FPPC Enforcement Decisions, October 15, 2020
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 15, 2020
For More Information Contact:
Jay Wierenga (916) 322-7761
Additional information on each of the enforcement cases listed below can be found in the October 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, October 15, 2020. Decisions are listed by category and include a brief summary of each case and the total amount of any administrative fine in each case.
Misuse of Campaign Funds
In the Matter of Karina Onofre for CA State Assembly 74th District and Karina Onofre; FPPC No. 16/649. Staff: Theresa Gilbertson, Senior Commission Counsel and Marshall Miller, former Special Investigator. The respondent was represented by Joseph A. Weber of Weber Firman. Karina Onofre was an unsuccessful candidate for the California State Assembly, 74th District in the November 8, 2016 General Election. Karina Onofre for CA State Assembly 74th District was her candidate-controlled committee. The Committee and Onofre failed to timely file two pre-election campaign statements, in violation of Government Code Section 84200.5 (1 count) and Onofre made a payment with campaign funds that was unrelated to a political, legislative, or governmental purpose, in violation of Government Code Sections 89512, 89513 subdivision (d), and 89517 (1 count). Fine: $5,500.
Advertising and Campaign Late Filer
In the Matter of Committee for Safe Vallejo Schools – Yes on Measure S, Deborah Dickson, and Michael Nichelini; FPPC No. 19/448. Staff: Christopher Burton, Senior Commission Counsel and Alethea Perez, Special Investigator. The respondents were represented by Lance Olson of Olson Remcho. Committee for Safe Vallejo Schools – Yes on Measure S is a committee primarily formed to support Vallejo City Unified School District Measure S, which appeared on the ballot in the November 6, 2018 General Election. Deborah Dickson is the Committee’s principal officer and Michael Nichelini is the Committee’s treasurer. The Committee, Dickson, and Nichelini failed to timely file two pre-election campaign statements and one semiannual campaign statement, in violation of Government Code Sections 84200, 84200.5, and 84200.8 (1 count) and failed to timely file five 24-Hour Reports, in violation of Government Code Section 84203 (1 count). Additionally, the Committee and Dickson failed to include the required “Paid for by” and committee name disclosure on campaign signs and social media advertisements, in violation of Government Code Sections 84502 and 84504.3 subdivision (f) (1 count). Fine: $6,500.
Campaign Late Filer
In the Matter of Committee to Elect Angela Martinez Untalon for City Council in the City of Greenfield in 2018, Angela M. Untalon, and Leticia V. Uribe; FPPC No. 19/384. Staff: Jenna C. Rinehart, Commission Counsel. Angela M. Untalon was a successful candidate for Greenfield City Council in the November 6, 2018 General Election. Committee to Elect Angela Martinez Untalon for City Council in the City of Greenfield in 2018 is her candidate-controlled committee. Leticia V. Uribe is the Committee’s treasurer. The Committee, Untalon, and Uribe failed to timely file two pre-election campaign statements, in violation of Government Code Sections 84200.5 and 84200.8 (1 count) and failed to timely file three 24-Hour Reports, in violation of Government Code Section 84203 (1 count). Fine: $3,000.
In the Matter of Committee to Re-Elect Ford Greene San Anselmo Town Council 2015, Ford Greene, and Laurie Berger; FPPC No. 18/1546. Staff: Jenna C. Rinehart, Commission Counsel. Ford Greene was a successful candidate for San Anselmo Town Council in the November 3, 2015 General Election and November 5, 2019 local election. Committee to Re-Elect Ford Greene San Anselmo Town Council 2015 is his candidate-controlled committee. Laurie Berger was the Committee’s treasurer between August 24, 2015 and September 13, 2019. The Committee, Greene, and Berger failed to timely file a semiannual campaign statement, in violation of Government Code Section 84200 (1 count) and failed to timely file an amended statement of organization to re-designate the Committee for the 2019 election, in violation of Government Code Section 84103 and Regulation 18521 (1 count). Fine: $3,000.
