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Third Quarter 2010 Summary of Earnings and Activity of Campaign Consultants Registered with the City and County of San Francisco – June 1, 2010 through August 31, 2010

Jamienne S. Studley, Chairperson
John St. Croix, Executive Director

Report prepared by:
Catherine Argumedo

Date Issued: October 20, 2010

CAMPAIGN CONSULTANT FILINGS

THIRD QUARTER 2010

I. Introduction

In November 1997, San Francisco voters approved the Regulation of Campaign Consultants Ordinance (“Ordinance”), San Francisco Campaign and Governmental Conduct Code Sections 1.500-1.540.  The Ordinance requires persons who earn $1,000 or more per year for campaign consultant services to register with the Ethics Commission and file quarterly activity reports. 

The third quarter activity reports were due on September 15, 2010 and covered the filing period beginning June 1, 2010 and ending August 31, 2010.

II. Comparative Data

The level of campaign consultant activity has fluctuated since the first filing in June 1998 (the second quarter of 1998).  The chart on the next page compares data compiled pertaining to campaign consultant activity since implementation of the Ordinance.  As indicated, the level of campaign consultant activity generally increases or decreases depending on 1) whether an election is held and 2) the number and type of local items on the ballot.

QuarterNumber of ConsultantsTotal Payments PromisedTotal Payments ReceivedTotal Contributions Made
First Quarter 200342$368,102$331,328$3,850
Second Quarter 200351$486,555$530,434$3,250
Third Quarter 200364$618,346$749,332$2,805
Fourth Quarter 200364$1,112,506$1,367,183$10,125
First Quarter 200436$352,837$243,578$1,600
Second Quarter 200429$180,947$136,950$1,650
Third Quarter 200445$461,739$405,991$11,050
Fourth Quarter 200455$620,070$943,214$4,786
First Quarter 200517$78,578$29,762$1,750
Second Quarter 200517$87,399$93,085$250
Third Quarter 200520$160,430$102,377$950
Fourth Quarter 200523$256,254$283,731$1,150
First Quarter 20069$68,911$72,654$1,900
Second Quarter 200613$400,328$385,303$1,000
Third Quarter 200618$279,270$310,077$4,200
Fourth Quarter 200621$842,765$617,275$12,700
First Quarter 200714$115,761$135,720$1,200
Second Quarter 200716$227,514$163,333N/A
Third Quarter 200719$479,895$414,496$69,137
Fourth Quarter 200719$1,262,553$1,324,139$35,875
First Quarter 200821$622,255$830,920$92,950
Second Quarter 200827$718,486$1,011,559$3,750
Third Quarter 200840$862,640$811,954$4,843
Fourth Quarter 200841$1,985,420$3,978,592$4,830
First Quarter 200921$490,230$451,730$1,560
Second Quarter 200920$429,076$447,804$3,545
Third Quarter 200925$519,855$562,206$2,250
Fourth Quarter 200927$874,076$880,721$500
First Quarter 201026$273,847$348,578$100
Second Quarter 201030$449,666$666,692$3,900
Third Quarter 201041$593,564$635,782$3,118

III. The Campaign Consultant Ordinance

The Ordinance defines “campaign consultant” as a person or entity that receives or is promised $1,000 or more in a calendar year for providing either of the following services:

Campaign Management,” defined as conducting, coordinating or supervising a campaign to elect, defeat, retain or recall a local candidate, or to adopt or defeat a local ballot measure, including but not limited to:

  1. Hiring or authorizing the hiring of campaign staff and consultants; or
  2. Spending or authorizing the expenditure of campaign funds; or
  3. Directing, supervising or conducting the solicitation of campaign contributions; or
  4. Selecting or recommending vendors or subvendors of goods or services for the campaign.

OR

Campaign Strategy,” defined as planning for the election, defeat, retention or recall of a local candidate, or for the adoption or defeat of a local ballot measure, including not but limited to:

  1. Producing or authorizing the production of campaign literature and print and broadcast advertising; or
  2. Seeking endorsements of organizations or individuals; or
  3. Seeking financing; or
  4. Advising on public policy positions.

