The Obama campaign was charged $35,000 following a February stopover in Corona del Mar for a campaign breakfast.
Revenue officials in the city reportedly sent the bill, totaling $35,043.04, which covers the cost of extra police officers, reserve officers and overtime pay that the city contributed to the President’s visit, according to The Huffington Post .
The Corona del Mar Today reports that the invoice was City Manager Dave Kiff’s idea. Kiff stated in an email that:
“I think it is appropriate to treat it like a private event – if another private event that large and which required that much police presence occurred, we would bill the event sponsor. If the President was here on presidential business, we likely would not have billed for that.”
The memo was reportedly sent from the city’s Revenue Department to the Obama For America office in Chicago. There was no response or payment by Thursday evening, according to Tara Finnigan, a Newport Beach spokeswoman.
Residents in Corona del Mar agree with Kiff’s idea to invoice the president. The Huffington Post reports that Scott Mason, who lives on the same street that the President held his fundraiser, stated:
“I don’t care what the political party is … I am not in the President’s party. If you are using the public sector to support fund-raising … you have to pay for that.”
CBS Local reports that Sam Porter, who also lives in the affluent community, agrees with Mason, stating:
“He should pay it back. He should pit back to the police force. He should pay it back to the administration. He should pay it back to the city and the people of California.”
The breakfast on February 16th was held at the Shore Cliffs home of Jeff and Nancy Stack, according to the Corona del Mar Today. Entrance for the breakfast was $2,500 per person, and guests were offered a $10,000 photo reception and breakfast option and a $35,800 “greet + breakfast” option.