In the Matter of Stronger FMSD Schools – Yes on Measure R and Jason Vann; FPPC No. 20/241. Staff: Jenna C. Rinehart, Commission Counsel. Stronger FMSD Schools – Yes on Measure R was a ballot measure committee primarily formed to support the approval of Measure R in the March 3, 2020 Primary Election. Jason Vann was the Committee’s treasurer. The Committee and Vann failed to timely file a 24-Hour Report, in violation of Government Code Section 84203 (1 count). Fine: $1,500.
Default Proceedings
In the Matter of Jennifer Allsup; FPPC No. 16/20047. Staff: Angela Brereton, Assistant Chief Counsel and Jeffrey Kamigaki, Supervising Special Investigator. Jennifer Allsup formerly served as Commissioner of Modesto Entertainment Commission from March 2009 to May 5, 2016. Allsup failed to timely file a 2014 Annual, 2015 Annual, and a Leaving Office Statement of Economic Interests, in violation of Government Code Section 87300 (3 counts). Fine: $12,000.
In the Matter of Antonio Flores; FPPC No. 16/20070. Staff: Jenna C. Rinehart, Commission Counsel. Antonio Flores was appointed to Governing Board Member of Siskiyou County Dunsmuir Elementary School District on March 15, 2016 and left office on December 2, 2016. Flores failed to timely file an Assuming Office and Leaving Office Statement of Economic Interests, in violation of Government Code Section 87300 (2 counts). Fine: $8,000.
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 October 15, 2020 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.
Campaign Late Filer/Late Reporter
In the Matter of Friends to Re-Elect Sandra Moss for Compton Unified School District 2020, Sandra Moss, and Travon Moss; FPPC No. 20/136. Staff: Galena West, Chief of Enforcement and Dominika Wojenska, Associate Governmental Program Analyst. Sandra F. Moss was a successful candidate for Compton Unified School District Board in the March 3, 2020 Primary Election. Re-Elect Sandra Moss for Compton Unified School District 2020 is her candidate-controlled committee. Travon Moss is the Committee’s treasurer. The Committee, Moss, and Moss failed to timely file a pre-election campaign statement, in violation of Government Code Section 84200.5 (1 count) and failed to timely file a 24-Hour Report, in violation of Government Code Section 84203 (1 count). The Committee, Moss, and Moss also failed to timely report campaign activity on a pre-election campaign statement, in violation of Government Code Section 84211 (1 count). Fine: $910.
In the Matter of Fresno County Young Democrats and Arthur Montejano; FPPC No. 20/571. Staff: Galena West, Chief of Enforcement and Ginny Lambing, Political Reform Consultant. The respondents were represented by Amber Maltbie of Nossaman LLP. Fresno County Young Democrats is a state general purpose committee. Arthur Montejano is the Committee’s treasurer. The Committee and Montejano failed to timely file a pre-election campaign statement, in violation of Government Code Section 84200.5 (1 count). Fine: $535.
In the Matter of Samson for State Senate 2018, Jestin L. Samson, and Michael Booth; FPPC No. 18/646. Staff: Galena West, Chief of Enforcement and Dominika Wojenska, Associate Governmental Program Analyst. Jestin L. Samson was an unsuccessful candidate for State Senate in the June 5, 2018 Primary Election. Samson for State Senate 2018 is his candidate-controlled committee. Michael Booth is the Committee’s treasurer. The Committee, Samson, and Booth failed to timely file a pre-election campaign statement, in violation of Government Code Section 84200.5 (1 count) and failed to timely file a semiannual campaign statement, in violation of Government Code Section 84200 (1 count). Fine: $415.
Statement of Economic Interests Late Filer
In the Matter of Neha Nayyar; FPPC No. 19/743. Staff: Galena West, Chief of Enforcement and Amber Burnside, Assistant Political Reform Consultant. Neha Nayyar, a Staff Psychiatrist for California Correctional Health Care Services, failed to timely file a 2017 and 2018 Annual Statement of Economic Interests, in violation of Government Code Section 87300 (2 counts). Fine: $400.
