The Cost of Running by the Bay
Justin Jouvenal of the San Francisco Examiner reports on a new survey by San Francisco Ethics Commissioner Joe Lynn on the high cost of running for mayor up north.
Lynn said he was prompted to do the review because he was surprised to learn Gavin Newsom spent $5.7 million on his campaign and Villaraigosa only spent $5.2 million, even though Los Angeles, with nearly 4 million residents, has five times the population of San Francisco.
The story includes speculation on why San Francisco is so expensive, including everything from oligarchical political consultants (one of whom, presumably, is my great friend and old boss, Rich Schlackman) to San Franciscans love of politics. For one perspective on Angelenos lack of love for politics, see Greg Dewar.
[Friday night addendum:] Turns out my old boss wasn’t on Jouvenal’s list of big-time San Francisco consultants. On the other hand, Duane Baughman was. A long, long time ago - way before I did - Baughman worked for Schlackman.
