FPPC Enforcement Decisions, August 18, 2022
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 18, 2022
For More Information Contact:
Jay Wierenga (916) 322-7761
Additional information on each of the enforcement cases listed below can be found in the August 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 between the FPPC Enforcement Division and 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.
I. The following are enforcement decisions approved by the Fair Political Practices Commission at its regular monthly meeting held on Thursday, August 18, 2022. Decisions are listed by category and include a brief summary of each case and the total amount of any administrative fine in each case.
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In the Matter of Committee for a Strong Siskiyou Economy, No on Measure H Sponsored by Crystal Geyser Water Company, Kelly Lawler, Jill Harris, and Crystal Geyser Water Company; FPPC No. 17/123. Staff: Theresa Gilbertson, Senior Commission Counsel and Ann Flaherty, Special Investigator. Respondent Committee and Kelly Lawler were represented by Steve Churchwell of Buchalter Law Firm. Respondent Jill Harris and Crystal Geyser Water Company were represented by Nicholas Sanders, and Jim Sutton of the Sutton Law Firm. Committee for a Strong Siskiyou Economy, No on Measure H Sponsored by Crystal Geyser Water Company was a primarily formed ballot measure committee active in Siskiyou County during the 2016 General Election. Kelly Lawler served as the treasurer. Jill Harris served as a principal officer. Crystal Geyser Water Company was the sponsor of the Committee. Respondents Committee and Harris failed to include an accurate disclosure statement on mass mailings and advertisements, in violation of Government Code Sections 84106, 84504, subdivision (c), and 84305 (1 count). Respondents Committee and Lawler failed to accurately disclose activity on campaign statements and failed to timely file 24-Hour Reports, in violation of Government Code Sections 84211 and 84203 (3 counts). Crystal Geyser Water Company, qualifying as a major donor, failed to timely file a campaign statement and failed to timely file 24-Hour Reports, in violation of Government Code Sections 84200 (1 count) and 84203 (1 count). Fine: $67,508.
Default Proceedings
In the Matter of Isaac Galvan, and Galvan for Compton City Council 2013/2017; FPPC Case No. 16/207. Staff: Neal Bucknell, Senior Commission Counsel and Soni Mangat, Program Specialist II. Galvan first was elected to the Compton City Council, District 2, in June 2013. He was re-elected in April 2017. In 2021, he was re-elected again, and he remained in office until May 2022 when his 2021 re-election was invalidated. Galvan for Compton City Council 2013/2017 was Galvan’s candidate-controlled committee. Galvan served as the Committee’s treasurer. Galvan and the Committee failed to timely file semi-annual and pre-election campaign statements, in violation of Government Code Sections 84200, 84200.5, and 84200.8 (13 counts); failed to properly report committee activity on campaign statements, in violation of Government Code Section 84211 (6 counts); failed to timely file 24-Hour Reports, in violation of Government Code Section 84203 (8 counts); accepted a money order of $100 or more, in violation of Government Code Section 84300, subdivision (a) (1 count); made unlawful cash expenditures of campaign funds, in violation of Government Code Section 84300, subdivision (b) (4 counts); and failed to keep required committee records, in violation of Government Code Section 84104 and Regulation 18401 (4 counts). Also, Galvan unlawfully used campaign funds for personal purposes, in violation of Government Code Sections 89510, subdivision (b), 89512, 89513, and 89517 (17 counts). Fine: $240,000.
II. The following are enforcement decisions approved through the streamline penalty process and were executed by the Chief of Enforcement per Regulation 18360.2 following the August 18, 2022 meeting. Decisions are listed by category and include a brief summary of each case and the total amount of any administrative fine in each case.
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In the Matter of Armenian National Committee Municipal PAC, Viken Pakradouni; FPPC No. 17/327. Staff: Alex Rose, Commission Counsel. Armenian National Committee Municipal PAC is a local general purpose committee, and Viken Pakradouni was the Committee’s treasurer. The Committee and Pakradouni failed to timely file three 24-Hour Reports, in violation of Government Code Section 84204 (3 counts) and failed to disclose the “not authorized” disclaimer on two mailers, in violation of Government Code Section 84506.5 (2 counts). Fine: $2,418 (Tier Two).
