Ethics panel approves $3,000 penalty against San Diego County supervisor over SeaWorld vote

The state Fair Political Practices Commission has approved a $3,000 penalty against San Diego County Supervisor Greg Cox for votes he took on the California Coastal Commission involving SeaWorld.

The settlement, which was unanimously approved Thursday, pertained to two commission votes Cox made regarding SeaWorld’s application for a permit to expand its orca enclosure. At the time, Cox’s wife held 500 shares in SeaWorld stock in her retirement portfolio.

“I am extremely embarrassed by this situation and I have no one to blame but myself,” he said earlier this month when he announced he would be fined.

Cox said he was unaware his wife had purchased the stock when he considered the SeaWorld permit in October.

At a commission meeting, Cox was the lone vote against an amendment that would prohibit SeaWorld from both breeding orcas and transferring them between parks. He then joined the rest of his colleagues to award SeaWorld the permit on the condition that the marine park no longer breed or transfer the animals.

SeaWorld opposed the commission’s restrictions and the company’s stock value dropped after the action. The theme park filed a lawsuit but later dropped it.

When he learned of his wife’s investments in January, Cox self-reported the conflict to the commission and his wife sold her stock. The fine, he said, would be paid from personal funds, not his campaign account.

joshua.stewart@sduniontribune.com

Stewart writes for the San Diego Union-Tribune.

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