Alex Spanos

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Alex Gus Spanos is the founder and chairman of A.G. Spanos Companies, "the nation's largest family-owned construction company," and owner of the National Fooball League team the San Diego Chargers. [1] "Spanos made the 2003 Forbes list of the 400 richest Americans, with an estimated net worth of $860 million." [2]

The Chargers

The Chargers is a family-run business. Dean Spanos "serves as President-Chief Executive Officer of the Chargers and President-Vice Chairman of the Spanos corporate organization." Michael Spanos "manages the construction and development activities of the company and is the Executive Vice President of the Chargers. ... In addition, Dean's two sons - A.G. and John - both hold positions in the Chargers' front office." [3]

"Taxpayers agreed to spend $78 million in 1997 to renovate the Chargers’ Qualcomm Stadium in return for a pledge that the Chargers would stay in San Diego until 2020. The city also agreed to buy any leftover tickets that the Chargers do not sell at games. By 2000, however, Spanos was complaining again that the team needed yet another new stadium. This apparently was news to the NFL, which already had planned to hold the 2003 Super Bowl at the old stadium. Wildfires that torched San Diego in 2003 [made] it all the harder for Spanos to make a case for public funding of a new Chargers stadium, despite threats that he might move the team to Los Angeles." [4]

Political Contributions

In 2004, according to Federal Election Commission records, Spanos contributed $5 million to the Progress for America Voter Fund, a 527 committee. He was only "outspent" by Ameriquest Capital Corporation co-chairman Dawn Arnall, who contributed $5.4 million. [5][6]

Spanos is the largest donor to the California Republican, to which he contributed $5.4 million. [7]

For 2004, Spanos is listed as a member of Bush's Rangers, meaning that he contributed at least $200,000 for Bush-Cheney '04 Inc., President George W. Bush's re-election campaign. [8]

Spanos "became a top funder of Arnold Schwarzenegger's 2003 Total Recall campaign." [9] Also see "Fundraiser Watch" on ArnoldWatch.org website.

"Though committees for statewide candidates [in California] have contribution limits of $21,200 per donor, no such limit applied to committees for ballot measures until the day after the Nov. 2 election, when controls established by the state Fair Political Practices Commission took effect. Schwarzenegger had opposed the controls.

"In the weeks before that window closed, Schwarzenegger took in millions through the Recovery Team account. He received $500,000 from Alex Spanos, a Stockton developer and owner of the San Diego Chargers, who has been a zealous donor to Republican causes, including President Bush." [10]

Although Schwarzenegger said in July 2005 that friend and "real estate mogul" Alex Spanos had not asked him for a favor, "Spanos, his companies and their executives top the governor's donor list."

"Spanos is a member of the 'Republican Regents,' the elite group of donors who gave $250,000 or more to the GOP in the 2000 election cycle." The Bush-Cheney 2000 campaign "paid Spanos Companies $19,064 to reimburse it for flights taken on its corporate jets." [11]

Spanos Companies

"Spanos companies include A.G. Spanos Construction, Inc.; A.G. Spanos Management, Inc.; A.G. Spanos Development, Inc.; A.G. Spanos Enterprises, Inc.; A.G. Spanos Realty, Inc.; AGS Financial Corporation; AGS International Corporation; A.G. Spanos Securities Corporation, A.G. Spanos Ventures and The Spanos Corporation." [12]

Profiles

Spanos maintains residences in Stockton and Palm Springs, California, and Tarpon Springs, Florida. [13]

Published Works

"In his autobiography," Sharing the Wealth: My Story (Regnery Publishing, Inc., April 15, 2002, ISBN 0895261588) [14], "Spanos says his first venture was a catering business that he started with an $800 loan for a truck in 1951. The book’s endorsers include" President George W. Bush, Rush Limbaugh, Jack Kemp and "former California Governor Pete Wilson." [15]

Contact Information

Website: http://www.alexspanos.com/

External links

Profiles

Articles & Commentary

1999-2001

2002

2003

2004

2005

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