Campaign Late Filer
In the Matter of Committee to Elect Kim Cousins 2022, Kim Cousins, Corrine Cousins, and Matthew Dobler; FPPC No. 18/635. Staff: Marissa Nash, Commission Counsel. Kim Cousins was an unsuccessful candidate for Riverside County Board of Education in the June 5, 2018 Primary Election. Cousins' controlled committee was redesignated to Committee to Elect Kim Cousins 2022. Corrine Cousins served as the treasurer until October 19, 2021. Matthew Dobler served as the treasurer from October 20, 2021 until February 22, 2022. The Committee, Kim Cousins and Corrine Cousins failed to timely file two pre-election campaign statements, in violation of Government Code Section 84200.5 (2 counts) and four semi-annual campaign statements, in violation of Government Code Section 84200 (4 counts). The 2020 Committee, Kim Cousins and Dobler failed to timely file two semi-annual campaign statements, in violation of Government Code Section 84200 (2 counts). Fine: $2,210 (Tier One).
In the Matter of Ceniceros for Colton School Board 2018, Randall Ceniceros, and Maria Ceniceros; FPPC No. 18/897. Staff: Angela Brereton, Chief of Enforcement and Tara Stock, Intake Manager. Randall Ceniceros was an unsuccessful candidate for the Colton Joint Unified School District Board of Trustees in the November 6, 2018 General Election. Ceniceros for Colton School Board 2018 was Ceniceros’ candidate-controlled committee. Maria Ceniceros was the committee’s treasurer. The Committee, Ceniceros, and Ceniceros failed to timely file three 24-Hour Reports, in violation of Government Code Section 84203 (3 counts). Fine: $1,350 (Tier Two).
In the Matter of Eliseo Gamino for 2022 Superintendent of Schools, Eliseo Gamino, and Victor Martinez; FPPC No. 22/475. Staff: Angela Brereton, Chief of Enforcement and Tara Stock, Intake Manager. Eliseo Gamino was an unsuccessful candidate for Fresno County Superintendent of Schools in the June 7, 2022 Primary Election. Eliseo Gamino for 2022 Superintendent of Schools is Gamino’s candidate-controlled committee. Victor Martinez is the Committee’s treasurer. The Committee, Gamino, and Martinez failed to timely file a 24-Hour Report, in violation of Government Code Section 84203 (1 count). Fine: $230 (Tier One).
Statement of Economic Interests Late Filer
In the Matter of Shawn Thompson; FPPC No. 22/062. Staff: Angela Brereton, Chief of Enforcement and Laura Mandler, Political Reform Consultant. Shawn Thompson, Consultant for the City of Monterey, failed to timely file 2019 and 2020 Annual Statements of Economic Interests, in violation of Government Code Section 87300 (2 counts). Fine: $400 (Tier One).
In the Matter of Timothy Johnson; FPPC No. 20/085. Staff: David E. Castro, Commission Counsel. Timothy Johnson, a member of the Personnel Appeals Commission for the City of Los Alamitos, failed to timely file a 2018 Annual Statement of Economic Interests, in violation of Government Code Section 87300 (1 count). Fine: $400 (Tier One).
In the Matter of Gary Fazio; FPPC No. 20/893. Staff: Angela Brereton, Chief of Enforcement and Tara Stock, Intake Manager. Gary Fazio, a Director for the Fall River Mills Fire Protection District, failed to timely file the 2019 Annual Statement of Economic Interests, in violation of Government Code Section 87300 (1 count). Fine: $400 (Tier One).
Statement of Economic Interests Late Reporter
In the Matter of Randall Ceniceros; FPPC Case No. 18/1237. Staff: Angela Brereton, Chief of Enforcement and Tara Stock, Intake Manager. Randall Ceniceros is a former member of the Colton Joint Unified School District Board of Trustees. Ceniceros failed to timely disclose two sources of income on the 2017 Annual Statement of Economic Interests, in violation of Government Code Section 87300 (2 counts). Fine: $200 (Tier One).