Biography of Cheryl Cox
Former school board member of Chula Vista Elementary School District
Mayor of Chula Vista 2006
Former school board member of Chula Vista Elementary School District
Mayor of Chula Vista 2006
At this same time, the district transferred out of Castle Park Elementary the
very same teacher who had been accused by Maura Larkins of criminal
actions. The district had spent a huge amount of tax money defending this
teacher, and probably expected her to go quietly, if not out of remorse for her
actions, then out of gratitude for the large amount of money spent to defend
her and her co-conspirators. But she did not go quietly. She was a close
friend of Chula Vista Educators president Gina Boyd, who raised a ruckus in
the press about the transfer of Robin Donlan and four other teachers in the
summer of 2004. The issue was covered by the San Diego Union Tribune, the
Chula Vista Star-News, and La Prensa, but these newspapers never revealed
that the teachers of Castle Park had been involved in a court case and had
cost the district hundreds of thousands of dollars.
Perhaps this secrecy enabled Cheryl Cox to become mayor of Chula Vista in
December 2006. Ironically, she made character an issue during her
campaign. Her supporters were extremely critical of the previous mayor,
Steve Padilla, who had hired a bodyguard with city funds when he received
threats to his safety. His supporters sympathized with his fear for his
safety.
Cheryl Cox asked for an increase in funding for her office as soon as she
became mayor, but her request was turned down by the Chula Vista city
council.
very same teacher who had been accused by Maura Larkins of criminal
actions. The district had spent a huge amount of tax money defending this
teacher, and probably expected her to go quietly, if not out of remorse for her
actions, then out of gratitude for the large amount of money spent to defend
her and her co-conspirators. But she did not go quietly. She was a close
friend of Chula Vista Educators president Gina Boyd, who raised a ruckus in
the press about the transfer of Robin Donlan and four other teachers in the
summer of 2004. The issue was covered by the San Diego Union Tribune, the
Chula Vista Star-News, and La Prensa, but these newspapers never revealed
that the teachers of Castle Park had been involved in a court case and had
cost the district hundreds of thousands of dollars.
Perhaps this secrecy enabled Cheryl Cox to become mayor of Chula Vista in
December 2006. Ironically, she made character an issue during her
campaign. Her supporters were extremely critical of the previous mayor,
Steve Padilla, who had hired a bodyguard with city funds when he received
threats to his safety. His supporters sympathized with his fear for his
safety.
Cheryl Cox asked for an increase in funding for her office as soon as she
became mayor, but her request was turned down by the Chula Vista city
council.
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Lawsuit Against Chula
Vista Educators
& former CVE
President Gina Boyd
(re Cheryl Cox/Robin
Donlan coverup)
Vista Educators
& former CVE
President Gina Boyd
(re Cheryl Cox/Robin
Donlan coverup)
Perjury involving atty.
Deborah K. Garvin,
Sheriff's deputy
Michael Carlson
Deborah K. Garvin,
Sheriff's deputy
Michael Carlson
DA unit works as quietly as it began
It looks into alleged public corruption
By Tanya Mannes
STAFF WRITER
May 20, 2007
Last year, District Attorney Bonnie Dumanis quietly created a Public Integrity
Unit, which uses a criminal grand jury to look into the most serious allegations
of government corruption throughout the county.
In existence about 14 months, it has filed charges against one person: Jason
Moore, a former Chula Vista mayoral aide.
Dumanis won't discuss whom or what the unit has investigated, not wanting to
tarnish reputations if no charges are filed.
Patrick O'Toole, the prosecutor who leads the unit, has said that the Moore
case was part of “an ongoing investigation into the possible misuse of
government resources, money and time in Chula Vista.”
Earlier this month, Chula Vista Councilman Steve Castaneda said the unit
investigated him three times in the past year. Castaneda spoke publicly about
the investigations because he believes Dumanis is targeting him for political
reasons.
Dumanis has declined to comment on Castaneda's statements. In a recent
interview, she said her office is determined to be nonpolitical.
“In the last election cycle, our office was being used as a tool, and that
disturbed me,” she said.
She promised that in the future, in most cases, “we will not investigate a
complaint until after an election.”
That wasn't the case last year. The investigation of Moore began in August,
while he was an aide to Chula Vista Mayor Steve Padilla and working on his re-
election campaign, according to the grand jury transcript unsealed April 12.
Castaneda said the investigations of him began in March 2006, as he was
campaigning for mayor.
The public has been given little information about the unit's work. The
investigations that focused on Moore and Castaneda began before Dumanis
announced the Public Integrity Unit existed. She did that March 1.
Moore was indicted March 27. He has pleaded not guilty to five felony perjury
charges.
The 732-page grand jury transcript shows the investigation began in August,
shortly after The San Diego Union-Tribune reported that Moore was caught
spying on an Aug. 3 fundraiser for Padilla's political opponent, Cheryl Cox, who
went on to beat the incumbent in the November election. O'Toole was looking
into whether Moore was on city time that day.
Based on the investigation, O'Toole doesn't dispute that Moore ultimately took
the time off but contends he lied in sworn testimony about when he submitted
a request for personal leave.
“If someone lies to a grand jury, they're going to be charged with perjury,”
O'Toole said.
In seeking the indictment of Moore, O'Toole questioned witnesses on seven
days from March 8-26, according to the transcript. The grand jury considered
testimony from Moore; Padilla; Padilla's chief of staff, Tom Oriola; city records
custodian Louis Vignapiano; Marcia Raskin, the city Human Resources director;
Natalie Flores, the City Council's executive secretary; Chad Blum, Padilla's
campaign manager; Don Giaquinto, a Padilla campaign worker; and Mike
Goloskie, an investigator with the district attorney's special investigations unit.
'Political witch hunt'
Castaneda said the Public Integrity Unit spent 14 months investigating three
separate allegations against him. O'Toole subpoenaed Castaneda and other
witnesses to testify about an apartment Castaneda rented for his wife;
property he purchased as a business venture in 2005 with Chula Vista resident
Henry Barros; and his role as a board member of the Chula Vista
Redevelopment Corp.
He has not been charged with a crime.
On May 11, Castaneda issued a public statement accusing Dumanis of leading
a “political witch hunt” against him. He alleged that Dumanis conspired with
Cox to begin targeting him in March 2006, when he was running against Cox in
the mayoral primary. He said Cox's husband, county Supervisor Greg Cox,
influences Dumanis because the Board of Supervisors controls the district
attorney's budget.
Castaneda said Dumanis was using the unit to force him to resign. He said
O'Toole recently offered him a deal: Resign immediately, and he would not
charge him with a felony.
O'Toole has declined to comment on Castaneda's allegations.
In a previous interview, O'Toole spoke in general about how he has privately
persuaded some public officials to change their behavior without filing charges.
“There's no way of measuring that, but it does happen,” O'Toole said.
'We are watching'
Dumanis formed the Public Integrity Unit in early 2006, when she assigned
O'Toole, a former federal prosecutor who previously served as the U.S.
attorney in San Diego, to develop a way to handle the sensitive cases in which
public officials are accused of criminal wrongdoing. The unit now comprises
two full-time prosecutors and one part-time prosecutor within the Special
Operations Division.
Dumanis said it's a way to “let people know that we are watching.”
O'Toole is using the criminal grand jury in the earliest stages of investigations,
a tactic based on the federal model and procedures used in Los Angeles and
Santa Clara counties.
The grand jury proceedings, in which witnesses testify under oath, take place
behind closed doors to protect those accused of crimes, Dumanis said.
“We have complex investigations that take months, sometimes years,” she
said. “We don't want reputations tarnished before our investigation is
finished.”
When Dumanis announced the Public Integrity Unit on March 1, she said it had
been “a work in progress” for more than a year. She has said she wanted to
wait until after last year's November elections to announce the unit. The
announcement was further delayed because of the holidays and her busy
schedule.
Dumanis said she has always placed importance on public integrity work, and
the unit centralizes that responsibility.
The District Attorney's Office estimates that it has prosecuted 50 cases
involving public officials and employees since Dumanis took office in 2003.
It looks into alleged public corruption
By Tanya Mannes
STAFF WRITER
May 20, 2007
Last year, District Attorney Bonnie Dumanis quietly created a Public Integrity
Unit, which uses a criminal grand jury to look into the most serious allegations
of government corruption throughout the county.
In existence about 14 months, it has filed charges against one person: Jason
Moore, a former Chula Vista mayoral aide.
Dumanis won't discuss whom or what the unit has investigated, not wanting to
tarnish reputations if no charges are filed.
Patrick O'Toole, the prosecutor who leads the unit, has said that the Moore
case was part of “an ongoing investigation into the possible misuse of
government resources, money and time in Chula Vista.”
Earlier this month, Chula Vista Councilman Steve Castaneda said the unit
investigated him three times in the past year. Castaneda spoke publicly about
the investigations because he believes Dumanis is targeting him for political
reasons.
Dumanis has declined to comment on Castaneda's statements. In a recent
interview, she said her office is determined to be nonpolitical.
“In the last election cycle, our office was being used as a tool, and that
disturbed me,” she said.
She promised that in the future, in most cases, “we will not investigate a
complaint until after an election.”
That wasn't the case last year. The investigation of Moore began in August,
while he was an aide to Chula Vista Mayor Steve Padilla and working on his re-
election campaign, according to the grand jury transcript unsealed April 12.
Castaneda said the investigations of him began in March 2006, as he was
campaigning for mayor.
The public has been given little information about the unit's work. The
investigations that focused on Moore and Castaneda began before Dumanis
announced the Public Integrity Unit existed. She did that March 1.
Moore was indicted March 27. He has pleaded not guilty to five felony perjury
charges.
The 732-page grand jury transcript shows the investigation began in August,
shortly after The San Diego Union-Tribune reported that Moore was caught
spying on an Aug. 3 fundraiser for Padilla's political opponent, Cheryl Cox, who
went on to beat the incumbent in the November election. O'Toole was looking
into whether Moore was on city time that day.
Based on the investigation, O'Toole doesn't dispute that Moore ultimately took
the time off but contends he lied in sworn testimony about when he submitted
a request for personal leave.
“If someone lies to a grand jury, they're going to be charged with perjury,”
O'Toole said.
