Ryan Clumpner, from SDHC website.
As recently disclosed by Geoff Page here at the OB Rag and by U-T columnist Michael Smolens, a shadowy group called Community Voices San Diego has been mailing out hit pieces against Lori Saldaña and in support of the lone GOP candidate in the District 2 race, Linda Lukas.
Saldaña is perceived by many to be the main contender against fellow Democrat and incumbent Jen Campbell in the contest.
Now, Matt Potter at San Diego Reader has informed us that Ryan Clumpner, a Republican political consultant, is the principal officer of Community Voices — according to a statement of organization filed with the County Registrar of Voters.
Clumpner may not be a house-hold name in D2 but he is the Vice-Chair of the San Diego Housing Commission board, having been appointed to the board by then-San Diego Mayor Kevin Faulconer in August 2018 – a fellow Republican. His tenure runs through August 2022.
He is also well-known in other GOP circles as he is the former GOP Lincoln Club executive director and managed ultra-conservative Carl DeMaio’s race for mayor.
Potter reports that “On May 24, the Building Industry Association of San Diego County PAC kicked in $30,000,” to Community Voices. He also notes:
The same day, per a May 25 filing, Community Voices spent $8688 on a mailer for Republican dentist Linda Lukacs in the Second District race. As of the same date, the committee had spent a total of $76,299 on mailers for the Lukacs cause, according to the document. …
According to a May 22 filing with the county, Community Voices raised $69,000 from the beginning of this year through May 21.
The San Diego Regional Chamber of Commerce PAC came up with $49,000 on May 9, and the Downtown San Diego Partnership PAC gave $20,000 on May 11. …
Clumpner’s political consulting firm, Public Dynamics, received more than $66,000 from Community Voices for “Digital advertising,” during the period from October 18, 2020, through the end of that year, per a January 9, 2021, filing.
Mayor Gloria is also tied to Community Voices. According to county filings, a group called “Neighbors for Housing Solutions Supporting Todd Gloria for Mayor 2020” gave nearly $32,000 to Community Voices that year.
And as Rag readers may recall, that was the year of a very bitter mayoral contest between Gloria and his Democratic opponent, Barbara Bry. Mailers connected to Gloria accused Bry of being a Republican, a Trump supporter and the outrageous claim she was a QAnon adherent.
Potter does link to a May 27 dispatch by U-T columnist Michael Smolens, which is worth checking out.
{ 6 comments… read them below or add one }
With all these pols against her, she must be a powerhouse, who doesn’t knuckle under to the establishment insiders…. Looking forward to voting for Lori!
I’ve added the link to the Matt Potter SD Reader article. Here it is also
Why is the SD Housing Commission filled with Republicans and corporatists? Where are the affordable housing advocates?
Did Jen ever debate Lori?
I believe Campbell attended one forum for the candidates, if you want to call that a debate. There is another forum tonight at the Masonic Hall in OB starting at 6:00 and schedule for an hour and a half. It is doubtful, however, that Campbell will show.
I’m increasingly worried about this floozy, Linda Luckas, pulling in enough votes to knock out a viable democratic candidate after them splitting votes.
Linda has no chance at beating Campbell in a general election, and clearly has little grasp of the issues or the job.
Ideally, Campbell comes in 3rd and we get 2 new choices, but I’m not optimistic the average voter knows much beyond the mailers they’re receiving.