K to Right Wing PAC, Party Leader Plays Own Sex Tape
A series of press releases issued by Democratic Clubs in recent days have called for the ouster of County by Board of Equalization (BOE) member Mike Schaefer and the rescinding of an endorsement by the CA State Democratic Party.
The accusations are accurate, and it’s clear that this candidate is not worthy. However, there’s another layer involved here involving the former-chair of the San Diego Democratic Party.
Local Democrats have called out a recently discovered $30,000 donation on August 19 to the GOP-oriented Citizens for a Better East County, along with what could generously be called a checkered history by the CA Democratic Party’s endorsed candidate for the BOE seat.
A joint press release from San Diego Democrats for Equality and San Diego County Young Democrats on September 15 was headlined “Democratic Leaders Call for Ouster of Wife-Beating, Slumlord Incumbent Mike Schaefer from Board of Equalization District 4.”
In 2018, the State party refused to endorse Schaefer following media accounts of a checkered history featuring a domestic abuse conviction, being a heavily fined “slumlord,” and disbarment in two states.
Schaefer’s 2022 candidacy came under scrutiny earlier this year, when it was revealed that he’d incorrectly claimed endorsements from Gov. Gavin Newsom, Lt. Gov. Eleni Kounalakis and civil rights activist Dolores Huerta.
Reporting by SactoPolitico.com also revealed the BOE candidate claimed the endorsement of the CA State Democratic Party, even though the paperwork was filed with the Secretary of State 17 days prior to the statewide meeting where candidates backed by the party were decided.
Another media memo from the same two groups went out on September 22 under the banner of, “Democratic Leaders Call for Removal and Defeat of Board of Equalization Member Mike Schaefer After Newly Discovered Donations to Republican Interests.”
Citizens for a Better East County’s donations in this cycle include $12,500 to the County GOP, $7,000 to the Lincoln Club of San Diego County, $2500 to Carl DeMaio’s political action committee Reform California, and $1,550 to GOP State Senate Candidate Brian Jones.
From SactoPolitico.com:
Schaefer is self-financing his re-election campaign. Through the end of June, he had donated $127,000 to himself. Thus the $30,000 donation represents nearly 25% of all his campaign funds. By comparison, according to federal and state campaign donation records, Schaefer and his campaign appear to have donated this cycle a combined $5,725 to Democratic groups and candidates – or less than 20% of his donation to the East County GOP group.
Although it is considered antiquated (and newspaper editorials often call for its elimination), the California Board of Equalization is charged with administering the state’s property tax system and overseeing 58 county assessors.
Its five-member board consists of the State Controller and representatives elected from four equally divided districts. Most of its functions have been re-assigned to the Governor’s staff and it often appears to exist so party functionaries get backed for BOE candidacy as a perk.
***
It’s bad enough that an elected official stands accused of an action undermining his party, but what makes it worse is its seeming overlap with a scandal involving the now-suspended San Diego local Democratic Party leader Will Rodriguez-Kennedy.
Rodriguez-Kennedy made the news on Thursday when a former San Diego City College student body president filed suit, accusing the then-party leader of sexual assault. Also named as defendants were City Council member Stephan Whitburn and John Does 1-20.
The connection between the two events is that Rodriguez-Kennedy was on Schaefer’s payroll until a criminal investigation into the sexual assault accusations was revealed. He was reportedly summarily fired, and has told associates of plans to file a wrongful termination lawsuit against Schaefer.
The Democratic Clubs’ press releases were reportedly issued at the urging of with the support of Rodriguez-Kennedy, allegedly due to his anger with Schaefer, according to a source with close connections to the Democratic Party.
Last week Rodriguez Kennedy issued a press release and social media posts saying he’d been “cleared of wrongdoing.”
From Times of San Diego:
He said the DA’s office conducted a “thorough, independent investigation of [an] accusation” first aired publicly in May by Tasha Williamson on behalf of a man alleging nonconsensual sex…
…DA spokeswoman Tanya Sierra on Friday told Times of San Diego: “After a thorough review, we determined that no charges could be filed in this case. We do not discuss our charging decisions except to say that we can only file charges when we believe we can prove them beyond a reasonable doubt.”
Today (Friday, 9/23) Rodriguez-Kennedy scheduled a press conference to refute allegations made in the nine page lawsuit filed by attorney Dan Gilleon, seeking unspecified monetary damages of at least $25,000.
HOLY COW! I certainly didn’t have a square on my political bingo card for “party leader plays sex tape at press conference.”
Via Ken Stone at Times of San Diego: (Transcript totally NSFW)
More Times of San Diego:
Before the suit was filed, acting San Diego County Democratic Party Chairwoman Becca Taylor told Times of San Diego: “Our process in this [investigation of allegations] is ongoing, and the party is consulting with our legal counsel on next steps.”
Social and victims justice advocate Tasha Williamson, a 2020 candidate for San Diego mayor, says she helped point [the victim] Rendon toward resources.
“The local Dem Party can get worthy Democrats elected and investigate Will Rodriguez Kennedy, Steve Whitburn, possibly 1 – 20 other Democrats who may have violated ethics and rules of conduct,” she said via email.
***
Getting back to the BOE contests, it’s no surprise incumbent Schaefer finished first in the June primary. The good news here is that five Republican candidates split their party’s voters, allowing Democrat David Dodson to make it to the general election.
Dodson is actually qualified to do the job as a 30-year staff veteran of the Board of Equalization who manages the agency’s Southern California office.
David Dodson
Website / Facebook/ Twitter / Instagram
Media: Can David Dodson Topple Democrats’ Alleged Unethical Giant in Sacramento?
****
Election coverage to date:
(More coming soon)
California State Officials
California’s DC Delegation
State Senate Races
State Assembly Races
SD County Supervisors
County Sheriff, Assessor, and Treasurer Races
SD Measure B: Cash Meets Trash
SD Measure C: Reach for the Sky! Or Else?
SD Measure D: Righting a Wrong to Build a Future
SD Measure H: It’s for the Children (And Their Parents)
CA Proposition One: It’s About More Than Abortion
CA Propositions 26 & 27: Betcha Can’t Pick Just One
CA Proposition 28: Arts & Music for a Sane Future
CA Proposition 29: Regulating Dialysis Clinics and the Definition of Insanity
CA Proposition 30: A Poison Pill Concealed by Sweet Promises
CA Proposition 31: Tobacco Company Lawyers Are Scum
***
Boards of Education Contests:
Analysis by Thomas Ultican
2022 School Board Contests, Part 1
The County Board, San Diego Unified, Sweetwater Union, Poway Unified
2022 School Board Contests, Part 2
Chula Vista, San Marcos, Vista, Grossmont
2022 School Board Contests, Part 3
Oceanside, Escondido, San Dieguito
2022 School Board Contests, Part 4
Coronado, Carlsbad, Escondido Union
Email me at WritetoDougPorter@Gmail.com