GOP stalwart puts money on Brown

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Alex Spanos, one of the nation's foremost Republican benefactors, has contributed $20,000 to Democratic Attorney General Jerry Brown's gubernatorial campaign – two years after Brown immersed himself in land-use policies in Spanos' hometown.

Brown opposed Spanos in a dispute in 2008 that caused the developer to alter plans for a massive subdivision in Stockton. Through a settlement, Brown's office continues to monitor environmental policies affecting Spanos and other developers in that city.

The donation from Spanos, an owner of the San Diego Chargers, remains unusual.

He has given millions of dollars to Republican causes, and he was a top fundraiser for President George W. Bush and former presidential candidate John McCain. He has given more than $6 million to the California Republican Party since 2001. He also was a strong supporter of Republican Pete Wilson, a former San Diego mayor, U.S. senator and governor, who is chairing the campaign of current GOP nominee Meg Whitman.

http://www.sacbee.com/2010/08/11/v-print/2950735/gop-stalwart-puts-money-on-brown.html