Another Notable Contribution for Gavin Newsom

Friday, May 29, 2009
Josh Richman
San Jose Mercury News

The prize for most interesting campaign contribution of the week
once again goes to Democratic gubernatorial candidate and San Francisco
Mayor Gavin Newsom.

Real estate investor Thomas J. Coates of San Francisco, a principal in Jackson Square Properties, on Tuesday gave Newsom’s campaign $25,000. Coates is a Republican who put up almost $1 million — $223,400 in contributions and $750,000 in loans — for last June’s Proposition 98,
the ballot measure that would’ve phased out rent control in California
and curtailed government’s right to seize private property by eminent
domain.

I can’t immediately find any reference to where Newsom stood on
Prop. 98, but among those who opposed it were Gov. Arnold
Schwarzenegger, U.S. Sen. Dianne Feinstein, former Gov. Pete Wilson,
the AARP, the League of California Cities, the California League of
Conservation Voters, the California Teachers Association, the SEIU, the
California Chamber of Commerce — and, ultimately, 62 percent of voters.

Two weeks ago, I was first to report
that Newsom’s campaign had received $25,000 from Rockstar energy drink
CEO Russell Weiner, who also is the son of right-wing radio host
Michael Savage and a former Republican Assembly candidate; the campaign
last week announced it would give that money back,
claiming “the confusion caused by the conflicts between the views
expressed by Mr. Weiner in his campaign for State Assembly and the
views and values of Mayor Newsom are best adressed this way.”

Will Newsom have any issues with Coates’ views and values?

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