The FReepers made the 5:30 news here in Sac. On KRCR channel 3. Was great to see...From http://www.pe.com/localnews/statenews/stories/PE_STATE_0921_cancelfundraiser.4148cb2c.html
Fund-raiser canceled in face of criticism09/21/2002
LOS ANGELES - Gov. Gray Davis on Friday canceled a controversial fund-raiser scheduled to take place with bullet train advocates a day after he authorized a vote on a $9.9 billion high-speed rail bond.
"We've always had a strict line between discussing policy and our finance events ... under the circumstances, the governor didn't think it was appropriate," Davis campaign Press Secretary Roger Salazar said less than two hours before the fund-raiser was supposed to begin.
The fund-raiser was planned at the Santa Clara home of Rod Diridon, the Davis-appointed chairman of the California High Speed Rail Authority.
On Thursday, Davis signed legislation putting a bond measure on the November 2004 ballot that would authorize the state to sell $9.95 billion in bonds to build 400 miles of high-speed rail tracks between the Bay Area and Southern California.
The High Speed Rail Authority advocates the bullet train, and in e-mails inviting potential donors to the event, Diridon wrote that Davis "has been a strong supporter of high speed ground transportation and incorporated that message in his first campaign and in this re-election effort."
AP photo Mark Zappa of Gilroy, Calif., holds signs in front of the home of Rod Diridon in Santa Clara. Gov. Gray Davis canceled a controversial fund-raiser scheduled to take place at Diridon's home.
The governor would be attending the fund-raiser, Diridon wrote, "specifically to visit with you who will build, operate and maintain the system throughout the nation and especially here in California."
Davis has come in for increasing criticism over his aggressive fund-raising, with critics including Republican opponent Bill Simon alleging that political donations influence his decisions as governor.
Davis aides vigorously refute that. They insisted Friday that they did not authorize Diridon's e-mail and had planned the fund-raiser as a general event, not one geared toward builders or advocates of high-speed rail.
"There was no problem with the event in itself. It was a general fund-raising event. But given the way it was communicated to a smaller segment of invitees, we just don't think that's appropriate," Salazar said.
He said the campaign would not be accepting money from the fund-raiser and would return any checks sent before Friday.
As for Diridon, Salazar said, "He's been talked to, believe me."
Diridon, a longtime Democratic fund-raiser, said that he called the governor's staff and offered to cancel the event after Friday's Los Angeles Times and San Francisco Chronicle carried stories about it.
"I didn't want the governor to be embarrassed and I didn't want the people attending to be embarrassed," he said.
He called the timing of the event coincidental and said the fund-raiser was scheduled long before the bill signing and that advocates of the high-speed train were only one of many groups invited.
Simon had wasted no time in attacking Davis over the matter, going on the offensive at a Friday morning press conference in Santa Monica and making plans to go to the fund-raiser himself to criticize the governor and possibly confront him.
Even after Davis canceled the event, Simon went to Diridon's home and set up a podium outside the closed door. The GOP nominee told reporters that Davis' tactics were "corrupt."
"Davis seeks to exploit the power of his signature to further his campaign contributions," Simon said.
"The reason he didn't come here today is because he didn't want to answer your questions," he added.
Simon called for an investigation of Davis' fund-raising.
Democratic Attorney General Bill Lockyer has agreed to "review" some news articles about Davis' money raising but has said he sees no sign of criminality.
