Benedict Y. Hur, Chairperson
John St. Croix, Executive Director
Report prepared by:
Catherine Argumedo
Date Issued: October 28, 2011
CAMPAIGN CONSULTANT FILINGS
THIRD QUARTER 2011
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, 2011 and covered the filing period beginning June 1, 2011 and ending August 31, 2011.
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.
| Quarter | Number of Consultants | Total Payments Promised | Total Payments Received | Total Contributions Made |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| First Quarter 2003 | 42 | $368,102 | $331,328 | $3,850 |
| Second Quarter 2003 | 51 | $486,555 | $530,434 | $3,250 |
| Third Quarter 2003 | 64 | $618,346 | $749,332 | $2,805 |
| Fourth Quarter 2003 | 64 | $1,112,506 | $1,367,183 | $10,125 |
| First Quarter 2004 | 36 | $352,837 | $243,578 | $1,600 |
| Second Quarter 2004 | 29 | $180,947 | $136,950 | $1,650 |
| Third Quarter 2004 | 45 | $461,739 | $405,991 | $11,050 |
| Fourth Quarter 2004 | 55 | $620,070 | $943,214 | $4,786 |
| First Quarter 2005 | 17 | $78,578 | $29,762 | $1,750 |
| Second Quarter 2005 | 17 | $87,399 | $93,085 | $250 |
| Third Quarter 2005 | 20 | $160,430 | $102,377 | $950 |
| Fourth Quarter 2005 | 23 | $256,254 | $283,731 | $1,150 |
| First Quarter 2006 | 9 | $68,911 | $72,654 | $1,900 |
| Second Quarter 2006 | 13 | $400,328 | $385,303 | $1,000 |
| Third Quarter 2006 | 18 | $279,270 | $310,077 | $4,200 |
| Fourth Quarter 2006 | 21 | $842,765 | $617,275 | $12,700 |
| First Quarter 2007 | 14 | $115,761 | $135,720 | $1,200 |
| Second Quarter 2007 | 16 | $227,514 | $163,333 | N/A |
| Third Quarter 2007 | 19 | $479,895 | $414,496 | $69,137 |
| Fourth Quarter 2007 | 19 | $1,262,553 | $1,324,139 | $35,875 |
| First Quarter 2008 | 21 | $622,255 | $830,920 | $92,950 |
| Second Quarter 2008 | 27 | $718,486 | $1,011,559 | $3,750 |
| Third Quarter 2008 | 40 | $862,640 | $811,954 | $4,843 |
| Fourth Quarter 2008 | 41 | $1,985,420 | $3,978,592 | $4,830 |
| First Quarter 2009 | 21 | $490,230 | $451,730 | $1,560 |
| Second Quarter 2009 | 20 | $429,076 | $447,804 | $3,545 |
| Third Quarter 2009 | 25 | $519,855 | $562,206 | $2,250 |
| Fourth Quarter 2009 | 27 | $874,076 | $880,721 | $500 |
| First Quarter 2010 | 26 | $273,847 | $348,578 | $100 |
| Second Quarter 2010 | 30 | $449,666 | $666,692 | $3,900 |
| Third Quarter 2010 | 41 | $593,564 | $635,782 | $3,118 |
| Fourth Quarter 2010 | 47 | $1,575,846 | $2,766,813 | $1,600 |
| First Quarter 2011 | 30 | $228,264 | $400,226 | $2,100 |
| Second Quarter 2011 | 29 | $475,807 | $399,194 | $270 |
| Third Quarter 2011 | 48 | $757,556 | $738,202 | $1,950 |
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:
- Hiring or authorizing the hiring of campaign staff and consultants; or
- Spending or authorizing the expenditure of campaign funds; or
- Directing, supervising or conducting the solicitation of campaign contributions; or
- 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:
- Producing or authorizing the production of campaign literature and print and broadcast advertising; or
- Seeking endorsements of organizations or individuals; or
- Seeking financing; or
- 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 who 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 2011 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, 2011 – August 31, 2011)
Table 1 summarizes all reported activity by campaign consultants for the third quarter of 2011. 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.
