FPPC Enforcement Decisions: May 21, 2015
For More Information Contact:
Jay Wierenga , (916) 322-7761
The following are enforcement decisions approved by the Fair Political Practices Commission at its regular monthly meeting held on Thursday, May 21, 2015. Decisions are listed by category and include a brief summary of each case and the total amount of any administrative fine or fines in each case.
Additional information on each of the enforcement cases below can be found in the May agenda on the FPPC website at www.fppc.ca.gov. FPPC agendas are distributed and posted on the agency website at least 10 days prior to each monthly meeting.
The web version of the agenda includes links to the stipulations agreed to by the commission and by the individuals and organizations subject to the fines, or the default decisions proposed to the commission. Exhibits in support of the stipulations and proposed default decisions are also available on the website. If you or need further assistance, please contact the FPPC communications office at (916) 322-7761 or press@fppc.ca.gov.
Conflict of Interest
Miguel Pulido. This settlement is the result of a joint investigation with the Orange County District Attorney’s office. Miguel Pulido is the Mayor of Santa Ana. In January 2011, he voted to renew a contract with Orange County Auto Parts, but the store owner was a source of income to Mayor Pulido because of a recent real estate transaction. Thus, Mayor Pulido’s vote was a conflict of interest. Also, Mayor Pulido failed to disclose certain information on annual Statements of Economic Interests that he was required to file for various official positions that he held from 2009 through 2012. Most of the omitted information pertained to the property that was involved in the real estate transaction. $13,000 fine.
Tom Hammond, a member of the Lassen County Board of Supervisors, made a governmental decision in which he had a financial interest by voting to approve the sale and exemption of land located within 500 feet of real property in which Hammond held an interest. $2,500 fine.
Campaign Reporting
Rancho Cucamonga Professional Firefighters Association IAFF Local 2274 PAC and Michael McCliman. This matter resulted from an audit performed by the Political Reform Audit Program of the Franchise Tax Board. Rancho Cucamonga Professional Firefighters Association IAFF Local 2274 PAC and its treasurer, Michael McCliman, failed to timely file two pre-election campaign statements, failed to timely disclose contributions on campaign statements, and failed to timely disclose expenditures on a campaign statement. $6,000 fine.
Patricia Washington and Pat Washington for Assembly 2012. This matter arose out of an audit performed by the Political Reform Audit Program of the Franchise Tax Board. Patricia Washington, and her candidate controlled committee, Pat Washington for Assembly 2012, failed to timely disclose required financial activity on the pre-election campaign statement for the reporting period January 1, 2012, through March 17, 2012, and failed to maintain required campaign records for the pre-election campaign statement for the reporting period January 1, 2012, through March 17, 2012. $4,500 fine.
Committee for a Vibrant Downtown - No on Measure M - Major Funding by Greenheart Land Company and Russell Miller, failed to timely disclose on the committee’s campaign statement a non-monetary contribution valued at $31,030. $ 2,500 fine.
Teamsters Joint Council No. 7 PAC. This matter arose out of an audit performed by the Political Reform Audit Program of the Franchise Tax Board. Teamsters Joint Council No. 7 PAC is a general purpose committee sponsored by the Teamsters Joint Council No. 7. Teamsters Joint Council No. 7 PAC failed to file a ballot measure contribution report within 10 business days of making an independent expenditure on August 02, 2012 and a contribution on August 29, 2012, each totaling five thousand dollars ($5,000) or more, to support or oppose the qualification or passage of a single state ballot measure. $2,000 fine.
San Bernardino County
Michael Ramos, Friends of Mike Ramos for San Bernardino County District Attorney 2014, and Marvin Reiter. This matter arose out of an audit performed by the Enforcement Division of the Fair Political Practices Commission, as a part of the contract with the County of San Bernardino to audit each candidate campaign committee for elected county offices. Mike Ramos was a successful candidate for re-election to San Bernardino County District Attorney in the June 3, 2014 election. Friends of Mike Ramos for San Bernardino County District Attorney 2014 was his candidate controlled committee. Marvin Reiter was the Committee Treasurer. Ramos, Friends of Mike Ramos for San Bernardino County District Attorney 2014, and Reiter failed to timely file a second pre-election campaign statement by May 22, 2014, for the reporting period March 18, 2014 through May 17, 2014, and failed to disclose vendor information for credit card expenditures of $100 or more, totaling approximately $14,025. $5,000 fine.
