Developer Group Spending BIG to Elect Brian Pepin to the Poway City Council

Developers are using a San Diego Police union as proxy to run attack ads on Soto. All together, developers and outside groups are spending up to $100,000 to elect their local developer consultant to the Poway City Council.

Click here for a video explainer on how developers are trying to buy City Council seats in Poway

POWAY, CA — A developer-funded political group called Community Voices has poured in more than $10,000 in donations to get Brian Pepin elected to the Poway City Council. This according to official campaign disclosure forms filed with the City of Poway this week, as well as past filings with the County of San Diego. All together, developers, political insiders and outside groups are spending up to $100,000 to elect their local developer consultant to the Poway City Council.

According to official records, Community Voices gave $10,000 to the San Diego Police Officers Association Political Action Committee. The latter is using the money to send negative mailers and attack ads against Hiram Soto, who has called for a moratorium on new development in Poway. Soto does not accept money from developers or companies doing business with the city. You can access the independent expenditure report here showing donations and expenditures.

Community Voices has directly or indirectly received tens of thousands of dollars from developers such as Meridian Communities, which is currently building the Poway Commons. Other funding sources include the Building Industry Association PAC, the pro-development group San Diego Downtown Partnership PAC and the LA-based California Real Estate Political Action Committee. Community Voices is also funded by Pacific M Painting, a company owned by outgoing councilmember John Mullin. Mullin recused himself numerous times this year from City Council votes on development projects because of conflicts of interest. See Community Voices campaign statement here showing funding sources.

For his part, Brian Pepin has received numerous donations from developers as well as Mayor Vaus and other council members who have voted to overdevelop Poway. Most developers have donated the maximum amount allowed under Poway election rules. You can see Brian Pepin’s campaign disclosure forms here and here.  

“Developers are trying to buy City Council seats so they can continue to profit from the overdevelopment of Poway. They run ads and send attack mailers about safety to scare and distract people from what they are trying to do: which is to elect developer-friendly council members,” said Hiram Soto. “I’m a former reporter who believes in truth. If I'm elected to the Poway City Council, I will a shine light on these developer shenanigans and stop the out-of-control influence they have in Poway. I will put residents first, not developers.”

Background

Hiram Soto believes our democracy is stronger when more people vote and when elected officials are accountable to their constituents. He has helped protect district elections in Poway by joining a federal lawsuit that successfully fought back efforts by the current council to diminish the power of Powegians at the ballot box. He has vehemently spoken out against efforts by local elected officials to circumvent voters by abusing the political appointment process.

Soto stood with his community on several issues. He pushed back against the city’s 40 percent water rate increases. He supported neighbors in helping protect Starridge Park following a broken promise by the city. Additionally, Soto helped raise funds to support employees who were furloughed following the city’s disastrous boil-water advisory that crippled restaurants in Poway in 2019. 

Hiram Soto is the founder of The Powegian, a citizen-driven digital platform that gives residents a platform to make their voices heard. He is a board member of the Poway Historical Society and a member of the Poway Chamber of Commerce. He pledges to be an independent voice on the Poway City Council and represent residents with honesty, integrity, fairness and equality.

He is an award-winning journalist who spent 10 years at the San Diego Union-Tribune covering middle-class communities and shedding light on corruption and government abuse. 

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