| Consultant | Payments Promised By Clients | Payments Received From Clients | Political Contributions |
|---|---|---|---|
| Barnes, Bill | $8,500 | $8,500 | $0 |
| The Baughman Company | $10,000 | $10,000 | $500 |
| Brian Brokaw Consulting | $3,548 | $0 | $0 |
| Bowman, Christopher L. | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Byrd, Michael | $5,635 | $0 | $0 |
| The California Group | $30,880 | $30,880 | $0 |
| Chariot LLC | $99,600 | $68,868 | $0 |
| City Strategies/Darcy Brown | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Demissie, Addisu | $13,000 | $13,000 | $0 |
| Derse, Nicole | $24,000 | $24,000 | $0 |
| Duffy & Capitolo | $33,969 | $33,969 | $0 |
| Erickson, Matthew | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Erwin & Muir | $22,500 | $7,500 | $0 |
| Feighan, David | $13,000 | $13,000 | $100 |
| Fox, Erica | $6,076 | $6,076 | $0 |
| Phil Giarrizzo Campaigns | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Ginsberg McLear Group | $7,097 | $0 | $0 |
| Golinger, Jon | $21,000 | $22,338 | $400 |
| Ground Floor Public Affairs | $14,583 | $12,500 | $0 |
| Hope Road Consulting, LLC | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Hsieh & Associates | $7,175 | $7,175 | $0 |
| Hsieh, Francisco | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Integrated Fundraising Strategies | $21,834 | $21,834 | $0 |
| JPM&M, Inc. | $5,000 | $5,000 | $0 |
| Kaufman Campaign Consultants | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Keig, John | $6,688 | $6,688 | $0 |
| Khayat, Mary | $22,500 | $23,750 | $0 |
| Left Coast Communications | $10,321 | $18,021 | $0 |
| Lester Connect | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Lyons, Nichelle | $23,062 | $20,112 | $0 |
| McCarthy, Jill | $16,500 | $16,500 | $0 |
| Panagopoulos, Nick | $0 | $29,433 | $200 |
| Peterson, Chelsea | $7,787 | $7,787 | $0 |
| RMS Associates (formerly R. Schlackman) | $3,500 | $7,000 | $0 |
| SCN Strategies, Inc. | $15,000 | $0 | $0 |
| SGR Consulting | $5,000 | $0 | $0 |
| Social Stream Consulting | $0 | $19,500 | $0 |
| Stearns Consulting, Inc. | $67,712 | $116,282 | $0 |
| Storefront Political Media | $84,636 | $3,537 | $750 |
| Terris Barnes & Walters | $54,953 | $54,953 | $0 |
| Town Square Consulting (formerly C. Lee) | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Joe Trippi and Associates | $0 | $15,000 | $0 |
| Whitehurst Campaigns, Inc. | $5,000 | $67,500 | $0 |
| Winnicker, Anthony | $12,000 | $12,000 | $0 |
| Winning Directions | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Workman, Dee Dee | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Wyatt, Barry | $47,500 | $7,500 | $0 |
| Zeiger, Sarah | $28,000 | $28,000 | failed to report |
| TOTAL | $757,556 | $738,202 | $1,950 |
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 of 2011 totaled $757,556. The payments received by all filers from clients during the third quarter of 2011 totaled $738,202.
| TABLE 2 PAYMENTS (Q3 2011) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CAMPAIGN CONSULTANT | CLIENT | SERVICES PERFORMED | TOTAL PAYMENTS PROMISED | TOTAL PAYMENTS RECEIVED |
| Barnes, Bill | Ed Lee for Mayor 2011 | Campaign management | $8,500 | $8,500 |
| The Baughman Company | San Franciscans United for Pension and Health Reform | Campaign management and strategy | $10,000 | $10,000 |
| Brian Brokaw Consulting | San Franciscans for Jobs and Good Government, Supporting Ed Lee for Mayor 2011 | Provided advocacy and campaign management services | $3,548 | $0 |
| Byrd, Michael | San Franciscans for Pension Reform | Fundraising | $5,635 | $0 |
| The California Group | Paul Miyamoto for Sheriff 2011 | Fundraising services | $30,880 | $30,880 |
| Chariot LLC | Tony Hall for Mayor 2011 | Political campaign management, media reservations and booking; providing advice and hiring vendors; press, media, and general campaign guidance | $99,600 | $68,868 |
| Demissie, Addisu | David Chiu for Mayor | Communications, field, and new media management & consulting services; campaign spokesman | $13,000 | $13,000 |
| Derse, Nicole | David Chiu for Mayor | Campaign management and strategy development | $24,000 | $24,000 |
| Duffy & Capitolo | Paul Miyamoto for Sheriff 2011 | Consulting, signs, supplies, design, printing | $33,969 | $33,969 |
| Erwin & Muir | George Gascon for San Francisco DA 2011 | Campaign strategy and management | $22,500 | $7,500 |
| Feighan, David | Bevan Dufty for Mayor | Campaign management – day-to-day operations, campaign strategy, and organizational setup | $13,000 | $13,000 |
| Fox, Erica | Avalos for Mayor | Deputy campaign management – strategic services | $6,076 | $6,076 |
| The Ginsberg McLear Group | San Franciscans for Jobs and Good Government, Supporting Ed Lee for Mayor 2011 | Provided advocacy and campaign management services | $7,097 | $0 |
| Golinger, Jon | Sharmin Bock for DA | Day-to-day campaign management | $21,000 | $22,338 |
