January 2026 Agenda

NOTICE AND AGENDA

Commission Meeting

California Fair Political Practices Commission

Chico Municipal Center
Council Chamber
421 Main Street
Chico, CA 95928

Thursday, January 15, 2026
10:00 A.M.

View Agenda as PDF

Under Government Code section 11123(a), all meetings of a state body are open and public, and all persons are permitted to attend any meeting of a state body, except as otherwise provided in that article. The section further states that the portion of the teleconferenced meeting that is required to be open to the public must be audible to the public at the location specified in the notice of the meeting. Members of the public may listen to the meeting by phone by calling (669) 444-9171; access code: 9856036268 or watch the meeting via Webinar at YouTube. To participate in real time, visit http://mediasite.fppc.ca.gov/ or call (669) 444-9171; access code: 9856036268.

To view the new procedure to participate by telephone, visit our public comment page.

Persons who, due to a disability, need assistance in order to participate in this meeting should, prior to the meeting, contact the Commission Assistant at (916) 322-5745 (voice), CommAsst@fppc.ca.gov (e-mail) and ADACoordinator@fppc.ca.gov. TTY/TDD and Speech-to-Speech users may dial 7-1-1 for the California Relay Service to submit comments on an agenda item or to request special accommodations for persons with disabilities.

Adam E. Silver, Chair

1. Public Comment for Items not on Agenda. During this comment period, any person is invited to speak on any topic that is not listed on this agenda. Action may not be taken on any matter raised during this public comment period until the matter is specifically listed on a future agenda. Those who wish to comment on an item that has been listed on this agenda may comment when that item has been opened for consideration by the Commission and before any action is taken.

The Commission should avoid discussing and may not act on any matter raised during this public comment period, except to decide whether to place the matter on the agenda of a future meeting during the last item on the agenda.

2. November 2025 Minutes

Items on the consent calendar will be taken up and voted on as a group. A Commissioner may request that an item be removed from consent, in which case it will be discussed separately in the meeting.

Laundered Campaign Contributions

3. In the Matter of Prov 3:9 LLC and John Kruger; FPPC No. 21/040. Staff: Theresa Gilbertson, Attorney Supervisor and Ann Flaherty, Special Investigator. In connection with the September 14, 2021 Gubernatorial Recall Election, John Kruger made a $500,000 contribution to the committee, Rescue California-Recall Gavin Newsom in the name of another, in violation of Government Code Section 84301 (1 count), and failed to disclose the activity on a major donor statement, in violation of Government Code Section 84211 (1 count). Prov 3:9 LLC made a contribution but failed to disclose that it was an intermediary for the true source, Kruger, in violation of Government Code sections 84301 and 84302 (1 count). Total Proposed Penalty: $15,000.

Prov 3:9 - Stipulation

Mass Mailings at Public Expense

4. In the Matter of County of San Benito; FPPC No. 23/006. Staff: Alex Rose, Senior Commission Counsel and Kristin Hamilton, Special Investigator. The County of San Benito is represented by Gregory Priamos of Prentice | Long, PC. The County of San Benito sent prohibited campaign-related mass mailings at public expense, in violation of Government Code Section 89001 (1 count), failed to include the proper advertising disclosure on mailers, in violation of Government Code Sections 84502 and 84504.2 (1 count), failed to timely file a semi-annual campaign statement, in violation of Government Code Section 84200, subdivision (b) (1 count), and failed to timely file one 24-Hour Report, in violation of Government Code Section 84204 (1 count). Total Proposed Penalty: $18,000.

County of San Benito - Stipulation 

5. In the Matter of Thara Innocent; FPPC No. 24/816. Staff: Kristin E. Goulet, Commission Counsel. Thara Innocent, a former Recreation Director for the Los Angeles Department of Recreation and Parks, failed to timely file the Assuming Office, 2020, 2021, 2022, and 2023 Annual, and Leaving Office Statements of Economic Interests, in violation of Government Code Section 87300 (6 counts). Total Proposed Penalty: $24,000.

6. In the Matter of Phillip Wiley; FPPC No. 24/734. Staff: Kristin E. Goulet, Commission Counsel. Phillip Wiley, in his former position as Recreation Director for the Los Angeles Department of Recreation and Parks, failed to timely file the Assuming Office and 2020, 2021, 2022, and 2023 Annual Statements of Economic Interests, in violation of Government Code Section 87300 (5 counts). Total Proposed Penalty: $21,000.
 

7. In the Matter of Jesse Huang; FPPC No. 24/501. Staff: Kristin E. Goulet, Commission Counsel. Jesse Huang, a Recreation Director for the Los Angeles Department of Recreation and Parks, failed to timely file the Assuming Office and 2020, 2021, 2022, and 2023 Annual Statements of Economic Interests, in violation of Government Code Section 87300 (5 counts). Total Proposed Penalty: $15,000.

8. Adoption of Proposed Amendments to Regulation 18361.4 – Probable Cause Proceedings. Staff: John Feser, Senior Commission Counsel. Staff proposes several changes to the regulation governing probable cause proceedings to streamline the process. The proposed regulation amendments are presented for adoption by the Commission.

Comment Letter, CPAA

9. Regulation Projects for 2026. Staff: Dave Bainbridge, General Counsel. The Commission will discuss potential regulation projects for 2026.

10. Legislative Update. Staff: Lindsey Nakano, Senior FPPC Legislative Counsel. The Commission will review and discuss potential sponsored and other legislation. The Commission may provide direction to staff regarding the same.

11. Executive Staff Reports.
Enforcement Division. Kendall L.D. Bonebrake, Chief.
Audits and Assistance Division. Shrdha Shah, Chief.
Legal Division. Dave Bainbridge, General Counsel.
Administration and Technology Division. Jue Wang, PhD, Chief.
Executive Director Update. Galena West, Executive Director.

12. Commissioner Comments and Proposed Future Agenda Items.
Note: Although any Commissioner may identify a topic of interest, the Commission may not substantially discuss or take action on any matter raised during the meeting that is not included on this agenda, except to decide to place the matter on the agenda of a future meeting. (Government Code Sections 11125 & 11125.7(a).) 

[1]You can obtain further information about the meeting by contacting the Commission Assistant, 1102 Q Street, Suite 3050, Sacramento, CA, 95811, Tel. (916) 322-5745. Written comments on agenda items should be submitted to the Commission no later than 12:00 p.m. the day before the meeting in order to afford the Commissioners adequate time to fully consider the comments. Email comment letters directly to CommAsst@fppc.ca.gov. To participate in real time, visit http://mediasite.fppc.ca.gov/.

The agenda and related documents are posted on the FPPC website at www.fppc.ca.gov. Materials submitted by the public regarding each agenda item will be made available on the website. The Commission makes every attempt to post ADA compliant documents. If there is a document that is not compliant, please email the Commission Assistant requesting an ADA compliant version. 

Members of the public may listen to the meeting by phone by calling (669) 444-9171; access code: 9856036268; or watch the meeting via Webinar at YouTube.

The meeting location is accessible to the disabled. Persons who, due to a disability, need assistance in order to participate in this meeting should, prior to the meeting, contact the Commission Assistant at (916) 322-5745 (voice), CommAsst@fppc.ca.gov (e-mail) and ADACoordinator@fppc.ca.gov. TTY/TDD and Speech-to-Speech users may dial 7-1-1 for the California Relay Service to submit comments on an agenda item or to request special accommodations for persons with disabilities. Please allow three business days between the request and the meeting date.