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Brown's haul for the pair of schools soared after his 2006 election as the state's chief law-enforcement official. Only donations greater than $5,000 per year that he solicits must be reported publicly, but state records show that in his first full year on the job, he raised at least $3.3 million. That's equivalent to three-quarters of what he corralled in his last four years as Oakland mayor combined, city records show.
"I've achieved greater prominence as I've gone from mayor to attorney general, and I suppose if I run for governor and am elected I'll have even more prominence," Brown said.
He displayed the same familiarity with top school contributors as he did with student achievement, rattling off some donors and dollars from memory: The philanthropic Annenberg Foundation in Los Angeles gave $1 million. The Bay AreaLEF arts foundation gave $750,000, and the Hearst Foundation $150,000.
Some he didn't mention: $100,000 from the for-profit University of Phoenix and its owners, $130,000 from United Auburn Indian Community and $250,000 from Lytton Rancheria -- both casino operators -- and $110,000 from E&J Gallo Winery.
Dr. Prem Reddy, owner of the Prime Healthcare hospital chain in Southern California, donated $100,000 to the military school through a foundation, according to his spokeswoman, Jana Bullock.
The gift came less than a week after Brown was elected attorney general, a position that carries the power to approve all nonprofit hospital sales. Brown's administration has supported one Prime Healthcare hospital purchase and blocked another.
"Dr. Reddy believes that access to high-quality education for all students is an important and laudable goal," she said.
Investigations
At least two contributors are being investigated by Brown's office.
Kenwood InvestmentsLLC, whose founder, Darius Anderson, is under investigation as part of a public pension fund probe, has given $15,000 to the schools at Brown's behest since 2007, before the investigation began.
Anderson's spokesperson did not return calls seeking comment.
Various arms of Kaiser Permanente have combined to give $175,000 since 2007. The HMO is among those Brown began probing in September over denying insurance claims. The donations, including $215,000 given when Brown was mayor of Oakland, preceded the investigation.
Other donors routinely nourish relationships in halls of power. The private foundation of Ron Burkle, the supermarket magnate and Democratic power broker who once employed President Bill Clinton and Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, donated $100,000.
Two foundations affiliated with Majestic Realty and its billionaire owner, Ed Roski Jr., have donated $175,000, and Roski has hosted a golf tournament for the military school. Roski is pressing to build an NFL stadium in the City of Industry, which the governor recently aided by signing an environmental waiver into law.
And Bing, who bankrolled a 2006 ballot measure and has contributed to other initiative campaigns, donated more than $1 million to the arts academy through a company called B. Co., according to Brown's office.
The attorney general dismissed as the "silliest thing I've ever heard of" any suggestion of a connection between Bing's political influence and his giant gift.
Bing publicist Paul Bloch said: "We don't ever comment on anything."
shane.goldmacher@latimes.com
"I've achieved greater prominence as I've gone from mayor to attorney general, and I suppose if I run for governor and am elected I'll have even more prominence," Brown said.
He displayed the same familiarity with top school contributors as he did with student achievement, rattling off some donors and dollars from memory: The philanthropic Annenberg Foundation in Los Angeles gave $1 million. The Bay AreaLEF arts foundation gave $750,000, and the Hearst Foundation $150,000.
Some he didn't mention: $100,000 from the for-profit University of Phoenix and its owners, $130,000 from United Auburn Indian Community and $250,000 from Lytton Rancheria -- both casino operators -- and $110,000 from E&J Gallo Winery.
Dr. Prem Reddy, owner of the Prime Healthcare hospital chain in Southern California, donated $100,000 to the military school through a foundation, according to his spokeswoman, Jana Bullock.
The gift came less than a week after Brown was elected attorney general, a position that carries the power to approve all nonprofit hospital sales. Brown's administration has supported one Prime Healthcare hospital purchase and blocked another.
"Dr. Reddy believes that access to high-quality education for all students is an important and laudable goal," she said.
Investigations
At least two contributors are being investigated by Brown's office.
Kenwood InvestmentsLLC, whose founder, Darius Anderson, is under investigation as part of a public pension fund probe, has given $15,000 to the schools at Brown's behest since 2007, before the investigation began.
Anderson's spokesperson did not return calls seeking comment.
Various arms of Kaiser Permanente have combined to give $175,000 since 2007. The HMO is among those Brown began probing in September over denying insurance claims. The donations, including $215,000 given when Brown was mayor of Oakland, preceded the investigation.
Other donors routinely nourish relationships in halls of power. The private foundation of Ron Burkle, the supermarket magnate and Democratic power broker who once employed President Bill Clinton and Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, donated $100,000.
Two foundations affiliated with Majestic Realty and its billionaire owner, Ed Roski Jr., have donated $175,000, and Roski has hosted a golf tournament for the military school. Roski is pressing to build an NFL stadium in the City of Industry, which the governor recently aided by signing an environmental waiver into law.
And Bing, who bankrolled a 2006 ballot measure and has contributed to other initiative campaigns, donated more than $1 million to the arts academy through a company called B. Co., according to Brown's office.
The attorney general dismissed as the "silliest thing I've ever heard of" any suggestion of a connection between Bing's political influence and his giant gift.
Bing publicist Paul Bloch said: "We don't ever comment on anything."
shane.goldmacher@latimes.com
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