Ex-Marin Hedge Fun Guru Ensnared In Political Controversy: Reports

MARIN COUNTY, CA — A former Marin hedge fund manager is at the center of a political controversy over his role in funding a recall race earlier this year that grabbed national media attention.

Bill Oberndorf is board member of a Marin-based PAC that contributed nearly $1.8 million to recall San Francisco District Attorney Chesa Boudin, The San Francisco Examiner reported in June.

But it’s the $100,000 payment Oberndorf’s Neighbors for a Better San Francisco Advocacy paid Brooke Jenkins, who was ostensibly serving the campaign as a volunteer, which has drawn scrutiny.

Oberndorf himself gave over $900,000 to the PAC, which has a San Rafael address, The San Francisco Chronicle reports.

San Francisco Mayor London Breed appointed Jenkins as the city’s DA after the recall ousted Boudin in June.

Jenkins previously worked at the DA’s Office under Boudin but resigned in 2021 to work as a volunteer in the recall of her former boss.

“I was a volunteer for the Boudin recall campaign — period,” Jenkins said in a statement Wednesday, according to the report.

“I worked as a consultant for 501(c)(3) organizations only and in no way did compensation influence me. I would have much rather stayed working as a prosecutor. I was committed to volunteering on the recall because I wanted to make sure San Francisco understood what was at stake if Chesa remained in office.”

Former San Francisco Ethics Commission member and retired judge Quentin Kopp, a recall backer, told The Chronicle there is no indication that the payment was illegal.

Jenkins will be a candidate in a special election in November to complete the last year of Boudin’s term.

“The fact that she didn’t disclose she was being paid — that’s what voters can evaluate in November,” Kopp said, according to the report.

“She wouldn’t be the first candidate for office who didn’t disclose all relevant facts pertaining to any campaign issue,” he said.

Political activism and controversy are nothing new for Oberndorf, who has emerged as a reliable GOP money man in recent years, donating over $1.5 million to Jeb Bush’s failed 2016 presidential bid, among other Republican campaigns, The Chronicle reports.

But Oberndorf broke with Republicans in 2016 when he backed Hilary Clinton.

Oberndorf is also known for philanthropic endeavors.