In seeking the indictment of Moore, O'Toole questioned witnesses on seven
days from March 8-26, according to the transcript. The grand jury considered
testimony from Moore; Padilla; Padilla's chief of staff, Tom Oriola; city records
custodian Louis Vignapiano; Marcia Raskin, the city Human Resources director;
Natalie Flores, the City Council's executive secretary; Chad Blum, Padilla's
campaign manager; Don Giaquinto, a Padilla campaign worker; and Mike
Goloskie, an investigator with the district attorney's special investigations unit.
'Political witch hunt'
Castaneda said the Public Integrity Unit spent 14 months investigating three
separate allegations against him. O'Toole subpoenaed Castaneda and other
witnesses to testify about an apartment Castaneda rented for his wife;
property he purchased as a business venture in 2005 with Chula Vista resident
Henry Barros; and his role as a board member of the Chula Vista
Redevelopment Corp.
He has not been charged with a crime.
On May 11, Castaneda issued a public statement accusing Dumanis of leading
a “political witch hunt” against him. He alleged that Dumanis conspired with
Cox to begin targeting him in March 2006, when he was running against Cox in
the mayoral primary. He said Cox's husband, county Supervisor Greg Cox,
influences Dumanis because the Board of Supervisors controls the district
attorney's budget.
Castaneda said Dumanis was using the unit to force him to resign. He said
O'Toole recently offered him a deal: Resign immediately, and he would not
charge him with a felony.
O'Toole has declined to comment on Castaneda's allegations.
In a previous interview, O'Toole spoke in general about how he has privately
persuaded some public officials to change their behavior without filing charges.
“There's no way of measuring that, but it does happen,” O'Toole said.
'We are watching'
Dumanis formed the Public Integrity Unit in early 2006, when she assigned
O'Toole, a former federal prosecutor who previously served as the U.S.
attorney in San Diego, to develop a way to handle the sensitive cases in which
public officials are accused of criminal wrongdoing. The unit now comprises
two full-time prosecutors and one part-time prosecutor within the Special
Operations Division.
Dumanis said it's a way to “let people know that we are watching.”
O'Toole is using the criminal grand jury in the earliest stages of investigations,
a tactic based on the federal model and procedures used in Los Angeles and
Santa Clara counties.
The grand jury proceedings, in which witnesses testify under oath, take place
behind closed doors to protect those accused of crimes, Dumanis said.
“We have complex investigations that take months, sometimes years,” she
said. “We don't want reputations tarnished before our investigation is
finished.”
When Dumanis announced the Public Integrity Unit on March 1, she said it had
been “a work in progress” for more than a year. She has said she wanted to
wait until after last year's November elections to announce the unit. The
announcement was further delayed because of the holidays and her busy
schedule.
Dumanis said she has always placed importance on public integrity work, and
the unit centralizes that responsibility.
The District Attorney's Office estimates that it has prosecuted 50 cases
involving public officials and employees since Dumanis took office in 2003.
Cheryl Cox is a native of Florida who lived in Virginia before coming to San Diego
County. Her father is retired navy officer John Willet.
Cox's husband, Greg Cox, became mayor of Chula Vista, and later a supervisor of San
Diego County. Mrs. Cox became a principal in Chula Vista Elementary School District in
the early 1970's. She was a good principal, with a reputation for being mildly arrogant.
Cox moved up to an administrative position in the CVESD district office.
At the same time she seems to have worked as an "educational consultant."
Eventually she won a seat on the CVESD school board, where she joined a controlling
board majority which had a hostile attitude toward teachers.
Despite the hostility toward teachers, the board majority got along very well behind
closed doors with the leaders of Chula Vista Educators, particularly Gina Boyd, Jim
Groth and Tim O'Neill.
In 2000, at the time Mrs. Cox joined the board, the fallout from several years of
authoritarian rule by Superintendent Libia Gil and her second in command, Richard
Werlin, began to disturb the district.
Castle Park Elementary, in particular, was the scene of intense conflict. Longtime
teachers were hostile toward the bilingual teachers who were added, one year at a
time, for four years, from 1994 through 1997. Teachers made allegation against two of
the new bilingual teachers, causing them to be dismissed. One of these dismissals,
that of third-grade teacher Maura Larkins, resulted in a lawsuit in which Richard Werlin
and district lawyers pressured teachers to make false statements during depositions.
A large amount of tax money was spent to cover-up criminal actions by one or more
Castle Park Elementary teachers against Maura Larkins. During the three-year duration
of the case, which involved eight law firms waging battle against an IN PRO PER
third-grade teacher, there were countless efforts by lawyers to prevent discovery, to
delay discovery, and to get the case thrown out. The case was thrown out when
Maura Larkins failed to file a motion quickly enough regarding the defendants' abuse of
the discovery process.
County. Her father is retired navy officer John Willet.
Cox's husband, Greg Cox, became mayor of Chula Vista, and later a supervisor of San
Diego County. Mrs. Cox became a principal in Chula Vista Elementary School District in
the early 1970's. She was a good principal, with a reputation for being mildly arrogant.
Cox moved up to an administrative position in the CVESD district office.
At the same time she seems to have worked as an "educational consultant."
Eventually she won a seat on the CVESD school board, where she joined a controlling
board majority which had a hostile attitude toward teachers.
Despite the hostility toward teachers, the board majority got along very well behind
closed doors with the leaders of Chula Vista Educators, particularly Gina Boyd, Jim
Groth and Tim O'Neill.
In 2000, at the time Mrs. Cox joined the board, the fallout from several years of
authoritarian rule by Superintendent Libia Gil and her second in command, Richard
Werlin, began to disturb the district.
Castle Park Elementary, in particular, was the scene of intense conflict. Longtime
teachers were hostile toward the bilingual teachers who were added, one year at a
time, for four years, from 1994 through 1997. Teachers made allegation against two of
the new bilingual teachers, causing them to be dismissed. One of these dismissals,
that of third-grade teacher Maura Larkins, resulted in a lawsuit in which Richard Werlin
and district lawyers pressured teachers to make false statements during depositions.
A large amount of tax money was spent to cover-up criminal actions by one or more
Castle Park Elementary teachers against Maura Larkins. During the three-year duration
of the case, which involved eight law firms waging battle against an IN PRO PER
third-grade teacher, there were countless efforts by lawyers to prevent discovery, to
delay discovery, and to get the case thrown out. The case was thrown out when
Maura Larkins failed to file a motion quickly enough regarding the defendants' abuse of
the discovery process.
Out of the Mouths of Babes
By Matt Potter
Nov. 2, 2006
San Diego
According to an e-mail from Lorena Gonzalez, political director for the San
Diego-Imperial Counties Labor Council, the council's robo-call attacking school
board candidate Michael McSweeney as a right-wing extremist and touting the
reelection of nominal Democrat incumbent Katherine Nakamura, a big backer of
ex-superintendent Alan Bersin, "was done by an actual child in the our San
Diego's Public School -- not an Actor using a child's voice. As an AFTRA
member, she is a little miffed that she is being misidentified." Gonzalez did not
respond to a request for further details as to the identity and age of the child or
whether as a member of the actors union she was paid union scale for voicing
the call.... Developer Doug Manchester isn't the only one who's been giving big
bucks to the GOP's Lincoln Club. On October 13, the day Manchester Resorts
chipped in $50,000, Mountain West Properties of Chula Vista gave $10,000 and
the Yokohl Ranch Co. contributed $4000. Mountain West is run by Chula Vista
developer Jim Pieri, and Yokohl is a subsidiary of the Central Valley's powerful JG
Boswell Co., which also is the developer of the mammoth Eastlake project in
Chula Vista. That same day, the club gave $70,000 to promote Props B and C,
the so-called San Diego city hall reform measures sponsored by Mayor Jerry
Sanders. But that hasn't been their only expenditure this campaign season. On
October 17, they anted up $10,000 for the Coalition to Preserve the Economy,
the group favoring the airport move to Miramar. The same day the club also
spent $7245 on a poll in support of Cheryl Cox for Chula Vista mayor.
By Matt Potter
Nov. 2, 2006
San Diego
According to an e-mail from Lorena Gonzalez, political director for the San
Diego-Imperial Counties Labor Council, the council's robo-call attacking school
board candidate Michael McSweeney as a right-wing extremist and touting the
reelection of nominal Democrat incumbent Katherine Nakamura, a big backer of
ex-superintendent Alan Bersin, "was done by an actual child in the our San
Diego's Public School -- not an Actor using a child's voice. As an AFTRA
member, she is a little miffed that she is being misidentified." Gonzalez did not
respond to a request for further details as to the identity and age of the child or
whether as a member of the actors union she was paid union scale for voicing
the call.... Developer Doug Manchester isn't the only one who's been giving big
bucks to the GOP's Lincoln Club. On October 13, the day Manchester Resorts
chipped in $50,000, Mountain West Properties of Chula Vista gave $10,000 and
the Yokohl Ranch Co. contributed $4000. Mountain West is run by Chula Vista
developer Jim Pieri, and Yokohl is a subsidiary of the Central Valley's powerful JG
Boswell Co., which also is the developer of the mammoth Eastlake project in
Chula Vista. That same day, the club gave $70,000 to promote Props B and C,
the so-called San Diego city hall reform measures sponsored by Mayor Jerry
Sanders. But that hasn't been their only expenditure this campaign season. On
October 17, they anted up $10,000 for the Coalition to Preserve the Economy,
the group favoring the airport move to Miramar. The same day the club also
spent $7245 on a poll in support of Cheryl Cox for Chula Vista mayor.
Going to extremes
By Matt Potter
April 21, 2005
Reader
San Diego — GOP county
supervisor Greg Cox is no
shrinking violet when it comes
to his personal investment
strategy. According to a
recently filed financial
disclosure statement, on
February 20 of last year Cox
and his wife Cheryl
purchased stock in Bluetorch,
which the filing describes as
an "extreme sportswear"
company. Cox reported that
his wife's IRA, the account
through which the stock was
purchased, owned Bluetorch
stock worth less than $2000
as of December 31, 2004,
the end of the annual filing
period. The stock is volatile:
On Tuesday, a quote on
Yahoo said it was up -- 2300
percent from the previous
quote -- to $2.50.
Other Cox investments are
more conventional, including
stock worth between $10,000
and $100,000 in Toll
Brothers, a New Jersey-
based home builder
specializing in so-called
McMansions, those oversized
luxury homes popping up all
over the county. Cox bought
the stock on March 22, 2004.