| Ground Floor Public Affairs | Bevan Dufty for Mayor | Campaign management | $14,583 | $12,500 |
| Hsieh & Associates | Yes on B, San Francisco Earthquake and Disaster Response Plan | Campaign management and strategy | $7,175 | $7,175 |
| Integrated Fundraising Strategies | Dennis Herrera for Mayor 2011 | Fundraising consulting and event planning; contribution processing | $21,834 | $21,834 |
| JPM&M | David Chiu for Mayor 2011 | Consulting | $5,000 | $5,000 |
| Keig, John | Avalos for Mayor | Campaign management and strategic advice | $6,688 | $6,688 |
| Khayat, Mary | Tony Hall for Mayor | * left blank | $22,500 | $23,750 |
| Left Coast Communications | Progress for All | General consulting services, literature design and production, volunteer coordination, campaign management, press work, event scheduling, data management | $10,321 | $18,021 |
| Lyons, Nichelle | George Gascon for San Francisco DA 2011 | Fundraising | $23,062 | $20,112 |
| McCarthy, Jill | Bevan Dufty for Mayor | Provided strategic advice on finance plan | $16,500 | $16,500 |
| Panagopoulos, Nick | Join Joanna Rees for Mayor | General campaign consulting, management and strategy | $0 | $29,433 |
| Peterson, Chelsea | David Onek for District Attorney | Campaign management and strategy | $7,787 | $7,787 |
| RMS Associates | San Franciscans for Pension Reform | General consulting and campaign strategy | $3,500 | $7,000 |
| SCN Strategies, Inc. | Ed Lee for Mayor 2011 | Campaign management | $15,000 | $0 |
| SGR Consulting | Sharmin Bock for District Attorney 2011 | Fundraising services | $5,000 | $0 |
| Social Stream Consulting | Leland Yee for Mayor | Social media consulting services | $0 | $19,500 |
| Stearns Consulting | Stand Up for Working Families; No on B | Campaign media and consulting | $18,628 | $7,500 |
| Stearns Consulting | Leland Yee for Mayor 2011 | Campaign consulting and media | $20,825 | $58,141 |
| Stearns Consulting | Ross Mirkarimi for Sheriff 2011 | Campaign consulting and media | $19,760 | $26,372 |
| Stearns Consulting | Sharmin Bock for District Attorney 2011 | Campaign media and consulting | $8,498 | $24,268 |
| Storefront Political Media | Phil Ting for Mayor 2011 | Campaign consulting; media production, distribution, and placement | $40,319 | $0 |
| Storefront Political Media | David Onek for District Attorney | Campaign consulting; media production, distribution, and placement | $37,500 | $3,537 |
| Storefront Political Media | Chris Cunnie for San Francisco Sheriff 2011 | Campaign consulting; media production, distribution, and placement | $6,818 | $0 |
| Terris, Barnes & Walters | Bevan Dufty for Mayor | Campaign consutling; design and production of signs, collateral, etc. | $54,953 | $54,953 |
| Joe Trippi and Associates | Michela Alioto-Pier for Mayor | Strategic consulting | $0 | $15,000 |
| Whitehurst Campaigns, Inc. | Herrera for Mayor 2011 | General campaign management consulting | $0 | $40,000 |
| Whitehurst Campaigns, Inc. | Gascon for DA 2011 | Strategic consulting; message development; media consulting; production of all campaign media and materials | $5,000 | $7,500 |
| Whitehurst Campaigns, Inc. | Committee for Parental Choice and Religious Freedom | General campaign management consulting | $0 | $10,000 |
| Whitehurst Campaigns, Inc. | Rebuilding San Francisco Schools – Yes on Proposition A | Strategic consulting; message development; media consulting; production of all campaign media and materials | $0 | $10,000 |
| Winnicker, Anthony | Ed Lee for Mayor 2011 | Communication services | $12,000 | $12,000 |
| Wyatt, Barry | Ed Lee for Mayor 2011 | Direct voter contact consulting (field) | $47,500 | $7,500 |
| Zeiger, Sarah | Michela Alioto-Pier for Mayor | Fundraising | $28,000 | $28,000 |
| TOTAL | $757,556 | $738,202 | ||
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 $1,950 in political contributions during the third quarter of 2011.
| CONTRIBUTIONS MADE BY CAMPAIGN CONSULTANTS | ||
|---|---|---|
| Committee Name | Consultant Name | Amount |
| Join Joanna Rees for Mayor | Nick Panagopoulos | $200 |
| Ross Mirkarimi for Sheriff | The Baughman Company | $500 |
| Bevan Dufty for Mayor | David Feighan | $100 |
| Avalos for Mayor | Jon Golinger | $400 |
| Chris Cunnie for SF Sheriff 2011 | Storefront Political Media | $500 |
| David Onek for District Attorney 2011 | Storefront Political Media | $250 |
| CONTRIBUTIONS OF $100 OR MORE MADE DURING THIRD QUARTER 2011 | $1,950 | |
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 any vendor or sub-vendor 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. No filers reported any employment of a local officeholder or City employee during this reporting period.
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. No filers reported being appointed to public office by a client during the reporting period.