Employees of campaign consultants do not themselves qualify as campaign consultants.  However, persons and entities that subcontract with a campaign consultant to provide campaign consulting services and that receive or are promised $1,000 or more in a calendar year do qualify as campaign consultants.  Similarly, employees of campaigns who engage in campaign management or campaign strategy and are promised or receive $1,000 or more in a calendar year also qualify as campaign consultants.

Campaign consultants are required to report only activity associated with local candidates or local ballot measures.  For purposes of the Ordinance, “candidate” means:  (1) a person who has taken affirmative action to seek nomination or election to local office, or (2) a local officeholder who has taken affirmative action to seek nomination or election to any elective office, or (3) a local officeholder who is the subject of a recall election.

Local officeholder” means the following elected officers:  Mayor, Members of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors, City Attorney, District Attorney, Treasurer, Sheriff, Assessor, Public Defender, Members of the Board of Education of the San Francisco Unified School District, and Members of the Governing Board of the San Francisco Community College District. 

Measure” means a local referendum, or a local ballot measure, whether or not it qualifies for the ballot.

The Commission staff has compiled the information filed by campaign consultants for the third quarter of 2010 in the attached tables.  All amounts reported by campaign consultants have been rounded to the nearest whole dollar.

IV. Description of Quarterly Report Tables

Table 1:  Total Reported Activity (June 1, 2010 – August 31, 2010)

Table 1 summarizes all reported activity by campaign consultants for the third quarter of 2010.  Filers are listed in alphabetical order.  The total payments promised by clients and any political contributions or gifts to officeholders made by the filers are also reported.

ConsultantPayments Promised By ClientsPayments Received From ClientsPolitical Contributions
Berg Davis$6,949$6,949$0
Bowman, Christopher L.$0$0$0
Brokaw, Brian$32,529$32,529$0
The California Group$49,159$16,500$0
Comstock, Doug$1,500$1,500$0
Crowley, Colleen$6,750$3,500$950
Drake, Jen$0$5,600$0
Erwin & Muir$22,020$22,020$0
The Everhart Company$7,250$7,250$0
Fox, Jill$480$0$0
Gaylord, Peter$665$665$0
Green, Jim$16,246$16,246$0
Ground Floor Public Affairs$10,000$10,000$0
Hedayat, Yashar$24,000$24,000$0
Hildebrand Strategies, Inc.$23,417$0$0
Hope Road Consulting, LLC$53,590$46,371$0
Hsieh & Associates$14,500$0$0
Hsieh, Francisco$0$0$0
Integrated Fundraising Strategies$0$0$0
Lee, Christopher$18,000$15,500$0
Left Coast Communications$33,841$33,841$1,000
Lester Connect$730$730$0
Lyons, Nichelle$8,231$8,231$0
MSHC Partners, Inc.$0$0$0
Maravich, Michelle$31,431$31,431$0
Mayer, Shane$15,000$7,500$0
Mesloh, Debbie$31,152$31,424$0
Murry, Geoffrey$12,000$12,000$500
PCS Communications$0$0$0
Jim Ross Political Consulting$0$0$0
Kathleen Russell Consulting$0$6,385$0
SCN Strategies, Inc.$105,000$105,000$0
SGR Consulting$18,673$14,243$0
Savage Strategies$10,000$10,000$668
Stearns Consulting, Inc.$0$134,859$0
Storefront Political Media$24,881$15,628$0
Taylor, Adam$10,500$10,500$0
Terris Barnes & Walters$0$0$0
Wells, Nick$5,070$5,070$0
Whitehurst Campaigns, Inc.$0$310$0
Workman, Dee Dee$0$0$0
TOTAL$593,564$635,782$3,118

Table 2:  Client Payment Report

Filers are required to report “economic consideration” promised by or received from clients in exchange for campaign consulting services during the applicable reporting period.  Economic consideration includes payments, fees, commissions, and reimbursements for expenses, gifts or anything else of value. 

Table 2 lists the name of the filer in alphabetical order, the filer’s clients, the services performed for that client, the payment promised by the client in the reporting period, and the payment actually received.  The table also indicates the total payments promised or received by all filers.  The payments promised by all clients to filers during the third quarter totaled $593,564.  The payments received by all filers from clients during the third quarter totaled $635,782.