Property records show that
since then, a partnership run
by Toll has sold 25 homes,
ranging in price from $1
million to $1.7 million, at the
south end of the Encinitas
Ranch Golf Course. The
development was described
in July 2003 by the San
Diego Business Journal:
"Luxury extends throughout
the homes, from grand two-
story foyers and 10-foot first-
floor ceilings in most plans to
such exclusive refinements
as lavish master baths with
private retreats and Jacuzzi
tubs.... Three-car garages
are enclosed by raised-panel
sectional roll-up doors."
Besides that, in February
2004 Cox's wife's IRA picked
up shares valued at between
$2000 and $10,000 in
Cardiac Science, an Irvine-
based maker of defibrillators.
According to the City of San
Diego website, "The County
Board of Supervisors has
dedicated $250,000 for the
distribution of defibrillators in
County facilities" as part of
Project Heart Beat. Maker of
the automatic external
defibrillators is none other
than Cardiac Science. Since
Project Heart Beat started
here in 2001, the company
has expanded the concept to
cities nationwide, including
Minneapolis, Nashville, and
St. Louis. Last week, Cardiac
Science chairman Raymond
W. Cohen issued a news
release hyping the firm's
latest "partnership" in Florida.
"We are working very closely
with city officials in Miami to
ensure their program is as
successful as the San Diego
Project Heartbeat program
where over 1,200 Powerheart
AEDs have been deployed
since 2001 and dozens of
lives have been saved as a
result." Cardiac Science is
currently a penny stock,
having fallen from its
February 2004 peak of about
$5.50 all the way down to
Friday's close of just 93 cents
a share.
A one and a two
Conservative GOP county
supervisor Bill Horn once
hoped that Republican
congressman Darrell Issa
would run for governor in the
2003 recall so that Horn
could run to replace him. "I
think I have a pretty good
handle on what the folks from
that district want," he told
reporters before Issa decided
not to take on the likes of
Arnold Schwarzenegger. In
2000, Horn ran for U.S.
Senate but was badly beaten
in the GOP primary.
Now the 11-year veteran of
North County's District 5 has
decided to stick around for
yet another term at the
county. With more than two
years left on his current term,
Horn launched his fund-
raising drive for the 2006
campaign last October,
picking up big money from a
variety of developer types,
many with business pending
before the board. Leading
the pack are members of the
Welk family, whose late
progenitor Lawrence, the
schmaltzy TV bandleader
from North Dakota, founded a
small mobile home park back
in the 1960s that's since
grown into the sprawling Welk
Resort north of Escondido.
Donors giving the maximum
$500 each to Horn include
Welk Music Group president
Kevin Welk of Manhattan
Beach, Welk Group CEO
Lawrence Welk of Santa
Monica, and Welk Group
executives Marc Luzzatto of
Santa Monica and Ronald
Sharp of Fallbrook.
Other major developer
donations to Horn include a
total of $1500 from four
employees of Pardee and
$1500 from three executives
at Weston Communities of
Los Angeles. Jay McQuillen
Jr. of Granite Construction,
which is trying to develop a
controversial quarry adjacent
to the Santa Margarita
Ecological Preserve in
southern Riverside County,
just west of Interstate 15 near
Temecula, kicked in $500.
The supersized gravel pit
plan is opposed on
environmental grounds by
professors at San Diego
State University. Granite is
also behind another quarry,
called Rosemary's Mountain,
near the Pala Indian
Reservation just south of the
Riverside County line,
approved for construction by
San Diego county
supervisors.
Criminal review Attorney and
lobbyist Louis Wolfsheimer,
who once represented strip
clubs in their efforts to get
more lenient regulations out
of San Diego's city hall, has
been appointed to the
county's Citizens' Law
Enforcement Review Board.
The appointment was made
by county supervisor Ron
Roberts. Current secretary of
the board is Kourosh
Hangafarin, who achieved
brief notoriety as San Diego
mayor Dick Murphy's
appointment to the Board of
Port Commissioners.
By Matt Potter
April 21, 2005
Reader
San Diego — GOP county
supervisor Greg Cox is no
shrinking violet when it comes
to his personal investment
strategy. According to a
recently filed financial
disclosure statement, on
February 20 of last year Cox
and his wife Cheryl
purchased stock in Bluetorch,
which the filing describes as
an "extreme sportswear"
company. Cox reported that
his wife's IRA, the account
through which the stock was
purchased, owned Bluetorch
stock worth less than $2000
as of December 31, 2004,
the end of the annual filing
period. The stock is volatile:
On Tuesday, a quote on
Yahoo said it was up -- 2300
percent from the previous
quote -- to $2.50.
Other Cox investments are
more conventional, including
stock worth between $10,000
and $100,000 in Toll
Brothers, a New Jersey-
based home builder
specializing in so-called
McMansions, those oversized
luxury homes popping up all
over the county. Cox bought
the stock on March 22, 2004.
Property records show that
since then, a partnership run
by Toll has sold 25 homes,
ranging in price from $1
million to $1.7 million, at the
south end of the Encinitas
Ranch Golf Course. The
development was described
in July 2003 by the San
Diego Business Journal:
"Luxury extends throughout
the homes, from grand two-
story foyers and 10-foot first-
floor ceilings in most plans to
such exclusive refinements
as lavish master baths with
private retreats and Jacuzzi
tubs.... Three-car garages
are enclosed by raised-panel
sectional roll-up doors."
Besides that, in February
2004 Cox's wife's IRA picked
up shares valued at between
$2000 and $10,000 in
Cardiac Science, an Irvine-
based maker of defibrillators.
According to the City of San
Diego website, "The County
Board of Supervisors has
dedicated $250,000 for the
distribution of defibrillators in
County facilities" as part of
Project Heart Beat. Maker of
the automatic external
defibrillators is none other
than Cardiac Science. Since
Project Heart Beat started
here in 2001, the company
has expanded the concept to
cities nationwide, including
Minneapolis, Nashville, and
St. Louis. Last week, Cardiac
Science chairman Raymond
W. Cohen issued a news
release hyping the firm's
latest "partnership" in Florida.
"We are working very closely
with city officials in Miami to
ensure their program is as
successful as the San Diego
Project Heartbeat program
where over 1,200 Powerheart
AEDs have been deployed
since 2001 and dozens of
lives have been saved as a
result." Cardiac Science is
currently a penny stock,
having fallen from its
February 2004 peak of about
$5.50 all the way down to
Friday's close of just 93 cents
a share.
A one and a two
Conservative GOP county
supervisor Bill Horn once
hoped that Republican
congressman Darrell Issa
would run for governor in the
2003 recall so that Horn
could run to replace him. "I
think I have a pretty good
handle on what the folks from
that district want," he told
reporters before Issa decided
not to take on the likes of
Arnold Schwarzenegger. In
2000, Horn ran for U.S.
Senate but was badly beaten
in the GOP primary.
Now the 11-year veteran of
North County's District 5 has
decided to stick around for
yet another term at the
county. With more than two
years left on his current term,
Horn launched his fund-
raising drive for the 2006
campaign last October,
picking up big money from a
variety of developer types,
many with business pending
before the board. Leading
the pack are members of the
Welk family, whose late
progenitor Lawrence, the
schmaltzy TV bandleader
from North Dakota, founded a
small mobile home park back
in the 1960s that's since
grown into the sprawling Welk
Resort north of Escondido.
Donors giving the maximum
$500 each to Horn include
Welk Music Group president
Kevin Welk of Manhattan
Beach, Welk Group CEO
Lawrence Welk of Santa
Monica, and Welk Group
executives Marc Luzzatto of
Santa Monica and Ronald
Sharp of Fallbrook.
Other major developer
donations to Horn include a
total of $1500 from four
employees of Pardee and
$1500 from three executives
at Weston Communities of
Los Angeles. Jay McQuillen
Jr. of Granite Construction,
which is trying to develop a
controversial quarry adjacent
to the Santa Margarita
Ecological Preserve in
southern Riverside County,
just west of Interstate 15 near
Temecula, kicked in $500.
The supersized gravel pit
plan is opposed on
environmental grounds by
professors at San Diego
State University. Granite is
also behind another quarry,
called Rosemary's Mountain,
near the Pala Indian
Reservation just south of the
Riverside County line,
approved for construction by
San Diego county
supervisors.
Criminal review Attorney and
lobbyist Louis Wolfsheimer,
who once represented strip
clubs in their efforts to get
more lenient regulations out
of San Diego's city hall, has
been appointed to the
county's Citizens' Law
Enforcement Review Board.
The appointment was made
by county supervisor Ron
Roberts. Current secretary of
the board is Kourosh
Hangafarin, who achieved
brief notoriety as San Diego
mayor Dick Murphy's
appointment to the Board of
Port Commissioners.
Media hogs
By Matt Potter
Dec. 16, 2004
Reader
San Diego — The county's
coffeehouses and convenience
stores, already awash with just-
started free newspapers that
come and go each month, can
count on one more newbie: The
South Bay Review, operated by
Mike Inzunza, brother of the
clan that includes Democratic
San Diego city councilman
Ralph and National City mayor
Nick. And -- surprise -- the
cover hypes a famous
Inzunza family mentor, GOP
county supervisor Greg
Cox, who once employed
Nick and still sits on the
board of Chula Vista-based
Seacoast Commerce Bank
with him. Cox, says the
story, has "an all-
encompassing ability to
bring communities and
people together with
something called
character." Chula Vista
planning chairman and ex-
Cox staffer Marco Polo
Cortes, another member of
the Inzunzas' extended
political family who golfs
regularly with Ralph, hails
Cox as "a true statesman."
Readers also learn that the
supervisor wakes every
morning at 5:30 to feed five
pet cats and take a shower.
"He leads a consistent and
stable life," the story says.
"He takes comfort in getting
his monthly haircut from the
same family of barbers for
the last 30 years." Wife
Cheryl's lobbying and
political-consulting
business, which has been
raising South Bay eyebrows
for years, is nowhere
mentioned, but both she
and Greg are touted for
higher office. "Political
insiders are rumoring a
push for Cheryl to run for
mayor of Chula Vista, while
others see Greg Cox as a
favorable candidate for
Congress." The paper's
advertisers include real
estate woman Pepper
Coffey, who was Ralph's
appointment to the board
reviewing taxpayer
financing for a new
Chargers stadium ... It's been
another string of bad news for
the Union-Tribune: hot on the
heels of the walkout of anti-
George W. Bush columnist
James O. Goldsborough, the
paper reported last Thursday
that the Los Angeles Times
(and not the U-T) had been the
first to ask for a recount in the
dizzying Frye-versus-Murphy
San Diego mayoral race,
quoting editor Karin Winner as
saying the paper was
consulting its lawyers about
what to do. The next day the U-
T reported it had finally gone
ahead and submitted a request.
