Maienschein promotes Prop. 3, and himself, as he runs for city attorney – San Diego Union-Tribune

Brian Maienschein was sitting on hundreds of thousands of dollars in political contributions that he couldn’t use in his campaign for San Diego city attorney — at least not directly.

A lingering question this election season was what he would do with that money. The answer is now clear.

The Assembly member has put a total of $800,000 into his newly formed committee, “For Freedom: Brian Maienschein Ballot Measure Committee – Yes on Prop.” 3.”

The proposal would enshrine the right to same-sex marriage in the state constitution. The measure would also remove language that only marriage between a man and a woman was legal. That part of the Constitution — which was approved by voters in 2008 through Proposition 8 — was invalidated by court rulings.

Proposition 3 applies statewide, although Maienschein is only running ads in the San Diego market, where he is running for city attorney.

His new committee will not be limited by the city campaign contribution limit of $1,350 per individual for each election, or $2,700 for a combined primary and general election cycle. His campaign committee for city attorney, and that of his opponent, Chief Deputy City Attorney Heather Ferbert, must adhere to these boundaries.

There are no limits to such proposal committees.

It’s a legal fix for the city limits, as long as his ads don’t essentially say “vote for me.” But there’s no doubt that his name supporting the popular ballot measure — on television so far, but possibly soon on other media platforms — will bolster his city attorney campaign, with voters already casting their ballots.

This is not an uncommon practice for candidates running for office, if they have the money to do so.

Campaign finance reports say Maienschein’s Proposition 3 committee received $600,000 in contributions from Maienschein for Assembly 2022 and $200,000 from Maienschein for Attorney General 2030. That money could not be transferred to a city attorney campaign.

“I had money left over and wanted to do something good with it,” Maienschein said in an interview last week, adding, “I could have saved it to run for something in the future.”

He would not answer questions about whether this was intended to help his city attorney bid or to get around contribution limits.

Maienschein called Proposition 3 a “unifying issue” and said it was important to “keep government out of people’s bedrooms.”

However much the committee ultimately spends, it is an open question what effect it will have on the vote for Proposition 3. Polls show the measure has overwhelming support, a multimillion-dollar campaign has been launched to support it, and opponents are barely giving money out. money to beat it.

According to a survey released last month by the nonpartisan Public Policy Institute of California, 68% of likely voters planned to vote yes on Proposition 3, while 31% said they would vote no.

A strong majority of Democrats and independents support the measure, compared to fewer than four in 10 Republicans. Majorities across demographic groups said they would vote yes. There was no specific breakdown for San Diego, but the poll showed the measure had 67% support in San Diego and Orange counties.

Support was highest among voters in the San Francisco Bay Area (81%), followed by those in Los Angeles (70%), Orange/San Diego, the Inland Empire (62%) and the Central Valley (57%) .

Maienschein’s politics and position on gay marriage have changed over time. Previously a Republican, he announced his switch to the Democratic Party in January 2019.

As a member of the San Diego City Council in 2008, he voted against a majority-supported resolution to officially oppose Proposition 8.

“I didn’t think the city should take positions on statewide (voting) issues,” he said in the interview. “That said, I wish I had voted differently.”

Many Americans have undergone similar changes on gay marriage, including former President Barack Obama and former presidential candidate Hillary Clinton, who once opposed it.

Clearly, the Democratic Party and associated organizations have looked beyond that. Maienschein has the support of the San Diego County Democratic Party and LGBTQ groups such as San Diego Democrats for Equality, among others.

Ferbert, also a Democrat, defeated Maienschein in the March primary by 53% to 47%. She has received support from several advocacy groups, as well as City Attorney Mara Elliott, who is no longer in office.

Dan Rottenstreich, Ferbert’s political strategist, was less than willing to let go of the past, accusing Maienschein of “whitewashing his right-wing record on marriage equality.”

While the Supreme Court largely rejected Proposition 8 in the past, Justice Clarence Thomas suggested that the current conservative court revisit the issue — when the court overturned the landmark 1973 ruling Roe v. Wade, which provided constitutional protection for abortion rights.

Fearing that another court ruling could revive dormant Proposition 8 language in the California Constitution, gay marriage advocates say the section should be struck down, while adding that “the right to marry is a is a fundamental right.”

As for the present, Rottenstreich acknowledged that Maienschein’s spending on Proposition 3 is legal, but emphasized that it is “murky.”

“This is not what the campaign laws intended,” he said.

Regardless of intent, the law allows it. For years, politicians have spent money on ballot measures, not just to get them passed or defeated, but also to raise their profile.

Los Angeles City Councilman Kevin de León is doing the same, promoting three ballot measures, including Proposition 3, as he faces a tough reelection campaign.

He was excoriated for using this tactic in an editorial in the Los Angeles Times, which called the practice a “shell game.”

What they said

Philip Salata (@philip_salata) from inewsource.

“A billion-dollar transnational wastewater company settled for millions in Flint earlier this year, now it has three more lawsuits on its plate in San Diego.”