Hollywood A-listers host bash for Jerry Brown
State Atty. Gen. Jerry Brown, now alone in the Democratic field in his still-unannounced bid for governor, is headed this week to Hollywood, where he’s expected to collect a mountain of cash from some big Tinseltown names.
The event, a Wednesday evening soiree at the home of former talent manager Sandy Gallin, could net Brown more than $1 million. DreamWorks heavyweights Steven Spielberg, David Geffen and Jeffrey Katzenberg are among the event’s 27 co-hosts.
“Every one of the co-chairs is either writing [a check for] and or raising $50,000,” said entertainment industry consultant Andy Spahn, who helped organize the affair. Oracle Chief Executive Larry Ellison -- California's richest resident, according to Forbes magazine -- and Netflix founder Reed Hastings are among the other co-hosts.
Some checks are already rolling in. Designer Diane Von Furstenberg, former Warner Bros. CEO Robert Daly, TV producer J.J. Abrams ( “Alias” and “Lost”) and actress Katie McGrath have each already given $25,000, campaign finance records show.
San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom, a Democrat, dropped his challenge to Brown last month, leaving the attorney general clear to pad his campaign treasury through the June 2010 primary election.
Two ultra-wealthy Republicans, billionaire former EBay Chief Executive Meg Whitman and near-billionaire Insurance Commissioner Steve Poizner, are competing in the GOP primary with former congressman and state budget director Tom Campbell.
-- Shane Goldmacher in Sacramento
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