But all is not lost. Local readers
of Newsweek were recently
treated to a full-page ad for the
U-T's Sunday "Currents"
section, which Winner used to
edit, featuring a black-and-
white portrait of an elderly black
man looking skyward,
accompanied by haiku-like
copy: "Sunday morning/ A story
of a hero's life/ That you tape to
your child's mirror/ To remind
her of who she can be/ Sunday
lasts forever." The ad goes on
to urge readers to "Pick yours
up Sunday. From sections A to
J, what you read, see and learn
on Sunday will last forever."
Pickled Herring It's been
revealed that he's gotten
personal legal advice courtesy
of city taxpayers. Now it's also
come to light that deputy San
Diego city manager Bruce
Herring, who has for years
served as a loyal soldier,
stonewalling those who dared
inquire about the financial
foibles of mayors from Maureen
O'Connor (Russian Arts
Festival) to Susan Golding
(1996 GOP convention,
Chargers' Qualcomm-stadium
expansion) to Dick Murphy
(Padres ballpark, new Chargers
stadium, pension debacle), is
looking for an exit strategy.
According to a letter sent to him
two weeks ago by the city's
ethics commission, Herring has
been seeking "advice
concerning the application of
post-employment restrictions to
'terminal' employees." The rule
against employees taking jobs
with private companies doing
business with the city for 12
months after they leave city hall
are, according to the letter,
"designed to prevent former
City Officials from 'switching
sides' after they leave the City
and working against the City's
interests for a private company
concerning a pending municipal
decision." Thus, Herring has to
wait on any city-related private
gigs, the letter said, even if he
uses some of his "terminal
leave" or unused vacation time
to bug out of his city job before
he actually leaves the payroll.
"Because employees who take
terminal annual leave are
entitled to accept new
employment while they are on
terminal leave, it follows that the
post-employment restrictions
must apply." But if Herring gets
a job with another public
agency, the letter said, he won't
have to worry about those
conflict-of-interest rules.
Inside of inside Look out, Union-
Tribune, here comes Neil
Morgan, who was fired by the
paper this spring, and his old
sidekick Bob Witty, who used to
help Morgan run the Copley-
owned, now-defunct San Diego
Tribune. The pair, along with
Barbara Bry, an ex-L.A. Times
reporter and Harvard business
school grad who married and
later divorced millionaire
Democratic La Jolla developer
Pat Kruer, are part of the
nonprofit "Voice of San Diego,"
a new website that sources say
intends to take direct aim at the
U-T's SignOnSanDiego.com
Internet operation. Bankrolling
the venture is said to be a
foundation run by La Jolla
fatcat venture-capital
investor Ralph B. "Buzz"
Woolley, owner of Coronado's
Glorietta Bay Inn, among other
concerns. Woolley last popped
onto the public stage in March,
when he was identified in a San
Francisco Chronicle article
along with Wal-Mart heir John
Walton as financial backers of
Bay Area Democrat Ted
Lempert's 11th district state
senate primary campaign. Both
Woolley and Walton were
reported by the paper to be big
fans of using taxpayer-funded
vouchers to pay for private-
school tuition. Lempert lost his
legislative bid badly. Key
participants in the new website
have close ties to UCSD,
including Morgan, whose wife
Judith, a freelance travel writer,
is a longtime member of the
institution's PR advisory board;
Woolley, whose wife, lawyer
Ann Parode, is university
counsel; and Bry, who once
worked for Connect, UCSD's so-
called tech transfer arm
founded by the late Bill
Otterson and overseen by
UCSD extension dean Mary
Walshok.
By Matt Potter
Dec. 16, 2004
Reader
San Diego — The county's
coffeehouses and convenience
stores, already awash with just-
started free newspapers that
come and go each month, can
count on one more newbie: The
South Bay Review, operated by
Mike Inzunza, brother of the
clan that includes Democratic
San Diego city councilman
Ralph and National City mayor
Nick. And -- surprise -- the
cover hypes a famous
Inzunza family mentor, GOP
county supervisor Greg
Cox, who once employed
Nick and still sits on the
board of Chula Vista-based
Seacoast Commerce Bank
with him. Cox, says the
story, has "an all-
encompassing ability to
bring communities and
people together with
something called
character." Chula Vista
planning chairman and ex-
Cox staffer Marco Polo
Cortes, another member of
the Inzunzas' extended
political family who golfs
regularly with Ralph, hails
Cox as "a true statesman."
Readers also learn that the
supervisor wakes every
morning at 5:30 to feed five
pet cats and take a shower.
"He leads a consistent and
stable life," the story says.
"He takes comfort in getting
his monthly haircut from the
same family of barbers for
the last 30 years." Wife
Cheryl's lobbying and
political-consulting
business, which has been
raising South Bay eyebrows
for years, is nowhere
mentioned, but both she
and Greg are touted for
higher office. "Political
insiders are rumoring a
push for Cheryl to run for
mayor of Chula Vista, while
others see Greg Cox as a
favorable candidate for
Congress." The paper's
advertisers include real
estate woman Pepper
Coffey, who was Ralph's
appointment to the board
reviewing taxpayer
financing for a new
Chargers stadium ... It's been
another string of bad news for
the Union-Tribune: hot on the
heels of the walkout of anti-
George W. Bush columnist
James O. Goldsborough, the
paper reported last Thursday
that the Los Angeles Times
(and not the U-T) had been the
first to ask for a recount in the
dizzying Frye-versus-Murphy
San Diego mayoral race,
quoting editor Karin Winner as
saying the paper was
consulting its lawyers about
what to do. The next day the U-
T reported it had finally gone
ahead and submitted a request.
But all is not lost. Local readers
of Newsweek were recently
treated to a full-page ad for the
U-T's Sunday "Currents"
section, which Winner used to
edit, featuring a black-and-
white portrait of an elderly black
man looking skyward,
accompanied by haiku-like
copy: "Sunday morning/ A story
of a hero's life/ That you tape to
your child's mirror/ To remind
her of who she can be/ Sunday
lasts forever." The ad goes on
to urge readers to "Pick yours
up Sunday. From sections A to
J, what you read, see and learn
on Sunday will last forever."
Pickled Herring It's been
revealed that he's gotten
personal legal advice courtesy
of city taxpayers. Now it's also
come to light that deputy San
Diego city manager Bruce
Herring, who has for years
served as a loyal soldier,
stonewalling those who dared
inquire about the financial
foibles of mayors from Maureen
O'Connor (Russian Arts
Festival) to Susan Golding
(1996 GOP convention,
Chargers' Qualcomm-stadium
expansion) to Dick Murphy
(Padres ballpark, new Chargers
stadium, pension debacle), is
looking for an exit strategy.
According to a letter sent to him
two weeks ago by the city's
ethics commission, Herring has
been seeking "advice
concerning the application of
post-employment restrictions to
'terminal' employees." The rule
against employees taking jobs
with private companies doing
business with the city for 12
months after they leave city hall
are, according to the letter,
"designed to prevent former
City Officials from 'switching
sides' after they leave the City
and working against the City's
interests for a private company
concerning a pending municipal
decision." Thus, Herring has to
wait on any city-related private
gigs, the letter said, even if he
uses some of his "terminal
leave" or unused vacation time
to bug out of his city job before
he actually leaves the payroll.
"Because employees who take
terminal annual leave are
entitled to accept new
employment while they are on
terminal leave, it follows that the
post-employment restrictions
must apply." But if Herring gets
a job with another public
agency, the letter said, he won't
have to worry about those
conflict-of-interest rules.
Inside of inside Look out, Union-
Tribune, here comes Neil
Morgan, who was fired by the
paper this spring, and his old
sidekick Bob Witty, who used to
help Morgan run the Copley-
owned, now-defunct San Diego
Tribune. The pair, along with
Barbara Bry, an ex-L.A. Times
reporter and Harvard business
school grad who married and
later divorced millionaire
Democratic La Jolla developer
Pat Kruer, are part of the
nonprofit "Voice of San Diego,"
a new website that sources say
intends to take direct aim at the
U-T's SignOnSanDiego.com
Internet operation. Bankrolling
the venture is said to be a
foundation run by La Jolla
fatcat venture-capital
investor Ralph B. "Buzz"
Woolley, owner of Coronado's
Glorietta Bay Inn, among other
concerns. Woolley last popped
onto the public stage in March,
when he was identified in a San
Francisco Chronicle article
along with Wal-Mart heir John
Walton as financial backers of
Bay Area Democrat Ted
Lempert's 11th district state
senate primary campaign. Both
Woolley and Walton were
reported by the paper to be big
fans of using taxpayer-funded
vouchers to pay for private-
school tuition. Lempert lost his
legislative bid badly. Key
participants in the new website
have close ties to UCSD,
including Morgan, whose wife
Judith, a freelance travel writer,
is a longtime member of the
institution's PR advisory board;
Woolley, whose wife, lawyer
Ann Parode, is university
counsel; and Bry, who once
worked for Connect, UCSD's so-
called tech transfer arm
founded by the late Bill
Otterson and overseen by
UCSD extension dean Mary
Walshok.
On a Budget
By Matt Potter
May 1, 2003
Reader
[Maura Larkins
comment: Somebody
hacked my site and
erased all of the article
below. I wonder which
part the hacker wanted
to hide from public
view?]
