FPPC Enforcement Decisions, August 24, 2021

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

August 24, 2021

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 24, 2021. 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 Bank Account

In the Matter of Robert Jordan Funk, Committee, and Jordan Funk; FPPC No. 18/376. Staff: Theresa Gilbertson, Senior Commission Counsel. Jordan Funk was an unsuccessful candidate for Modoc County District Attorney in the June 5, 2018 Primary Election. Robert Jordan Funk was Funk’s candidate-controlled committee. The Committee and Funk failed to timely file two preelection campaign statements and one semi-annual campaign statement, in violation of Government Code Sections 84200.5 and 84200 (1 count); and failed to utilize a single designated campaign bank account for all contributions and expenditures, in violation of Government Code Section 85201 (1 count). Fine: $4,500.

In the Matter of Roger Gaylord for Folsom City Council 2016 and Roger Gaylord III; FPPC No. 17/490. Staff: Theresa Gilbertson, Senior Commission Counsel. Respondents were represented by Lance H. Olson of Olson Remcho LLP. Roger Gaylord III was a successful candidate for Folsom City Council in the November 8, 2016 General Election. Roger Gaylord for Folsom City Council 2016 was Gaylord’s candidate-controlled committee. The Committee and Gaylord failed to utilize a single designated campaign bank account for all contributions and expenditures, in violation of Government Code Section 85201 (1 count). Fine: $3,000.

Campaign Late Filer

In the Matter of Clint Olivier, Clint Olivier for Assembly 2016, and Richard Egan; FPPC No. 19/357. Staff: Bridgette Castillo, Senior Commission Counsel. This matter arose from an audit performed by the Franchise Tax Board’s Political Reform Audit Program. Respondents were represented by Brian T. Hildreth of Bell, McAndrews & Hiltachk, LLP. Clint Olivier was an unsuccessful candidate for California State Assembly in the April 5, 2016 Special Election; successful in the June 7, 2016 Primary Election; and unsuccessful in the November 8, 2016 General Election. Clint Olivier for Assembly 2016 was Olivier’s candidate-controlled committee. Richard Egan was the Committee’s treasurer. The Committee, Olivier, and Egan failed to timely file a preelection campaign statement, in violation of Government Code Sections 84200.5 and 84200.8 (1 count); and failed to timely file six 24-hour reports, in violation of Government Code Section 84203 (1 count). Fine: $4,500.

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 24, 2021 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.

Behested Payments

In the Matter of Nancy Skinner; FPPC No. 21/399. Staff: Angela Brereton, Chief of Enforcement and Tara Stock, Intake Manager. Nancy Skinner, State Senator, failed to timely file six Behested Payment Reports, in violation of Government Code Section 84224 (6 counts). Fine: $1,600 (Tier One & Two).

Lobbying Reporting

In the Matter of Hinderliter de Llamas & Associates; FPPC No. 19/1701. Staff: Angela Brereton, Chief of Enforcement and Chloe Hackert, Political Reform Consultant. Hinderliter de Llamas & Associates, a lobbyist employer, failed to timely file eleven lobbyist employer quarterly reports, in violation of Government Code Section 86117 (11 counts). Fine: $8,205 (Tier Two).

Campaign Late Filer/Reporter

In the Matter of Yes on HS 2018 and David Norton; FPPC No. 18/1531. Staff: Alex Rose, Commission Counsel. Yes on HS 2018 was a local committee primarily formed to support Measure HS in the November 6, 2018 General Election. David Norton was the Committee’s treasurer. The Committee and Norton failed to timely file a semi-annual campaign statement, a preelection campaign statement, and nine 24-hour reports, in violation of Government Code Sections 84200, 84200.5, and 84203 (11 counts). Fine: $4,855 (Tier One & Two).

In the Matter of David W. Duffner MD for Desert Health Care District Board 2016 and Wayne Gottlieb; FPPC No. 19/1620. Staff: Alex Rose, Commission Counsel. David W. Duffner was an unsuccessful candidate for Desert Health Care District Director in the November 8, 2016 General Election. David W. Duffner MD for Desert Health Care District Board 2016 was Duffner’s candidate-controlled committee. Wayne Gottlieb was the Committee’s treasurer. The candidate is deceased, so is not a party to this action. The Committee and Gottlieb failed to timely file two preelection campaign statements, two semi-annual campaign statements, and seven 24-hour reports, in violation of Government Code Sections 84200, 84200.5, and 84203 (11 counts). Fine: $3,892 (Tier One & Two).

