OC’s Starpoint Ventures Cuts $50,000 Check to California Democratic Party

pile of money

Irvine-based Starpointe Ventures, led by CEO Patrick Strader, made a $50,000 contribution to the California Democratic Party earlier this month according to TheElectionTrack.com, which tracks political contributions according to candidates and causes.  Strader, who acts as a consultant to FivePoint Neighborhoods interests in Irvine among other things, has been closely associated with the OC GOP and its leaders over the past few years, which makes the contribution to the CDP curious to say the least.

TheLiberalOC contacted Strader by text for a statement.  He told us, “Starpointe Ventures supports all sorts of causes and candidates.”

I’m don’t doubt that.  But I also don’t trust his motives.

Strader’s support is typically tied to how the political winds are blowing and he’s not a dumb guy; he can see what November looks like with Trump at the top of the ticket and the coming bloodbath for Republicans at the polls.  And while $50,000 is generous, it’s not nearly enough for California Democrats to grant Strader’s firm a quid, a pro or a quo.  I wonder what Strader is hoping to get from this contribution?  Beware Democrats, beware.

Instead, I believe the local GOP, which shrinks in OC daily, must be having a “WTF” moment here.  I know a number of local Republicans who subscribe to this service that showed the contribution and welcome them to comment here.  This is a problem Strader can easily solve by hedging his bets and cutting an equally large check for the Party formally known as the Republicans.

16 Comments

  1. Business is very simply are agnostic. Businesses don’t see customers as Democrats or Republicans. The goal of business is to serve its consumers. There is a separation of church and state for a reason. Similarly to align business interest in this state you must ignore labels and including articles like this that simply seek to divide people and foster us versus them mentality’s. Are we not all Californians? Are we not all Americans? Why must the news only focus on muckraking, personal attacks, and negativism. There is no house on fire so there is no reason to start one with articles like this. Please reconsider the philosophy that if it bleeds it leads and consider there is a positive element in providing housing and opportunity that is and should be supported by anyone and not labeled with some pejorative.

      • Of course blinders are not on. Which is why your argument proves my point. Business is agnostic. Businesses don’t see customers as Democrats or Republicans. The goal of business is to serve its consumers. There is a separation of church and state for a reason. Similarly to align business interest in this state you must ignore labels and do what is best for your business and ultimately your clients and shareholders. My point about the article is that the author is shocked at this idea. That the writer is naïve and manipulative by furthering an agenda that seeks to divide people and foster an ‘us versus them’ mentality. We are all Californians. We are all Americans? Rather than seeking to divide how about seek to unite. It is not the points that decide us that is important, it is the things that bind us that is.

        • James, you sound like you’ve watched Fox News. If what you are saying is true, please let me know if Starpointe has made a similar agnostic contribution to Republicans. This company’s allegiance for the past few election cycles was Republican. And look back to 1994 and the divisive methods of Newt Gingrich. Please let me know when we can get that magical world of compromise.

        • Strader’s contribution to the Democrats means that he and the big developers he works for read the polls and expect the Republicans to lose.

  2. Strader and I don’t particularly care for him, is just another businessman doing what others like him do all over the United States. To do business they must engage in “pay to play” politics. (Just like Hillary/Bill Clinton) It is a sad state of affairs that our country has come to this, but it has become a necessity especially in the Peoples Republic of Kalifornia where Democrats are securely in control. Strader’s contribution would have been much better served going to the Salvation Army, but then that would not helped his future business interests. I am confident the Democrat Party did not turn down Mr. Strader’s contribution.

    • Hey Fat Pat (Ltpar): I bet Strader doesn’t like you either. Neither does most of the Irvine Police Department, which you continue to embarrass.

      • Hey John, don’t you have a couple of public restrooms you should be out trolling. Most of Irvine P.D. was hired after I retired and don’t even know who I am except when it comes time to collect their retirement checks.

        • Hey Fat Pat (Ltpar) Irvine police know that you’re the fat guy with the hayseed haircut who used to be an IPD officer who is using a picture of himself in an old IPD uniform while posting bigoted stupid things on social media. They may not know know your name, but they know you’re THAT GUY. THE EMBARRASSMENT.

  3. Am I reading this correctly, that the author contacted Strader by text regarding his company’s publicly accessible, but not publicly announced donation, didn’t receive a thorough enough response for his taste (in text, mind you) and now is asking readers to surmise the “real” reason for the contribution, which we are supposed to be “wary” of? Well, since you asked for the reader’s opinion, I believe Patrick’s response is accurate; like a professional, his personal political leanings do not hinder him from acting upon the best interests of his company’s and his clients’ interests. And you are correct that it would make sense for him to support the winning team given the polling data, so I guess that would make him…intelligent, data-driven, and strategic(?). So why are we to beware of him? Sounds like a guy I would trust with my company’s political strategy. This is the first LiberalOC article I have happened upon and read, and I only read this article because it came up in my LinkedIn feed, but if is a sample of the LiberalOC’s journalistic standard it will surely be my last.

    • Sandy, Mr. Strader plays things close to the vest. He said more but really didn’t want to be interviewed I left it at that. I suspect Mr. Strader isn’t as interested in Democrats or Republicans as he is winners and losers. He made a smart bet, but I think my party ought to know trust is earned not bought

  4. Dan says: “And while $50,000 is generous, it’s not nearly enough for California Democrats to grant Strader’s firm a quid, a pro or a quo.”

    So Dan …. How much of a HIGHLY ILLEGAL and felonious “quid pro quo” is required to sufficiently bribe Democrats?

  5. There is no amount; that is precisely why I’m not sure what they think $50,000 is going to buy them. We’re not Republicans after all.

    The bigger tell: how will local Republicans react to the donation?

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