San Diego — San Diego
State University president
Stephen Weber was out
traveling a bit last year,
according to his recently
filed Statement of
Economic Interests. On
March 9, Weber reports,
he accepted a free private
plane ride from Padres
owner John Moores valued
at $200. On March 14, he
accepted another private
flight from Moores worth
$2400. Lobbyist Nicole
Clay, wife of SDSU booster
Ben Clay, gave Weber two
tickets valued at $300 to
last year's "Holiday Bowl
Gala"; Coronado socialite
Phyllis Kraus gave him two
tickets to a "Museum of
Arts Gala" worth $200. But
Weber's biggest
benefactor turns out to be
none other than Budget
Group, the giant rental-car
company that went
bankrupt while he was on
the board last year. Weber
reported getting a "holiday
gift basket" from Budget's
Sanford Miller ($129) and
travel reimbursement for
Budget board meetings in
April ($1362.82) and
August ($1110). He also
reported getting from
between $10,000 to
$100,000 in Budget board
fees. Meanwhile, county
supervisor Ron Roberts, a
baseball buff, reports
accepting two free Padres
tickets from the team last
year worth a total of $80.
Roberts's colleague, North
County supervisor Bill
Horn, didn't do as well by
Moores. Avocado rancher
Horn took a flyer a few
years back in three
Moores-controlled or
related companies:
Peregrine Systems, Leap
Wireless, and Bindview.
Peregrine and Leap are
bankrupt, and Bindview's
management has been
under fire. Horn reports his
holdings in each of the
three are "now valued [at]
under $2000." For his
part, county supervisor
Greg Cox reports his
wife Cheryl made
between $10,000 and
$100,000 as a consultant
to the California
Republican Party. She
also reportedly picked
up between $1000 and
$10,000 working for
Assemblywoman Shirley
Horton's election
campaign, along with
between $500 and
$1000 as a consultant to
the county's GOP
central committee.
Plugola Viewers of
KNSD, the NBC-owned
San Diego TV station,
might be expecting news
when they tune in each
morning, but station
manager Phyllis
Schwartz has a different
idea. In an interview with
Television Week,
Schwartz revealed to the
trade magazine an
assortment of lucrative
plugs and advertiser tie-
ins that the station is
slipping into its morning
news shows, staged
outside its glass-walled
studio near downtown's
Horton Plaza. During a
musical segment aired
each Friday, "Sponsors
get their logos on the
spot and on banners
behind the band,"
according to Schwartz.
"The sponsor also gets
some real estate on our
website." As part of what
the magazine calls
KNSD's "value-added
opportunities for
advertisers," a local auto
dealer "drove a car right
onto the plaza," and "a
Baja Fresh restaurant
handed out free samples
on the square." Schwartz
is currently running a
"Wedding Bells"
segment, based on
NBC's Today Show
feature, in which the
station selects lucky
couples to get married
on TV and receive a free
honeymoon and a stash
of wedding booty, all of
which is repeatedly
plugged by the news
anchors. "This is a good
way to entice local
advertisers," Schwartz
said. "Any retailer who
has dishes or silverware,
dresses, tuxedos, or
bridesmaid services
could buy into this. The
categories are pretty
broad."
Politics in the afternoon
Democratic assemblyman Juan
Vargas is holding a noontime
"campaign kickoff reception" at
downtown's Holiday Inn by the
Bay next month. Five tickets to
the event cost $3200. It's
$1500 per ticket to attend a
private reception before the
lunch. Local politicos billed as
attendees include all
Democrats on the San Diego
city council, as well as
Republican Jim Madaffer. Other
GOPers on the invite include
trash-company lobbyist Johnnie
Perkins and hotel magnate Bill
Evans. Sam Marasco,
developer of that controversial
pedestrian bridge to Tijuana,
and Barrio Logan developer
Willie Ayyad are also listed as
backers. Vargas is expected to
go eventually for the
congressional seat held by
Democrat Bob Filner ... San
Diego Unified School District
trustee John de Beck says
personnel director Deberie
Gomez, who's been a big
cheese in the administration of
honcho Alan Bersin, has told
colleagues she's going to take
early retirement. Word has it
that her entire top staff, as well
as other key people, including
lawyer Jo Anne SawyerKnoll
and chief of staff Terry Smith,
are also taking the golden
handshake ... Del Mar's Arthur
Nicholas has been elected
secretary of the National
Cowboy and Western Heritage
Museum in Oklahoma City.
Known for his sprawling beach
house and multimillion-dollar
collection of western art and
memorabilia, the SDSU alum is
the founder and managing
partner of Nicholas/Applegate
Capital Management ... La Jolla
defense outfit SAIC reportedly
has a big CIA Iraq contract.
Available jobs currently listed
on the firm's website include an
"All Source intelligence analyst"
in Kosovo. Mission: "[Conduct]
intelligence related to crime
and corruption,
counterterrorism, politics,
displaced persons and
refugees, and economics for
the purpose of force protection
and promoting a safe and
secure environment."
By Matt Potter
May 1, 2003
Reader
[Maura Larkins
comment: Somebody
hacked my site and
erased all of the article
below. I wonder which
part the hacker wanted
to hide from public
view?]
San Diego — San Diego
State University president
Stephen Weber was out
traveling a bit last year,
according to his recently
filed Statement of
Economic Interests. On
March 9, Weber reports,
he accepted a free private
plane ride from Padres
owner John Moores valued
at $200. On March 14, he
accepted another private
flight from Moores worth
$2400. Lobbyist Nicole
Clay, wife of SDSU booster
Ben Clay, gave Weber two
tickets valued at $300 to
last year's "Holiday Bowl
Gala"; Coronado socialite
Phyllis Kraus gave him two
tickets to a "Museum of
Arts Gala" worth $200. But
Weber's biggest
benefactor turns out to be
none other than Budget
Group, the giant rental-car
company that went
bankrupt while he was on
the board last year. Weber
reported getting a "holiday
gift basket" from Budget's
Sanford Miller ($129) and
travel reimbursement for
Budget board meetings in
April ($1362.82) and
August ($1110). He also
reported getting from
between $10,000 to
$100,000 in Budget board
fees. Meanwhile, county
supervisor Ron Roberts, a
baseball buff, reports
accepting two free Padres
tickets from the team last
year worth a total of $80.
Roberts's colleague, North
County supervisor Bill
Horn, didn't do as well by
Moores. Avocado rancher
Horn took a flyer a few
years back in three
Moores-controlled or
related companies:
Peregrine Systems, Leap
Wireless, and Bindview.
Peregrine and Leap are
bankrupt, and Bindview's
management has been
under fire. Horn reports his
holdings in each of the
three are "now valued [at]
under $2000." For his
part, county supervisor
Greg Cox reports his
wife Cheryl made
between $10,000 and
$100,000 as a consultant
to the California
Republican Party. She
also reportedly picked
up between $1000 and
$10,000 working for
Assemblywoman Shirley
Horton's election
campaign, along with
between $500 and
$1000 as a consultant to
the county's GOP
central committee.
Plugola Viewers of
KNSD, the NBC-owned
San Diego TV station,
might be expecting news
when they tune in each
morning, but station
manager Phyllis
Schwartz has a different
idea. In an interview with
Television Week,
Schwartz revealed to the
trade magazine an
assortment of lucrative
plugs and advertiser tie-
ins that the station is
slipping into its morning
news shows, staged
outside its glass-walled
studio near downtown's
Horton Plaza. During a
musical segment aired
each Friday, "Sponsors
get their logos on the
spot and on banners
behind the band,"
according to Schwartz.
"The sponsor also gets
some real estate on our
website." As part of what
the magazine calls
KNSD's "value-added
opportunities for
advertisers," a local auto
dealer "drove a car right
onto the plaza," and "a
Baja Fresh restaurant
handed out free samples
on the square." Schwartz
is currently running a
"Wedding Bells"
segment, based on
NBC's Today Show
feature, in which the
station selects lucky
couples to get married
on TV and receive a free
honeymoon and a stash
of wedding booty, all of
which is repeatedly
plugged by the news
anchors. "This is a good
way to entice local
advertisers," Schwartz
said. "Any retailer who
has dishes or silverware,
dresses, tuxedos, or
bridesmaid services
could buy into this. The
categories are pretty
broad."
Politics in the afternoon
Democratic assemblyman Juan
Vargas is holding a noontime
"campaign kickoff reception" at
downtown's Holiday Inn by the
Bay next month. Five tickets to
the event cost $3200. It's
$1500 per ticket to attend a
private reception before the
lunch. Local politicos billed as
attendees include all
Democrats on the San Diego
city council, as well as
Republican Jim Madaffer. Other
GOPers on the invite include
trash-company lobbyist Johnnie
Perkins and hotel magnate Bill
Evans. Sam Marasco,
developer of that controversial
pedestrian bridge to Tijuana,
and Barrio Logan developer
Willie Ayyad are also listed as
backers. Vargas is expected to
go eventually for the
congressional seat held by
Democrat Bob Filner ... San
Diego Unified School District
trustee John de Beck says
personnel director Deberie
Gomez, who's been a big
cheese in the administration of
honcho Alan Bersin, has told
colleagues she's going to take
early retirement. Word has it
that her entire top staff, as well
as other key people, including
lawyer Jo Anne SawyerKnoll
and chief of staff Terry Smith,
are also taking the golden
handshake ... Del Mar's Arthur
Nicholas has been elected
secretary of the National
Cowboy and Western Heritage
Museum in Oklahoma City.
Known for his sprawling beach
house and multimillion-dollar
collection of western art and
memorabilia, the SDSU alum is
the founder and managing
partner of Nicholas/Applegate
Capital Management ... La Jolla
defense outfit SAIC reportedly
has a big CIA Iraq contract.
Available jobs currently listed
on the firm's website include an
"All Source intelligence analyst"
in Kosovo. Mission: "[Conduct]
intelligence related to crime
and corruption,
counterterrorism, politics,
displaced persons and
refugees, and economics for
the purpose of force protection
and promoting a safe and
secure environment."
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
Two bizarre prosecutions by Bonnie Dumanis
benefit Cheryl Cox
benefit Cheryl Cox
San Diego Reader re Cheryl and Greg Cox
Unit of San Diego District
Attorney Bonnie Dumanis
began prosecuting political
opponents of Cheryl Cox.
Patrick O'Toole, who had
previously been appointed as
US Attorney for San Diego by
Attorney General John
Ashcroft, headed the unit.
O'Toole prosecuted a staffer
for mayor Steven Padilla who
had taken two hours off work
in an effort to get a photograph
of Cheryl Cox with her
disgraced family friend David
Malcolm [1] at a twilight yacht
party fundraiser for Cox. The
staffer was charged with five
felony counts of perjury for
telling a grand jury that he
filled out his leave slip from
work before rather than after
he took off from his job at the
City of Chula Vista. He pled
guilty to lesser charges as
part of a plea deal.