In the Matter of Timothy Elliott; FPPC No. 20/574. Staff: Galena West, Chief of Enforcement and Amber Burnside, Assistant Political Reform Consultant. Timothy Elliott, a Community Housing Program Manager for the Housing and Community Investment Department of Los Angles, failed to timely file a 2017 Annual and 2018 Annual Statement of Economic Interests, in violation of Government Code Section 87300 (2 counts). Fine: $400.
In the Matter of Steven Neal; FPPC No. 17/397. Staff: Jenna C. Rinehart, Commission Counsel. Steven Neal, a Commissioner for the Transactions Use Tax Citizens’ Advisory Committee, failed to timely file a 2016 Annual Statement of Economic Interests, in violation of Government Code Section 87300 (1 count). Fine: $400.
In the Matter of Richard Hernandez; FPPC No. 19/1404. Staff: Galena West, Chief of Enforcement and Amber Burnside, Assistant Political Reform Consultant. Richard Hernandez, a Planning Commissioner for the City of Half Moon Bay, failed to timely file a 2018 Annual Statement of Economic Interests, in violation of Government Code Section 87203 (1 count). Fine: $400.
In the Matter of Trinh Nguyen; FPPC No. 19/1585. Staff: Galena West, Chief of Enforcement and Amber Burnside, Assistant Political Reform Consultant. Trinh Nguyen, a Planning Commissioner for the City of Pittsburg, failed to timely file an Assuming Office Statement of Economic Interests, in violation of Government Code Section 87202 (1 count). Fine: $400.
In the Matter of Jessica Jackson Sloan; FPPC No. 19/1438. Staff: Galena West, Chief of Enforcement and Amber Burnside, Assistant Political Reform Consultant. Jessica Jackson Sloan, a City Council Member for Mill Valley, failed to timely file a 2018 Annual Statement of Economic Interests, in violation of Government Code Section 87203 (1 count). Fine: $200.
In the Matter of Christopher Ormsby; FPPC No. 20/539. Staff: Galena West, Chief of Enforcement and Amber Burnside, Assistant Political Reform Consultant. Christopher Ormsby, a Senior Planner for the Community Development Department of Moreno Valley, failed to timely file a 2019 Annual Statement of Economic Interests, in violation of Government Code Section 87300 (1 count). Fine: $200.
In the Matter of Angie Wagner; FPPC No. 19/924. Staff: Galena West, Chief of Enforcement and Tara Stock, Intake Manager. Angie Wagner, a Board Member for the Buckeye Fire Protection District, failed to timely file a 2018 Annual Statement of Economic Interests, in violation of Government Code Section 87300 (1 count). Fine: $200.
In the Matter of Willard Sheffie; FPPC No. 19/1208. Staff: Galena West, Chief of Enforcement and Amber Burnside, Assistant Political Reform Consultant. Willard Sheffie, a Safe Neighborhoods Division Administrative Coordinator for the Office of the Los Angeles City Attorney, failed to timely file a 2018 Annual Statement of Economic Interests, in violation of Government Code Section 87300 (1 count). Fine: $200.
In the Matter of Larry Andrade; FPPC No. 19/1432. Staff: Galena West, Chief of Enforcement and Amber Burnside, Assistant Political Reform Consultant. Larry Andrade, a Planning Commissioner for the City of Los Alamitos, failed to timely file a 2018 Annual Statement of Economic Interests, in violation of Government Code Section 87203 (1 count). Fine: $200.
In the Matter of Tanya DeLong; FPPC No.19/937. Staff: Galena West, Chief of Enforcement and Kimberly Rawnsley, Staff Services Analyst. Tanya DeLong, a Board Member with MindSET Charter Schools, Inc for the County of San Diego, failed to timely file a 2018 Annual Statement of Economic Interests, in violation of Government Code Section 87203 (1 count). Fine: $200.