City of Newport sends Obama campaign $35K invoice for CdM visit

The city of Newport Beach spent $35,043.04 on police officers when President Obama stopped in Corona del Mar in February for a campaign breakfast, and revenue officials have sent his campaign an invoice to recoup the costs.

City Manager Dave Kiff said the invoice was his idea.

“I think it is appropriate to treat it like a private event — if another private event that large and which required that much police presence occurred, we would bill the event sponsor,” he said in an email. “If the president was here on presidential business, we likely would not have billed for that.”

The invoice is dated May 10 and is due June 9.

The expenses include costs for a police lieutenant, sergeant, two officers, a reserve officer, a senior dispatch officer, a community service officer plus overtime. The breakdown of costs ranged from $12,203.45 for the police officer to $307.79 for the community service officer’s overtime, according to the document.

The memo was sent from the city’s Revenue Department to the Obama for America office in Chicago. As of late Thursday, there had been no response or payment, said Newport Beach spokeswoman Tara Finnigan.

The Feb. 16 breakfast was held at the Shore Cliffs home of Jeff and Nancy Stack. Entrance cost $2,500 per person, with a $10,000 photo reception and breakfast option and a $35,800 “greet + breakfast” option, according to the invitation.

Published reports stated that Obama raised $45 million in February and at least $8 million in six fundraisers in Los Angeles, San Francisco and at the Stack home.

An email and telephone message sent to campaign workers seeking comment for this story were not immediately answered.

Kiff said the presidential visit, which drew crowds of protesters and counter protesters that Obama likely never saw along East Coast Highway, was an honor.

“We are of course always honored when any U.S. official, especially the president, comes to visit our community,” his email said.

amy@coronadelmartoday.com

Twitter: @coronadelmartdy