The now-dormant unit ended its
active phase with a second and
final prosecution, that of Steve
Castaneda, who had run
against Cheryl Cox for mayor.
Castaneda was prosecuted for
allegedly lying about whether he
planned to buy a condo, even
though he never bought the
condo in question. According to
the San Diego Union Tribune,
"Castaneda was a tenant at the
complex and was accused of
seeking favors, such as free
rent, from Sunbow owner Ash
Israni, according to the
1,200-page grand jury
transcript. The investigation
found that Castaneda paid his
rent and didn't ask for special
treatment. O'Toole told the
grand jury the perjury charges
are warranted because
Castaneda should be held
accountable for 'lying about the
facts'; even if no crime was
uncovered...Castaneda has
been vocal about O'Toole's
investigations, saying they are
politically motivated. He
contended that Dumanis
conspired with Chula Vista
Mayor Cheryl Cox, his political
rival in the 2006 mayoral
primary."
"DA unit works as quietly as it
began"
"Trial and Re-election bid
could coincide"
Attorney Bonnie Dumanis
began prosecuting political
opponents of Cheryl Cox.
Patrick O'Toole, who had
previously been appointed as
US Attorney for San Diego by
Attorney General John
Ashcroft, headed the unit.
O'Toole prosecuted a staffer
for mayor Steven Padilla who
had taken two hours off work
in an effort to get a photograph
of Cheryl Cox with her
disgraced family friend David
Malcolm [1] at a twilight yacht
party fundraiser for Cox. The
staffer was charged with five
felony counts of perjury for
telling a grand jury that he
filled out his leave slip from
work before rather than after
he took off from his job at the
City of Chula Vista. He pled
guilty to lesser charges as
part of a plea deal.
The now-dormant unit ended its
active phase with a second and
final prosecution, that of Steve
Castaneda, who had run
against Cheryl Cox for mayor.
Castaneda was prosecuted for
allegedly lying about whether he
planned to buy a condo, even
though he never bought the
condo in question. According to
the San Diego Union Tribune,
"Castaneda was a tenant at the
complex and was accused of
seeking favors, such as free
rent, from Sunbow owner Ash
Israni, according to the
1,200-page grand jury
transcript. The investigation
found that Castaneda paid his
rent and didn't ask for special
treatment. O'Toole told the
grand jury the perjury charges
are warranted because
Castaneda should be held
accountable for 'lying about the
facts'; even if no crime was
uncovered...Castaneda has
been vocal about O'Toole's
investigations, saying they are
politically motivated. He
contended that Dumanis
conspired with Chula Vista
Mayor Cheryl Cox, his political
rival in the 2006 mayoral
primary."
"DA unit works as quietly as it
began"
"Trial and Re-election bid
could coincide"
Steve Castaneda--
Chula Vista
Councilman targeted by
D.A. who shielded Cheryl
Cox from felony perjury
investigation
Chula Vista
Councilman targeted by
D.A. who shielded Cheryl
Cox from felony perjury
investigation
For whose benefit is
San Diego's "Public
Integrity Unit"
operating?
It would seem that it's
operating on behalf of
Cheryl Cox
San Diego's "Public
Integrity Unit"
operating?
It would seem that it's
operating on behalf of
Cheryl Cox
San Diego County,
CA
June 6, 2006 Election
Smart Voter
Additional Endorsements
for Cheryl Cox
Candidate for Mayor;
City of Chula Vista
This information is
provided by the
candidate
Greg Cox, Supervisor,
County of San Diego
Deputy Sheriffs'
Association of San Diego
County
Shirley Horton,
Assemblywoman, 78th
Assembly District
Leonard M. Moore,
Councilman Emeritus,
City of Chula Vista
John Moot, Former
Councilmember, City of
Chula Vista
Gregory J. Smith, San Diego
County
Assessor/Recorder/Clerk
Darrell Issa,
Congressman
George Plescia,
Assemblyman, 75th
Assembly District
Mark Wyland,
Assemblyman, 74th
Assembly District
David Bejarano, Former
San Diego Chief of Police
Chester S. Devore,
President, Southwestern
College, retired
Bertha J. Lopez,
Larry Cunningham, and
Patrick Judd,
Boardmembers, Chula
Vista Elementary School
District
Scott Walker, Fire Chief,
Bonita-Sunnyside Fire
Protection District
Nick Aguilar, Member,
San Diego County Board
of Education
Allison and Stephen
Abbott
Janet Abbott
Nancy Acerrio
Harriet Acton
Patricia Aguilar
Greg Alabado
Dale Alano
Beatrice J. Alexander
Susan Allers
Barbara Altbaum
Simon Andrews
Estelle and Jim Arens
Guy Asaro
Nina Ashton
Beth Atayde
Greg Augustine
Herb Bailey
Lee Bailey
Michael W. Bailey
Harriet H. Baker
Max Batangan
Karen Batcher
Nancy Batterman
J. Baumgarten
N. J. Beck
Jeannette R. A. Bellucci
James E. Biddle
Josh and Vanessa Boen
Ron and Reina Bolles
Colette Boodreau
Fred and Ruth Ann Borst
Lisa Boyd
John Bradel
Maile Bridge
Patty Brooks
Camille Bruno
Nancy A. Brunson
Bobbie Bryant
Maurice Dean Buck
Russ and Nancy Bullen
Marie Buttita
Andy and Kathy Campbell
Jane Campbell
Donald J. Capie
Chris and Rochelle
Carroll
Kent and Joanne Carson
Shirley Casper
Suzanne Catanzaro
Frank Chaboudy
Trudie Chandler
Jan and Chris Chapman
Andrew Chase
Mark Chase
Dick F. Chase, Sr.
Dina Chavez
Kathy Cien-Mayer
Judy Ciotti
Richard K. Circuit
Ken Clark
Kathleen Closson
Marshall and Beverly
Compton
Edna Concepcion
Arlene M. Conwell
Karan Cooper
Alan L. and Frances E.
Cornell
Rae Correira
Lilyane and Melvin
Cowherd
Elizabeth and Emily Cox
Shirley Cox
Susan A. Cronin
Rudy David
William Davidson
Alethea "Lee" Dawson
Robert DePhilippis
Geneva Delgado
Helen De Vore
Inez Di Stefano
Dale Dille
Doris Dodge
Peter Douglass
James Dowe
Dan Dredla
Pierette Duckworth-Ford
Dean Eckenroth
Carole Eklund
Bert Epsten
Robert Ercoreca
Ana Espana
Gloria Esteppe
Nick Fadden
Dorothy Fetter
John C. Finch
Michael R. Finch
Georgia I. Fleming
Sue Foley
Ron and Donna Floyd
Rick Fox
Pattie G. Frazer
Carol Freno
Patricia K. Frost
Ron Fuller
Martin Garrick
Judith Garrison
Peter and Joan Gerber
Helen Patricia Geyer
Judy Goldman
Carol Goodrich
F. Gorman
Donald and Jacqueline
Goss
Carol Gove
Audrey P. Goyette
Heather Gracia
Irene H. Grady
Beverly Grant-Davison
Elizabeth M. Green
Michael A. and Jill S.
Green
Mark I. Greene
Bennet Greenwald
Norris and Linda
Greenwood
Marjorie A. Grigsby
Pearl B. Gurley
Margaret Gurney
Barbara Haislip
Grace A. Haley
Dev Hall
William W. Hall
Linda M. Hall
Victoria Hamilton
Chuck and Carole
Hamilton
Wanda Hartson
Anita Harvey
Kathleen Hastings
Bobbie S. Hatfield
Angela Hawkins, Ed.D.
Doug Hawkins
Clayton J. Heard
Lillie Hebert
Anne Hedenkamp
Dorothy Helm
Becky Hernandez
Robert E. Hertzka., M.D.
Sharon B. Hillidge
Nancy and Wayne
Holiman
Steve Horrell
Donald R. Howes
Mari Jo Hughes
Fred Humes
Mike and Laurie
Humphrey
Barbara Hunsaker
Tricia Hunter, R.N.
Irene Ikeda
Dennis Ikenberry
Allan B. Insko
Mimi January
Sue Jarrett
Stan Jasek
Emily Jenkins
Peter J. Jensen
Erica Johnson
Robert Johnson
Tim P. Jones
James Justus
Sandy Kahn
Celia C. Kane
Jeanne L. Kelley
June M. Kemler
Valerie and Kevin
Kennedy
Edith M. Keogh
Sandi Killalea
Dyan Kirschenman
Gregory E. Knoll
Leonard M. Kornreich,
M.D.
George Kost
Dorothy E. Krack
Walt Kraker
Robert and Ann Kubota
Glenn Kubota
Sharon and Kenneth
Kubota
Jack Kuta
Norma L. Labastida
Sandra Lamb
Georgia Langhorst
Brian Lartor
Marilyn Lassman
Christopher H. Lewis
Scott K. Lewis
Karlyn A. Lewis
Randy and Lorraine
Lievan
Melinda Lim
Nancy Lind
Sandra Linn
José Lira, M.D.
Diana E. Liuag
Norman and Joyce Llanes
Maxie L. Loyns
Duane and Elaine Lucca
Darwin Ludi
Eloise Luhnow
William Lynch
Rose Magalski
Evelyn S. March
Linda Marion
Larry Marshall
Kathy Martinson
Joanne Marugg
Debi Matrona
Pete Matz
Dennis and Debi Mauricio
Bob McAlister
Archie McAllister
J. M. McDade
Judith S. McEntyre
Tom McFarlane
Jane H. McGill
Jil R. McGrievy
Michael L. McInnish
Peg Merceica
Charlette Meservy
Sally Messersmith
Hubert and Chris Messina
Hope H. Militscher
Carolyn Miller
Jon and Sue Miller
Marietta Minjares
Mary and Angel Miranda
Jose Molina
Al Monahan
Ramon E. Moncada, M.D.
Sherry and Tom Money
Ken and Laurene
Monson
Virginia Montgomery
Joan and Bob
Montgomery
Jeanne S. Morgan
Larry Morgan
Vincent Mudd
Nancy Mulcahy
Frances Muncey
Debbie Munoz
Roy and Aiko Muraoka
Mike and Sandra Murphy
Betty Nanette Myers
Ronald K. Myers
Louise and Bill Nelson
Karen Neudecker
James Norton, D.D.S.
