Newport Beach wants $10,000 from Romney campaign

The city of Newport Beach has billed various entities supporting Mitt Romney's campaign $10,000 for police and security at a fundraiser he held earlier this month.

The amount is less than a third of what the city billed for President Obama's campaign stop in Corona del Mar in February.

City Manager Dave Kiff said Monday the difference was a result of fewer Secret Service restrictions on road travel and fewer demonstrators at Romney's June 1 appearance at the Balboa Bay Club & Resort.

The Republican presidential candidate's event drew about 50 demonstrators, while Obama's fundraiser at a private home in February drew hundreds.

Police cordoned off the sidewalk on West Coast Highway for the Romney event; for Obama they were required to shut down traffic on Coast Highway south of Corona del Mar and in the Shorecliffs neighborhood, where the event was held, Kiff said.

The city sent the bill, dated June 21, to Romney Victory Inc., a joint fundraising committee that benefits the Romney campaign, the Republican National Committee and the Republican Party in four states. Obama's bill, however, went directly to the president's campaign.

Kiff said the city identified "the most appropriate" entity to cover the taxpayer-funded services.

"Everybody is supposed to be treated fairly," he said.

In New Hampshire, an anonymous donor recently gave the town of Durham $20,000 to cover costs from an Obama fundraiser.

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Photo: Members of "Billionaires for Romney," MoveOn.org and Occupy protest at Mitt Romney's visit to the Balboa Bay Club on June 1. Credit: Kevin Chang / TCN