The Wikipedia article about UC Regents states that “over the past two decades, it has been common that UC Regents appointees have donated relatively large sums of money either directly to the Governor’s election campaigns or indirectly to party election groups.” We took it upon ourselves to ascertain this claim. Campaign finance data available online only goes as far back as 2000 and does not include secret or indirect donations, so we cannot vouch for “two decades,” but the claim is true for at least 10 of the 18 current Regents.
It appears that the situation is more nuanced than people just buying seats on the Board of Regents. Russel Gould, for instance, was appointed before he gave Schwarzenegger money, though it was only $250, which may be the rich people’s idea of a thank-you note. Charlene Zettel, in addition to giving money to the Republican Party and to Schwarzenegger directly, also contributed to groups like Conservative Order For Good Government, which may indicate that she genuinely believes in conservatism. On the other hand, there is Sherry Lansing, who holds the distinction of being the only current Regent appointed by two different governors – first by Davis, then by his 2003 recall election opponent Schwarzenegger, as well as the more dubious distinction of giving campaign contributions to both of them.
It is also worth keeping in mind that campaign contributions are not the only way to establish a connection with a sitting governor. For example, there is no record of Paul Wachter contributing to Schwarzenegger’s campaign, but an article titled “The Investors’ Club: How the University of California Regents Spin Public Money into Private Profit” states that “since 2003, the regents have invested $411 million in Dimensional Fund Advisors, a company partly owned by Gov. Schwarzenegger and Mr. Wachter” (http://spot.us/pitches/337-investors-club-how-the-uc-regents-spin-public-funds-into-private-profit/story). In addition, at the time of his appointment, Wachter “was also the governor’s main financial adviser and managed his blind trust” according to Teach the Budget (http://teachthebudget.com/regents-posters/). Finally, the Regents are nominated by the Governor and conformed by the California Legislature. Regents gave sizable donations to legislators as well, but these are not listed below.
Information about campaign contributions was obtained from the California Secretary of State’s website (http://dbsearch.ss.ca.gov/ContributorSearch.aspx). Information about the Regents’ appointment dates was obtained from the UC website (http://www.universityofcalifornia.edu/regents/regbios/welcome.html). If you have any corrections or additions to the data below, please let us know on our Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/pages/Occupy-UC-Davis/262907633759444).
RICHARD C. BLUM (appointed in 03/12/2002 by Davis)
DAVIS COMMITTEE, THE GOVERNOR GRAY, ID#962636
$50,000 (12/27/2000)
$600 (9/13/2001)
Total to Davis: $50,600
RUSSELL GOULD (appointed on 09/13/2005 by Schwarzenegger)
SCHWARZENEGGER – 2006, CALIFORNIANS FOR, ID#1261585
$250 (10/24/2006)
GEORGE KIEFFER (appointed on 05/06/2009 by Schwarzenegger)
SCHWARZENEGGER – 2006, CALIFORNIANS FOR, ID#1261585
$1,000 (3/22/2005)
SHERRY LANSING (appointed on 03/11/1999 by Davis, re-appointed in 2010 by Schwarzenegger)
COMMITTEE, THE GOVERNOR GRAY, ID#962636
$10,000 (2/16/2000)
CALIFORNIANS AGAINST THE COSTLY RECALL OF THE GOVERNOR: COALITION OF FIREFIGHTERS, WORKERS, EDUCATORS, BUS, BUS LEADERS, CA DEM PARTY, ENTERTAINMENT BUS, DEM GOVERNORS, GOVERNOR GRAY DAVIS COMMITTEE, ID#1256416
$10,000 (9/4/2003)
DAVIS COMMITTEE, THE GOVERNOR GRAY, ID#962636
$10,000 (6/5/2001)
Total to Davis: $30,000
SCHWARZENEGGER – 2006, CALIFORNIANS FOR, ID#1261585
$1,791.06 (9/18/2006)
HADI MAKARECHIAN (appointed on 10/24/2008 by Schwarzenegger)
SCHWARZENEGGER – 2006, CALIFORNIANS FOR, ID#1261585
$22,300 (2/6/2006)
$22,300 (4/27/2006)
SCHWARZENEGGER’S CALIFORNIA RECOVERY TEAM, GOVERNOR, ID#1261406
$39,149.33 (2/27/2004)
Total to Schwarzenegger: $83,749.33
CALIFORNIA REPUBLICAN PARTY / VICTORY 2006, ID#810163
$10,000 (4/21/2006)
NORMAN PATTIZ (appointed on 09/21/2001 by Davis, re-appointed in September of 2003 by Davis)
CALIFORNIANS AGAINST THE COSTLY RECALL OF THE GOVERNOR: COALITION OF FIREFIGHTERS, WORKERS, EDUCATORS, BUS, BUS LEADERS, CA DEM PARTY, ENTERTAINMENT BUS, DEM GOVERNORS, GOVERNOR GRAY DAVIS COMMITTEE, ID#1256416
$100,000 (8/6/2003)
DAVIS COMMITTEE, THE GOVERNOR GRAY, ID#962636
$25,000 (6/29/2001)
$25,000 (2/5/2002)
$10,000 (5/14/2001)
$10,000 (5/22/2002)
$10,000 (9/11/2002)
$5,000 (10/29/2002)
$25,000 (3/3/2000)
TAXPAYERS AGAINST THE GOVERNOR’S RECALL, ENVIRONMENTAL, LABOR AND RELIGIOUS ORGANIZATIONS AND OTHERS WHO OPPOSE THE WASTE OF TAXPAYER DOLLARS, ID#1255059
RECALL THE GOVERNOR
$25,000 (6/18/2003)
Total to Davis: $235,000
FREDERICK RUIZ (appointed on 07/02/2004 by Schwarzenegger)
REPUBLICAN PARTY, ID#810163
$1,000 (10/10/2000)
LESLIE SCHILLING (appointed on 09/13/2005 by Schwarzenegger)
SCHWARZENEGGER – 2006, CALIFORNIANS FOR, ID#1261585
$5,000 (4/20/2006)
BRUCE D. VARNER (appointed on 08/18/2006 by Schwarzenegger)
SCHWARZENEGGER – 2006, CALIFORNIANS FOR, ID#1261585
$5,000 (4/14/2006)
CHARLENE ZETTEL (appointed on 05/06/2009 by Schwarzenegger)
SCHWARZENEGGER’S CALIFORNIA RECOVERY TEAM, GOVERNOR, ID#1261406
$500 (10/29/2005)
SCHWARZENEGGER – 2006, CALIFORNIANS FOR, ID#1261585
$500 (10/25/2006)
$500 (5/17/2004)
SCHWARZENEGGER, CALIFORNIANS FOR, ID#1256981
$1,000 (10/1/2003)
SCHWARZENEGGER’S CALIFORNIA RECOVERY TEAM, GOVERNOR, ID#1261406
$5,000 (10/27/2004)
Total to Schwarzenegger: $7,500.00
CALIFORNIA REPUBLICAN PARTY, ID#810163
$1,000 (11/1/2000)
CHARLENE ZETTEL FOR ASSEMBLY, POWAY, CA 92064 SAN DIEGANS FOR A REPUBLICAN MAJORITY, ID#961201 - $1,500 (8/2/2001)
COUNTY REPUBLICAN CENTRAL COMMITTEE-STATE ACCOUNT, ID#741949
$250 (10/30/2004)
Contributions as of July 11, 2012. The data may be incomplete.