Linda Norwood
Stella K. Novak
David Nuffer
Carol O'Neill
Patricia M. Ochs
Elizabeth A. Oliver-swan
Edward Ortiz, Jr.
Karin Ostrand
Christine Oyakawa
Lisa Peek
Robert Penner, M.D.
Alex and Dee Peralta
Anne K. Pering
Myrtle Perkins
Viola A. Perrotti
Chuck G. and Janet A.
Peter
Marjorie Peterson
Frances Petty
Margie J. Phares
David and Patti Phair
Jeff and Julie Phair
Gary D. Phillips
Robin Phillips
Elizabeth and Gary
Piazzoni
Arlene Pizano-Siegrist
Alexandra Pontarelli
Hana Potts
Jan Pradels
Marilyn Prall
Judy K. Prescott
Jerry and Mildred B. Prior
Eduardo B. Prud-home
Nancy Quintero
Dorie Radichel
Paul Raffer, M.D.
Michael Ramirez
Cheryl Rankin
Kitty Raso
Roslyn R. Raue
Rikky Reclosado
Michael J. Reilly
Doreen Rekoski
John Riess
Tad and Phyllis Riley
Debora E. Ritch
Linda and Lyle Robertson
Conly Robinson
Paul B. Robinson
Jean Rogers
Leticia Romero
George Ronis
Chris and Bob Ross
Beverly J. Roush
Ginger Rullan
Peter Rullan, M.D.
Gary and Judy Sakata
Carlota Salas
Pat Salvatore
Maria Samppala
Georgiana Sanchez
Suzanne Santos
Charlene Sapien
Becky Saunders
Jeffrey Schaeffer
Chuck and Shirley
Schanke
Dick Schanke
Corky and Evelyn
Schauer
Richard Schmidt
Susan Y. Schmidt
Dewey and Judy
Schulenberg
Matt Scott
Barbara Scott
J. Tyler Scott
Alan and Kathleen Phair
Seacord
Frances M. Shaw
Walter M. Shaw, M.D.
Cynthia Shay
Roy Shepard
Lon D. Showley
Jerry Siegel
Yolanda Sierra
Linda Silva
Edward Singer, M.D.
Leslie Six
Charles D. Smith
Constance L. Smith
Gregory T. Smith
Kerry Smith
Roxie and Ernie Smith
Perk and Tom Snow
Sam and Betty Snyder
Dency Souval
Harvey and Bette Souza
Kelly Souza
Mike Spethman
Linda J. Spicer
Rebecca Springsguth
Charlotte A. Stanley
Norbert Stein
Robert G. Steiner
Wendy Stewart
Todd R. Stone
Joanne Stonecipher
Dennis Stovel
Mary Anne Stro
Nannine Stufkosy
Thomas W. Sudberry
Tracy Sundlun
Robert R. and Susan
Sutherland
Kevin Sutton
Cecilia Navarro Tanner
Scott Tanner
Teresa Thomas
Brandon Thomas
James E. Thompson
Elizabeth Carlene
Thornton
V. Roger Tibbetts, DDS
Mary and Hal Trimble
Beverly Turner
Nancy Vaccaro
Rudy Valdez-Romero
Barbara Van Patten
Levi and Dorothy Vance
Barbara Vargas
Scotty Vaught
John Videen, M.D.
Robert J. Vogel
Kristin Volkman
Richard A. Wales
Linda E. Walkenhorst
Fran Rizza
Steven S. Wall
Meg Watson
Bonnie L. Webb
Floyd L. Wergeland, Jr,
M.D.
Harold D. West
Dorothy K. Wetherill
William and Cheri Whitt
Calvin J. Wilder
John A. Willett
Bradley Wilson
Bud and Sandra Wilson
Tom Woldt
Sandy and Woody Wood
Tom and Sandy
Woodrum
Albert M. Worrells
Sue Wright
Kay L. Wright
Dale Wright
Sarah B. and Jeffrey
Wright
Edith Wyatt
Gary and Ann Wysong
James M. Yamate
Lynn Young
Maria Zadorozny
Alan Ziegaus
Keith Zuercher
CA
June 6, 2006 Election
Smart Voter
Additional Endorsements
for Cheryl Cox
Candidate for Mayor;
City of Chula Vista
This information is
provided by the
candidate
Greg Cox, Supervisor,
County of San Diego
Deputy Sheriffs'
Association of San Diego
County
Shirley Horton,
Assemblywoman, 78th
Assembly District
Leonard M. Moore,
Councilman Emeritus,
City of Chula Vista
John Moot, Former
Councilmember, City of
Chula Vista
Gregory J. Smith, San Diego
County
Assessor/Recorder/Clerk
Darrell Issa,
Congressman
George Plescia,
Assemblyman, 75th
Assembly District
Mark Wyland,
Assemblyman, 74th
Assembly District
David Bejarano, Former
San Diego Chief of Police
Chester S. Devore,
President, Southwestern
College, retired
Bertha J. Lopez,
Larry Cunningham, and
Patrick Judd,
Boardmembers, Chula
Vista Elementary School
District
Scott Walker, Fire Chief,
Bonita-Sunnyside Fire
Protection District
Nick Aguilar, Member,
San Diego County Board
of Education
Allison and Stephen
Abbott
Janet Abbott
Nancy Acerrio
Harriet Acton
Patricia Aguilar
Greg Alabado
Dale Alano
Beatrice J. Alexander
Susan Allers
Barbara Altbaum
Simon Andrews
Estelle and Jim Arens
Guy Asaro
Nina Ashton
Beth Atayde
Greg Augustine
Herb Bailey
Lee Bailey
Michael W. Bailey
Harriet H. Baker
Max Batangan
Karen Batcher
Nancy Batterman
J. Baumgarten
N. J. Beck
Jeannette R. A. Bellucci
James E. Biddle
Josh and Vanessa Boen
Ron and Reina Bolles
Colette Boodreau
Fred and Ruth Ann Borst
Lisa Boyd
John Bradel
Maile Bridge
Patty Brooks
Camille Bruno
Nancy A. Brunson
Bobbie Bryant
Maurice Dean Buck
Russ and Nancy Bullen
Marie Buttita
Andy and Kathy Campbell
Jane Campbell
Donald J. Capie
Chris and Rochelle
Carroll
Kent and Joanne Carson
Shirley Casper
Suzanne Catanzaro
Frank Chaboudy
Trudie Chandler
Jan and Chris Chapman
Andrew Chase
Mark Chase
Dick F. Chase, Sr.
Dina Chavez
Kathy Cien-Mayer
Judy Ciotti
Richard K. Circuit
Ken Clark
Kathleen Closson
Marshall and Beverly
Compton
Edna Concepcion
Arlene M. Conwell
Karan Cooper
Alan L. and Frances E.
Cornell
Rae Correira
Lilyane and Melvin
Cowherd
Elizabeth and Emily Cox
Shirley Cox
Susan A. Cronin
Rudy David
William Davidson
Alethea "Lee" Dawson
Robert DePhilippis
Geneva Delgado
Helen De Vore
Inez Di Stefano
Dale Dille
Doris Dodge
Peter Douglass
James Dowe
Dan Dredla
Pierette Duckworth-Ford
Dean Eckenroth
Carole Eklund
Bert Epsten
Robert Ercoreca
Ana Espana
Gloria Esteppe
Nick Fadden
Dorothy Fetter
John C. Finch
Michael R. Finch
Georgia I. Fleming
Sue Foley
Ron and Donna Floyd
Rick Fox
Pattie G. Frazer
Carol Freno
Patricia K. Frost
Ron Fuller
Martin Garrick
Judith Garrison
Peter and Joan Gerber
Helen Patricia Geyer
Judy Goldman
Carol Goodrich
F. Gorman
Donald and Jacqueline
Goss
Carol Gove
Audrey P. Goyette
Heather Gracia
Irene H. Grady
Beverly Grant-Davison
Elizabeth M. Green
Michael A. and Jill S.
Green
Mark I. Greene
Bennet Greenwald
Norris and Linda
Greenwood
Marjorie A. Grigsby
Pearl B. Gurley
Margaret Gurney
Barbara Haislip
Grace A. Haley
Dev Hall
William W. Hall
Linda M. Hall
Victoria Hamilton
Chuck and Carole
Hamilton
Wanda Hartson
Anita Harvey
Kathleen Hastings
Bobbie S. Hatfield
Angela Hawkins, Ed.D.
Doug Hawkins
Clayton J. Heard
Lillie Hebert
Anne Hedenkamp
Dorothy Helm
Becky Hernandez
Robert E. Hertzka., M.D.
Sharon B. Hillidge
Nancy and Wayne
Holiman
Steve Horrell
Donald R. Howes
Mari Jo Hughes
Fred Humes
Mike and Laurie
Humphrey
Barbara Hunsaker
Tricia Hunter, R.N.
Irene Ikeda
Dennis Ikenberry
Allan B. Insko
Mimi January
Sue Jarrett
Stan Jasek
Emily Jenkins
Peter J. Jensen
Erica Johnson
Robert Johnson
Tim P. Jones
James Justus
Sandy Kahn
Celia C. Kane
Jeanne L. Kelley
June M. Kemler
Valerie and Kevin
Kennedy
Edith M. Keogh
Sandi Killalea
Dyan Kirschenman
Gregory E. Knoll
Leonard M. Kornreich,
M.D.
George Kost
Dorothy E. Krack
Walt Kraker
Robert and Ann Kubota
Glenn Kubota
Sharon and Kenneth
Kubota
Jack Kuta
Norma L. Labastida
Sandra Lamb
Georgia Langhorst
Brian Lartor
Marilyn Lassman
Christopher H. Lewis
Scott K. Lewis
Karlyn A. Lewis
Randy and Lorraine
Lievan
Melinda Lim
Nancy Lind
Sandra Linn
José Lira, M.D.
Diana E. Liuag
Norman and Joyce Llanes
Maxie L. Loyns
Duane and Elaine Lucca
Darwin Ludi
Eloise Luhnow
William Lynch
Rose Magalski
Evelyn S. March
Linda Marion
Larry Marshall
Kathy Martinson
Joanne Marugg
Debi Matrona
Pete Matz
Dennis and Debi Mauricio
Bob McAlister
Archie McAllister
J. M. McDade
Judith S. McEntyre
Tom McFarlane
Jane H. McGill
Jil R. McGrievy
Michael L. McInnish
Peg Merceica
Charlette Meservy
Sally Messersmith
Hubert and Chris Messina
Hope H. Militscher
Carolyn Miller
Jon and Sue Miller
Marietta Minjares
Mary and Angel Miranda
Jose Molina
Al Monahan
Ramon E. Moncada, M.D.