TABLE 2    
PAYMENTS (Q3 2010)    
CAMPAIGN CONSULTANTCLIENTSERVICES PERFORMEDTOTAL PAYMENTS PROMISEDTOTAL PAYMENTS RECEIVED
Berg DavisJudge Richard UlmerCampaign consulting services$6,949$6,949
Brokaw, BrianKamala Harris for Attorney General 2010Campaign management, including hiring and managing staff and developing policy platforms$32,529$32,529
The California GroupMalia CohenCampaign management$16,500$16,500
The California GroupSan Franciscans for a Better MUNICampaign management$32,659$0
Comstock, DougAnita GrierGeneral campaign services$1,500$1,500
Crowley, ColleenEmily Murase for School BoardCampaign strategy and management$5,250$3,500
Crowley, ColleenTheresa Sparks for SupervisorGeneral campaign and field management and consulting$1,500$0
Drake, JenRebecca Prozan for Supervisor $0$5,600
Erwin & MuirCarmen Chu for Supervisor 2010Campaign consulting; direct mail$12,000$12,000
Erwin & MuirScott Wiener for SupervisorCampaign consulting; direct mail$10,020$10,020
Everhart Company, Inc.DeWitt Lacy for SupervisorCampaign consulting services$7,250$7,250
Fox, JillKristine Enea for SupervisorField campaign design and cooperation$480$0
Gaylord, PeterKat Anderson for Supervisor 2010Complete campaign endorsement questionnaires; website consulting; write policy$665$665
Green, JimKamala Harris for Attorney GeneralFundraising services$16,246$16,246
Ground Floor Public AffairsCoalition for Civil SidewalksCampaign management$10,000$10,000
Hedayat, YasharNewsom for CaliforniaCampaign management$24,000$24,000
Hildebrand Strategies, Inc.Bevan Dufty for Mayor 2011Campaign budget development; create and implement messaging, fundraising, and scheduling plans$23,417$0
Hope Road Consulting, LLCMichael NavaCampaign consulting services$40,133$35,913
Hope Road Consulting, LLCRebecca ProzanCampaign consulting services$10,457$10,457
Hope Road Consulting, LLCProp D campaignCampaign consulting services$3,000$0
Hsieh & AssociatesRe-Elect Supervisor Michela Alioto-PierGeneral strategy and media$9,500$0
Hsieh & AssociatesCoalition for Civil Sidewalks, No on M Yes on LConsulting for ballot measure, including strategy, media, and fundraising$5,000$0
Lee, ChristopherMark FarrellCampaign management, media relations, and direct mail development$6,000$6,000
Lee, ChristopherTony KellyCampaign management, media relations, and direct mail development$4,500$4,500
Lee, ChristopherTheresa SparksCampaign strategy and management, including media services$7,500$5,000
Left Coast CommunicationsJane Kim for Supervisor 2010Campaign consulting services$7,788$7,788
Left Coast CommunicationsChris Jackson for Supervisor 2010Campaign consulting services$26,052$26,052
Lester ConnectRafael Mandelman for Supervisor 2010Writing, designing, printing walk piece$730$730
Lyons, NichelleCarmen Chu for Supervisor 2010Fundraising services$8,231$8,231
Maravich, MichelleKamala Harris for Attorney General 2010Campaign fundraising$31,431$31,431
Mayer, ShaneSweet for Supervisor 2010Campaign management$15,000$7,500
Mesloh, DebbieKamala Harris for Attorney General 2010Strategic communications counsel, political advice, staffing candidate on campaign travel$31,152$31,424
Murry, GeoffreyCommittee to Elect Bill HemengerCampaign management, design, precinct walking$12,000$12,000
Kathleen Russell ConsultingSteve MossCampaign management and consulting, including volunteer coordination and materials development$0$6,385
SCN Strategies, Inc.Kamala Harris for Attorney General 2010Campaign consulting$60,000$75,000
SCN Strategies, Inc.Newsom for CaliforniaCampaign management and strategy$45,000$30,000
SGR ConsultingCommittee to Re-Elect Supervisor Michela Alioto-PierFundraising and fundraising development$4,430$0
SGR ConsultingGavin Newsom for CaliforniaFundraising and fundraising strategy$14,243$14,243
Savage StrategiesYes on Prop B Pension & Benefits ReformCampaign consulting services$10,000$10,000
Stearns ConsultingKamala Harris for Attorney GeneralCampaign media$0$25,199
Stearns ConsultingDavid Campos for DCCC 2010Campaign media and consulting$0$3,757
Stearns ConsultingDavid Chiu for DCCC 2010Campaign media and consulting$0$6,700
Stearns ConsultingEric Mar for DCCC 2010Campaign media and consulting$0$6,448
Stearns ConsultingSF Earthquake & Disaster Response Plan/Yes on BCampaign media and consulting$0$77,587
Stearns ConsultingDebra Walker for SupervisorCampaign strategy and media$0$15,168
Storefront Political MediaPhil Ting for AssessorCampaign consulting; media production, distribution, and placement$21,628$15,628
Storefront Political MediaDavid Onek for District AttorneyCampaign consulting; media production, distribution, and placement$3,252$0
Taylor, AdamScott Wiener for SupervisorCampaign management and strategy$10,500$10,500
Wells, NickCommittee to Elect Abraham SimmonsCampaign management, including fundraising, field organization, marketing, and managing campaign staff$5,070$5,070
Whitehurst Campaigns, Inc.Herrera for Mayor 2011General campaign management consulting$0$310
TOTAL  $593,564$635,782

