The Centers of Power in the Mayor’s Race

It might be conventional wisdom in San Diego that La Jolla has an outsized influence in city politics. Here’s one example of how much.

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.

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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

Liam Dillon is a news reporter for voiceofsandiego.org. He covers San Diego City Hall and big buildings. What should he write about next?

Please contact him directly at liam.dillon@voiceofsandiego.org or 619.550.5663.

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