Clifton L. Harris and Clifton L. Harris for San Bernardino County Sheriff 2014. This matter arose out of an audit performed by the Enforcement Division of the Fair Political Practices Commission, as a part of the contract with the County of San Bernardino to audit each candidate campaign committee for elected county offices. Clifton L. Harris was an unsuccessful candidate for San Bernardino County Sheriff in the June 3, 2014 election. Clifton L. Harris for San Bernardino County Sheriff 2014 was his candidate controlled committee. Harris and Clifton L. Harris for San Bernardino County Sheriff 2014, made expenditures totaling $5,549 from a source other than the single, designated campaign bank account. $3,000 fine.
Paul Schrader, Elect Paul Schrader Sheriff/Coroner/Public Administrator 2014, and Judith Schrader. This matter arose out of an audit performed by the Enforcement Division of the Fair Political Practices Commission, as a part of the contract with the County of San Bernardino to audit each candidate campaign committee for elected county offices. Paul Schrader was an unsuccessful candidate for San Bernardino Sheriff/Coroner/Public Administrator in the June 3, 2014 election. Elect Paul Schrader Sheriff/Coroner/Public Administrator 2014 was his candidate controlled committee. Judith Schrader was the Committee Treasurer. Schrader, Elect Paul Schrader Sheriff/Coroner/Public Administrator 2014, and Schrader, received a cash contribution of $900, on March 03, 2013. $1,500 fine.
Randolph Beasley and Beasley for Supervisor 2014. This matter arose out of an audit performed by the Enforcement Division of the Fair Political Practices Commission, as a part of the contract with the County of San Bernardino to audit each candidate campaign committee for elected county offices. Randolph Beasley was an unsuccessful candidate for San Bernardino Supervisor, District 2 in the June 3, 2014 election. Beasley for Supervisor 2014 was his candidate controlled committee. Beasley and Beasley for Supervisor 2014 received cash loans totaling $8,200, on March 07, 2014. $1,500 fine.
Grover Merritt, Grover Merritt For District Attorney 2014, Robert Rego. This matter arose out of an audit performed by the Enforcement Division of the Fair Political Practices Commission, as a part of the contract with the County of San Bernardino to audit each candidate campaign committee for elected county offices. Grover Merritt was an unsuccessful candidate for San Bernardino County District Attorney in the June 3, 2014 election. Grover Merritt For District Attorney 2014 was his candidate controlled committee. Robert Rego was the Committee Treasurer. Merritt, Grover Merritt For District Attorney 2014, and Rego, received a monetary contribution of $4,000, on March 16, 2014, in the form of a cashier’s check, which was not drawn from the bank account of the contributor. $1,500 fine.
Larry Walker, Larry Walker Auditor Committee 2014, and David Gould. This matter arose out of an audit performed by the Enforcement Division of the Fair Political Practices Commission, as a part of the contract with the County of San Bernardino to audit each candidate campaign committee for elected county offices. Larry Walker was a successful candidate for San Bernardino County Auditor-Controller/Treasurer/Tax Collector in the June 3, 2014 election. Larry Walker Auditor Committee 2014 was his candidate controlled committee. David Gould was the Committee Treasurer. Walker, Larry Walker Auditor Committee 2014, and Gould failed to timely file a Late Contribution Report electronically or in paper format to disclose a $1,000 contribution received on May 2, 2014. $150 fine.
Personal Use of Campaign Funds
Constance Conley, treasurer for Elk Grove Community Connection PAC, used campaign funds in the amount of $3,900 for purposes that did not directly relate to a political, legislative, or governmental purpose. $3,000 fine.
Mass Mailer
Norman Hsu, sent four mass mailings without disclosing his name and address on the outside of each piece of mail. $5,500 fine.
Major Donor Reporting
Kenneth Eldred, failed to timely file one Major Donor Committee Campaign Statement (Form 461) for the period January 1, 2013 through December 31, 2013, due on January 31, 2014. $400 fine.
Rebecca Hagelin, failed to timely file one Major Donor Committee Campaign Statement (Form 461) for the period January 1, 2013 through December 31, 2013, due on January 31, 2014. $400 fine.
Statement of Economic Interests - Non-Reporting
Victor Uno, a Commissioner with the Oakland Port Authority, failed to disclose IBEW 595 and the Alameda Labor Council as sources of income on his 2010 through 2014 annual statements of economic interests. $2,500 fine.
Statement of Economic Interests - Non-Filer
Tine Sloan, as a member of the Commission on Teacher Credentialing, failed to timely file his 2014 Annual Statement of Economic Interests, covering the period January 1, 2013, through December 31, 2013, due April 1, 2014. $500 fine.
Edwin Davenport, as a member of the Siskiyou County Assessment Appeals Board, failed to timely file his 2013 Annual Statement of Economic Interests, covering the period January 1, 2013, through December 31, 2013, due on April 1, 2014. $200 fine.
###