Table 3:  Political Contributions

Filers must report each political contribution of $100 or more to a candidate for local office, a committee controlled by a local officeholder or a candidate for local office, or a ballot measure committee whether or not the committee is controlled by a local officeholder or a candidate for local office.  Filers must report contributions of $100 or more made or delivered by the filer, or made by the filer’s client at the filer’s behest, or for which the filer acted as an agent or intermediary during the reporting period.  This chart indicates the political contributions made by campaign consultants during the reporting period.  Filers reported a total of $3,118 in political contributions during the third quarter of 2010.

CONTRIBUTIONS MADE BY CAMPAIGN CONSULTANTS
 Committee  Name Consultant NameAmount
 Carmen Chu for Supervisor Crowley, Colleen$250
 Theresa Sparks for Supervisor Crowley, Colleen$500
 Newsom for Lt. Governor Crowley, Colleen$200
 Chris Jackson for Supervisor 2010 Left Coast Communications$500
 Jane Kim for Supervisor 2010 Left Coast Communications$500
 Yes on Prop B Pension & Benefits Reform Savage Strategies$668
 Committee to Elect Bill Hemenger Geoffrey Murry$500
CONTRIBUTIONS OF $100 OR MORE MADE DURING THIRD QUARTER 2010$3,118

Vendor/Subvendor Payments

Each filer must report economic consideration promised to or received by the filer during the reporting period from vendors and sub-vendors who provide campaign-related goods or services to the filer’s current clients.  No filers reported receiving any vendor/subvendor payments during this reporting period.

Gifts to Local Officeholders

Each filer must report any gifts promised or made by the filer to a local officeholder during the reporting period which in the aggregate total $50 or more.  No filers reported any gifts promised or made to a local officeholder during this reporting period.

Employment of Local Officeholders and City Employees

If the filer employs a local officeholder or City employee during the reporting period, the filer must report the name of the officeholder or City employee and describe the nature of the employment by the filer.  In addition, if a client of the filer employs a local officeholder or City employee at the behest of the filer during the reporting period, the filer must report the name of the client, the name of each officeholder or City employee hired by the client, and the nature of the employment by the client. 

Ground Floor Public Affairs reported that it employs Justin Roja, a Commissioner for the Entertainment Commission, as an Account Executive.

City Contracts Obtained During the Reporting Period

If the filer obtains a City contract during the reporting period and the contract is approved by a local officeholder who is the filer’s client, the filer must report the contract, the date the contract was obtained, and the name of the officeholder who approved the contract.  No filers reported obtaining a City contract during the reporting period.

Appointment to Public Office

If the filer is appointed to public office during the reporting period and the appointment is made by a local officeholder who is the filer’s client, the filer must report the public office to which the filer was appointed, the date of the appointment, and the name of the officeholder who appointed the filer. 

Stefanie Roumeliotes (of SGR Consulting) was appointed as a Board member of the Golden Gate Park Concourse Authority on May 14, 2010 by her client, Mayor Gavin Newsom.

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