| Jim Desmond loves a joyride almost as much as he loves cutting himself backroom deals with his own wealthy, MAGA donors.
According to new reporting, Desmond “regularly flies himself to campaign events” aboard a private plane he bought from his own donors. Those donors just so happen to be developers who were pursuing land deals on property Desmond is responsible for overseeing, calling his own ethics into deep question.
REMINDER: Desmond told San Diegans struggling to fill their tanks with $6 a gallon gas from the reckless war in Iran to get over it, saying “no pain, no gain.” Meanwhile, he’s perfectly able to afford his private plane’s fuel costs – flying to see Mike Johnson, attend closed-door MAGA fundraisers, and take unnecessary private rides that last just 30 minutes.
DCCC Spokesperson Anna Elsasser:
“Rather than campaigning to be a voice for working San Diegans, Jim Desmond is busy cozying up to wealthy MAGA donors and cutting backroom deals – straight out of Donald Trump’s playbook. As San Diegans are getting crushed by the cost of gas, groceries, and health care, Desmond is jetting around on a private plane he bought from his own developer donors and telling working families ‘no pain, no gain.’ Working families deserve better than another out-of-touch, corrupt politician who thinks the rules don’t apply to him.”
Times of San Diego: County Supervisor Jim Desmond flies himself to campaign events in a plane he bought from two donors
- California’s new 48th Congressional District is big, but County Supervisor Jim Desmond has an unusual advantage when he needs to cross it: his private plane.
- A 32-minute flight to Palm Springs on Sept. 11. A 29-minute flight to Riverside on Sept. 30. From campaign meet-and-greets in Idyllwild to a Lincoln Club luncheon in Rancho Mirage to, most recently, a meeting in Riverside with House Speaker Mike Johnson, the former commercial airline pilot regularly flies himself to campaign events as he seeks to retain control of a district that could help determine partisan control of Congress.
- Desmond also bought the plane from two long-time supporters — Steve Flynn and Kathleen Bell Flynn, the daughter of the founder of Taco Bell. They serve as executives of Bell Holdings, according to Desmond’s campaign filings.
- Most recently, in December, the Flynns contributed a total of $7,000 dollars to Desmond’s congressional campaign, each donating the $3,500 maximum an individual can donate during an election.
- For his 2022 supervisor campaign, both of the Flynns donated $900. During his first supervisor run, in 2018, they each donated $800.
- But it was in 2024 that the Flynns sold their 2000 Cessna 182S to Desmond and his wife. The $300,000 sales price is around the median price for currently listed planes of the same make and model.
- The sale… underscores the strength of the relationship between Desmond and his longtime political supporters.
- The Flynns had previously pushed a large development plan in Valley Center. They hoped to rebuild the Liberty Bell Plaza into a large commercial center.
- Desmond has served as the District 5 County Supervisor since 2019. Valley Center, where the Flynn’s Liberty Bell project was located. The project never went before the board for approval.
- Desmond’s campaign did not respond to an opportunity to respond for this story.
|
