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Reporting from San Diego — The state Fair Political Practices Commission has approved a $3,000 penalty against San Diego County Supervisor Greg Cox for votes he took on the California

Coastal Commission involving SeaWorld. The settlement, which was unanimously approved Thursday, pertained to two commission votes Cox made regarding SeaWorld’s application for a permit to

expand its orca enclosure. At the time, Cox’s wife held 500 shares in SeaWorld stock in her retirement portfolio. “I am extremely embarrassed by this situation and I have no one to blame but

myself,” he said earlier this month when he announced he would be fined. Cox said he was unaware his wife had purchased the stock when he considered the SeaWorld permit in October. At a

commission meeting, Cox was the lone vote against an amendment that would prohibit SeaWorld from both breeding orcas and transferring them between parks. He then joined the rest of his

colleagues to award SeaWorld the permit on the condition that the marine park no longer breed or transfer the animals. SeaWorld opposed the commission’s restrictions and the company’s stock

value dropped after the action. The theme park filed a lawsuit but later dropped it. When he learned of his wife’s investments in January, Cox self-reported the conflict to the commission

and his wife sold her stock. The fine, he said, would be paid from personal funds, not his campaign account. [email protected]_ _Stewart writes for the San Diego

Union-Tribune._ ALSO THE SWEET SPOT FOR BUILDING DRUG TUNNELS? IT’S IN SAN DIEGO’S OTAY MESA NEIGHBORHOOD TWO PROSECUTORS LEFT SAN DIEGO CITY ATTORNEY’S OFFICE AFTER FINDINGS OF 98 BOTCHED

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