Sherry and Tom Money
Ken and Laurene
Monson
Virginia Montgomery
Joan and Bob
Montgomery
Jeanne S. Morgan
Larry Morgan
Vincent Mudd
Nancy Mulcahy
Frances Muncey
Debbie Munoz
Roy and Aiko Muraoka
Mike and Sandra Murphy
Betty Nanette Myers
Ronald K. Myers
Louise and Bill Nelson
Karen Neudecker
James Norton, D.D.S.
Linda Norwood
Stella K. Novak
David Nuffer
Carol O'Neill
Patricia M. Ochs
Elizabeth A. Oliver-swan
Edward Ortiz, Jr.
Karin Ostrand
Christine Oyakawa
Lisa Peek
Robert Penner, M.D.
Alex and Dee Peralta
Anne K. Pering
Myrtle Perkins
Viola A. Perrotti
Chuck G. and Janet A.
Peter
Marjorie Peterson
Frances Petty
Margie J. Phares
David and Patti Phair
Jeff and Julie Phair
Gary D. Phillips
Robin Phillips
Elizabeth and Gary
Piazzoni
Arlene Pizano-Siegrist
Alexandra Pontarelli
Hana Potts
Jan Pradels
Marilyn Prall
Judy K. Prescott
Jerry and Mildred B. Prior
Eduardo B. Prud-home
Nancy Quintero
Dorie Radichel
Paul Raffer, M.D.
Michael Ramirez
Cheryl Rankin
Kitty Raso
Roslyn R. Raue
Rikky Reclosado
Michael J. Reilly
Doreen Rekoski
John Riess
Tad and Phyllis Riley
Debora E. Ritch
Linda and Lyle Robertson
Conly Robinson
Paul B. Robinson
Jean Rogers
Leticia Romero
George Ronis
Chris and Bob Ross
Beverly J. Roush
Ginger Rullan
Peter Rullan, M.D.
Gary and Judy Sakata
Carlota Salas
Pat Salvatore
Maria Samppala
Georgiana Sanchez
Suzanne Santos
Charlene Sapien
Becky Saunders
Jeffrey Schaeffer
Chuck and Shirley
Schanke
Dick Schanke
Corky and Evelyn
Schauer
Richard Schmidt
Susan Y. Schmidt
Dewey and Judy
Schulenberg
Matt Scott
Barbara Scott
J. Tyler Scott
Alan and Kathleen Phair
Seacord
Frances M. Shaw
Walter M. Shaw, M.D.
Cynthia Shay
Roy Shepard
Lon D. Showley
Jerry Siegel
Yolanda Sierra
Linda Silva
Edward Singer, M.D.
Leslie Six
Charles D. Smith
Constance L. Smith
Gregory T. Smith
Kerry Smith
Roxie and Ernie Smith
Perk and Tom Snow
Sam and Betty Snyder
Dency Souval
Harvey and Bette Souza
Kelly Souza
Mike Spethman
Linda J. Spicer
Rebecca Springsguth
Charlotte A. Stanley
Norbert Stein
Robert G. Steiner
Wendy Stewart
Todd R. Stone
Joanne Stonecipher
Dennis Stovel
Mary Anne Stro
Nannine Stufkosy
Thomas W. Sudberry
Tracy Sundlun
Robert R. and Susan
Sutherland
Kevin Sutton
Cecilia Navarro Tanner
Scott Tanner
Teresa Thomas
Brandon Thomas
James E. Thompson
Elizabeth Carlene
Thornton
V. Roger Tibbetts, DDS
Mary and Hal Trimble
Beverly Turner
Nancy Vaccaro
Rudy Valdez-Romero
Barbara Van Patten
Levi and Dorothy Vance
Barbara Vargas
Scotty Vaught
John Videen, M.D.
Robert J. Vogel
Kristin Volkman
Richard A. Wales
Linda E. Walkenhorst
Fran Rizza
Steven S. Wall
Meg Watson
Bonnie L. Webb
Floyd L. Wergeland, Jr,
M.D.
Harold D. West
Dorothy K. Wetherill
William and Cheri Whitt
Calvin J. Wilder
John A. Willett
Bradley Wilson
Bud and Sandra Wilson
Tom Woldt
Sandy and Woody Wood
Tom and Sandy
Woodrum
Albert M. Worrells
Sue Wright
Kay L. Wright
Dale Wright
Sarah B. and Jeffrey
Wright
Edith Wyatt
Gary and Ann Wysong
James M. Yamate
Lynn Young
Maria Zadorozny
Alan Ziegaus
Keith Zuercher
Why This Website
Stutz Artiano Shinoff
& Holtz v. Maura
Larkins defamation
SDCOE
CVESD
Castle Park
Elementary School
Law Enforcement
CTA
CVE
Stutz Artiano Shinoff
& Holtz
Silence is Golden
Schools and Violence
Office Admin Hearings
Larkins OAH Hearing
Stutz Artiano Shinoff
& Holtz v. Maura
Larkins defamation
SDCOE
CVESD
Castle Park
Elementary School
Law Enforcement
CTA
CVE
Stutz Artiano Shinoff
& Holtz
Silence is Golden
Schools and Violence
Office Admin Hearings
Larkins OAH Hearing
Cheryl Cox's Troubled First Term
May 10, 2009
By WILL CARLESS
Voice of San Diego
It's been a rough couple of weeks for Chula Vista Mayor Cheryl Cox.
Last Tuesday, a citywide 1 percent sales tax increase she had supported was
trounced at the polls, killing perhaps Cox's best chance of pulling Chula Vista
away from the brink of bankruptcy and giving her nothing to show for backing a
measure that has clearly helped push her once-solid Republican base against her.
The same day, Port Commissioner Mike Najera went public with the news that Cox
had demanded his resignation from the commission. Najera refused to budge and
his fellow commissioners supported him, demanding an explanation from Cox —
who didn't produce one. The affair was a public blow to the
mayor's political credibility that only became more
embarrassing when Najera revealed he had recently held a
fundraiser for her political nemesis, Chula Vista City
Councilman Steve Castaneda. Najera suggested political
revenge — an accusation Cox has had levied at her before.
These latest setbacks for the mayor might not have been so significant if they
didn't come on the back of a catalogue of failures that have hit Chula Vista since
Cox's election in 2006.
On her watch, the city's flagship waterfront redevelopment plan has been
scuppered, talks with the Chargers have largely gone nowhere, and the city has
come perilously close to financial meltdown. While Cox and her supporters say
she shouldn't have to shoulder all the blame for these losses, political insiders and
Cox's fellow politicians said her often-brusque personality has served as a catalyst
for the city's failures.
The rookie mayor, whose political experience prior to her election was limited to
serving on the Chula Vista Elementary School District Board of Trustees, has also
found herself alienated on the city's five-member City Council, two of whose
members are widely considered to be priming themselves for a run against her in
2010 (she said she will run for reelection). One of her colleagues, Councilman
John McCann, has used Cox's failures with the Chargers and the sales tax
increase to curry favor with local Republicans, who have not been shy in
expressing their support for him.
And Cox has had to contend with the accusations of
political vengeance. Castaneda, who ran against Cox in
2006, has accused her of conspiring with her husband,
County Supervisor Greg Cox, and District Attorney Bonnie
Dumanis, to have him investigated for corruption three
times. Cox dismisses the claims as ridiculous, but the
latest mishaps, including Najera's dig, have added fuel to
the fire of Cox's detractors.
"She's the leader. She's the mayor. Leadership is taking responsibility for what
happens, and if nothing happens, she needs to take responsibility for that," Najera
said...
May 10, 2009
By WILL CARLESS
Voice of San Diego
It's been a rough couple of weeks for Chula Vista Mayor Cheryl Cox.
Last Tuesday, a citywide 1 percent sales tax increase she had supported was
trounced at the polls, killing perhaps Cox's best chance of pulling Chula Vista
away from the brink of bankruptcy and giving her nothing to show for backing a
measure that has clearly helped push her once-solid Republican base against her.
The same day, Port Commissioner Mike Najera went public with the news that Cox
had demanded his resignation from the commission. Najera refused to budge and
his fellow commissioners supported him, demanding an explanation from Cox —
who didn't produce one. The affair was a public blow to the
mayor's political credibility that only became more
embarrassing when Najera revealed he had recently held a
fundraiser for her political nemesis, Chula Vista City
Councilman Steve Castaneda. Najera suggested political
revenge — an accusation Cox has had levied at her before.
These latest setbacks for the mayor might not have been so significant if they
didn't come on the back of a catalogue of failures that have hit Chula Vista since
Cox's election in 2006.
On her watch, the city's flagship waterfront redevelopment plan has been
scuppered, talks with the Chargers have largely gone nowhere, and the city has
come perilously close to financial meltdown. While Cox and her supporters say
she shouldn't have to shoulder all the blame for these losses, political insiders and
Cox's fellow politicians said her often-brusque personality has served as a catalyst
for the city's failures.
The rookie mayor, whose political experience prior to her election was limited to
serving on the Chula Vista Elementary School District Board of Trustees, has also
found herself alienated on the city's five-member City Council, two of whose
members are widely considered to be priming themselves for a run against her in
2010 (she said she will run for reelection). One of her colleagues, Councilman
John McCann, has used Cox's failures with the Chargers and the sales tax
increase to curry favor with local Republicans, who have not been shy in
expressing their support for him.
And Cox has had to contend with the accusations of
political vengeance. Castaneda, who ran against Cox in
2006, has accused her of conspiring with her husband,
County Supervisor Greg Cox, and District Attorney Bonnie
Dumanis, to have him investigated for corruption three
times. Cox dismisses the claims as ridiculous, but the
latest mishaps, including Najera's dig, have added fuel to
the fire of Cox's detractors.
"She's the leader. She's the mayor. Leadership is taking responsibility for what
happens, and if nothing happens, she needs to take responsibility for that," Najera
said...
| San Diego Education Report |
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San Diego
Education Report
Education Report
| SDER |
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