Davis--and Big Donors--Begin Trade Mission

California Gov. Gray Davis’ first official overseas trip to Europe and the Middle East is billed by staff as a trade development mission.

But among the 20 prominent business and labor officials accompanying Davis on the two-week voyage, which begins today, are some of his most devoted supporters and generous campaign contributors, including several who donated more than $100,000 each to his election campaign last fall.

The Davis entourage, including his wife, Sharon, will visit England, Ireland, Scotland, Greece, Israel and Egypt. Highlights of the trip will include a meeting with British Prime Minister Tony Blair on Monday and an excursion to a water development project in the Sahara about 700 miles from Cairo on Oct. 28.

“The entire trip is about California business development,” said spokesman Michael Bustamante, one of the more than two dozen staff and security people who will travel with Davis. Bustamante estimated that the trip will cost the state more than $200,000.

Private citizens traveling with the governor will pay their own costs, Bustamante said.

Tony Miller, a Sacramento attorney who is active in campaign finance reform, said the trip is also about rewarding those who contributed most heavily to Davis’ election.

“Most of these people are major contributors to the Democratic Party,” said Miller, a former acting California secretary of state. Among the major contributors accompanying the governor to some of the destinations are grocery store magnate Ron Burkle and workers’ compensation insurance executive Stanley Zax. Burkle, chairman of the board of Ralphs grocery stores, spent $1.8 million on state political races last year, including the $355,000 he donated to the Davis campaign. Zax, whose insurance industry is heavily regulated by the state, gave $100,000 to the Davis campaign.

Another Davis supporter on the trip to Greece is Sacramento developer Angelo Tsakopoulos, whose family gave $850,000 last year, mostly to Democratic candidates.

Only one Davis Cabinet member, Trade and Commerce Secretary Lon Hatamiya, will travel with the governor.

Jerry Hallisey, a San Francisco attorney and influential fund-raiser for California Democratic politicians, will join Davis in London and Ireland. Hallisey, a former UC regent who serves on the California Transportation Commission, said his participation has public value for the state.

“I want to have some exposure to the London transportation system,” Hallisey said. “In Dublin, I want to look into Ireland light-rail proposals to see if there are some applications for California and the Bay Area.”

Prominent business group leaders accompanying Davis include Jack Stewart, president of the California Manufacturing Assn., and Allan Zaremberg, president of the California Chamber of Commerce. California Labor Federation executive secretary Art Pulaski also is on board.

Others traveling during all or part of the trip include:

George Marcus, CEO, Marcus & Millichap; Darius Anderson, president, Platinum Advisors; Gary Cypres, chairman, Central Financial Acceptance Corp.; Martin Harmon, chairman, Western Care Construction Co.; Tom Sayles, vice president, Sempra Energy; Bruce Banning, executive director, Professional Engineers in California Government; Keith Brackpool, CEO, Cadiz Inc.; Sotiris Kolokotronis, president, SKK Development; Zvi Alon, CEO, NetManage; and Haim Saban, chairman, Saban Entertainment.