California’s new 48th Congressional District is big, but County Supervisor Jim Desmond has an unusual advantage when he needs to cross it: his private plane.
A 32-minute flight to Palm Springs on Sept. 11. A 29-minute flight to Riverside on Sept. 30. From campaign meet-and-greets in Idyllwild to a Lincoln Club luncheon in Rancho Mirage to, most recently, a meeting in Riverside with House Speaker Mike Johnson, the former commercial airline pilot regularly flies himself to campaign events as he seeks to retain control of a district that could help determine partisan control of Congress.
Desmond also bought the plane from two long-time supporters — Steve Flynn and Kathleen Bell Flynn, the daughter of the founder of Taco Bell. They serve as executives of Bell Holdings, according to Desmond’s campaign filings.
Most recently, in December, the Flynns contributed a total of $7,000 dollars to Desmond’s congressional campaign, each donating the $3,500 maximum an individual can donate during an election.
For his 2022 supervisor campaign, both of the Flynns donated $900. During his first supervisor run, in 2018, they each donated $800.
Desmond isn’t the only San Diego County Republican the Flynns have supported.
This election cycle both of the Flynns gave the $1,100 maximum amount they could during the primaries for Vista Mayor John Franklin’s bid to take Desmond’s current District 5 seat. On top of that, Steve Flynn dropped $5,000 into an entity called the California Families Committee with Mayor John Franklin back in March.
In 2023, they also supported Amy Reichert’s bid for District 4 Supervisor by each making two $1,000 contributions, totaling $4,000 to her campaign. And, in 2020, Steve Flynn made two donations totaling $1,700 to Kristin Gaspar’s run for District 3 Supervisor.
But it was in 2024 that the Flynns sold their 2000 Cessna 182S to Desmond and his wife. The $300,000 sales price is around the median price for currently listed planes of the same make and model.
The sale doesn’t appear to violate any campaign finance or political ethics rules. But it underscores the strength of the relationship between Desmond and his longtime political supporters.
The Flynns had previously pushed a large development plan in Valley Center. They hoped to rebuild the Liberty Bell Plaza into a large commercial center. But the redevelopment effort stalled amid decades of delays during the project review process. The San Pasqual Economic Development Corp purchased the land in 2024.
Desmond has served as the District 5 County Supervisor since 2019. Valley Center, where the Flynn’s Liberty Bell project was located. The project never went before the board for approval.
Desmond’s campaign did not respond to an opportunity to respond for this story.
