Rancho Santa Fe donor money significantly influences San Diego mayor race, records reveal...
It might be conventional wisdom in San Diego that La Jolla has an outsized influence in city politics. However, Rancho Santa Fe, not even in the city of San Diego, has just as much influence, maybe more, due to campaign contributions.
Donors from La Jolla's 92037 zip code gave almost $82,000 to the four major 2012 mayoral candidates in the campaign's first month, according to campaign finance data. That's almost double the money coming from any other zip code.
Three of the four candidates, City Councilman Carl DeMaio, District Attorney Bonnie Dumanis and Congressman Bob Filner, raised more money from La Jolla than anywhere else. La Jolla was second to Rancho Santa Fe's 92067 zip code for Assemblyman Nathan Fletcher.
A closer look at the individual candidates' disclosures shows that their bases of support aren't surprising, either.
DeMaio pulled in money from Rancho Bernando's 92128 zip code, which is in his council district. Dumanis was strong in downtown's 92101 zip code, which would indicate her support among the city's downtown establishment. Filner raised money from the South Bay communities of Chula Vista and Bonita, which are outside the city of San Diego but in his congressional district. Rancho Santa Fe is outside the city, but the 92067 zip code neighbors Fletcher's assembly district.
The four major candidates raised $1.1 million in the race's first month, including DeMaio's $270,000 personal contribution to his campaign.
Here are the top three zip codes for each of the candidates and overall:
DeMaio
• La Jolla (92037), $30,981
• Rancho Bernardo (92128), $14,730
• Downtown (92101), $14,552
Dumanis
• La Jolla (92037), $17,777.31
• Downtown (92101), $17,735
• Hillcrest/Mission Hills (92103), $16,150
Filner
• La Jolla (92037), $6,150
• Chula Vista (91910), $4,725
• Bonita (91902), $4,200
Note: Filner transferred money from his congressional campaign to his mayoral fund, meaning some of these contributions were originally for his federal campaign.
Fletcher
• Rancho Santa Fe (92067), $27,950
• La Jolla (92037), $27,600
• Carmel Valley (92130), $19,100
Combined
• La Jolla (92037), $81,838.71
• Downtown (92101), $41,239
• Rancho Santa Fe (92067) $40,451.