In the Matter of Armenian National Committee Political Action Committee ANCPAC and Viken Pakradouni; FPPC No. 18/1139. Staff: Theresa Gilbertson, Senior Commission Counsel. Armenian National Committee Political Action Committee ANCPAC is a state general purpose committee. Viken Pakradouni is the Committee’s treasurer. The Committee and Pakradouni failed to timely file seven semiannual campaign statements, in violation of Government Code Section 84200 (7 counts). Fine: $2,800 (Tier Two).

In the Matter of Friends of James Gore Supervisor 2018, James Gore, and Adriane Garayalde; FPPC No. 18/357. Staff: Alex Rose, Commission Counsel. James Gore was a successful candidate for Sonoma County Supervisor in the June 5, 2018 Primary Election. Friends of James Gore Supervisor 2018 was Gore’s candidate-controlled committee. Adriane Garayalde is the Committee’s treasurer. The Committee, Gore, and Garayalde failed to timely file a preelection campaign statement, in violation of Government Code Section 84200.5 (1 count). Fine: $471 (Tier One).

In the Matter of Citrus Heights Chamber of Commerce Political Action Committee and William Van Duker; FPPC No. 21/461. Staff: Angela Brereton, Chief of Enforcement and Dominika Wojenska, Associate Governmental Program Analyst. Citrus Heights Chamber of Commerce Political Action Committee is a local general purpose committee. William Van Duker is the Committee’s treasurer. The Committee and Van Duker failed to timely file a 24-hour report, in violation of Government Code Section 84203 (1 count). Fine: $445 (Tier Two).

In the Matter of Don Bridge for CVUSD Board – 2020, Don Bridge, and Donald Taylor; FPPC No. 21/347. Staff: Angela Brereton, Chief of Enforcement and Chloe Hackert, Political Reform Consultant. Don Bridge was a successful candidate for Board Member of Chino Valley Unified School District in the November 3, 2020 General Election. Don Bridge for CVUSD Board – 2020 was Bridge’s candidate-controlled committee. Donald Taylor was the Committee’s treasurer. The Committee, Bridge, and Taylor failed to timely file a pre-election campaign statement, in violation of Government Code Section 84200.5 (1 count). Fine: $313 (Tier One).

In the Matter of Bryan Easter for Trustee 2020, Bryan Easter, and Heather Easter; FPPC No. 21/228. Staff: Angela Brereton, Chief of Enforcement and Dominika Wojenska, Associate Governmental Program Analyst. Bryan Easter was a successful candidate for Panama-Buena Vista Union School District Trustee in the November 3, 2020 General Election. Bryan Easter for Trustee 2020 is Easter’s candidate-controlled committee. Heather Easter is the Committee’s treasurer. The Committee, Bryan Easter, and Heather Easter failed to timely file one preelection campaign statement, in violation of Government Code Section 84200.5 (1 count). Fine: $245 (Tier One).

In the Matter of Committee to Elect Margaret Hill San Bernardino City School Board 2020, Margaret Hill, and Denise Lundy; FPPC No. 21/345. Staff: Angela Brereton, Chief of Enforcement and Chloe Hackert, Political Reform Consultant. Margaret Hill was a successful candidate for San Bernardino City School Board in the November 3, 2020 General Election. Committee to Elect Margaret Hill San Bernardino City School Board 2020 is Hill’s candidate-controlled committee. Denise Lundy is the Committee’s treasurer. The Committee, Hill, and Lundy failed to timely file a pre-election campaign statement, in violation of Government Code Section 84200.5 (1 count). Fine: $220 (Tier One).

In the Matter of Citizens for Better Education/Redlands Teachers Association and Teresa Steinbroner; FPPC No. 21/177. Staff: Angela Brereton, Chief of Enforcement and Tara Stock, Intake Manager. Citizens for Better Education/Redlands Teachers Association is a local general purpose committee. Teresa Steinbroner is the Committee’s treasurer. The Committee and Steinbroner failed to timely file a semi-annual campaign statement, in violation of Government Code Section 84200 (1 count). Fine: $200 (Tier One).

Statement of Economic Interests Late Filer

In the Matter of Jason Richard Harris; FPPC No. 17/1136. Staff: Angela Brereton, Chief of Enforcement and Chloe Hackert, Political Reform Consultant. Jason Richard Harris, as a Member of the Crest, Dehesa, Harbison Canyon, & Granite Hills Planning Group, failed to timely file a 2016 Annual Statement of Economic Interests, in violation of Government Code Section 87300 (1 count). Fine: $200 (Tier One).

In the Matter of Darin Stowell; FPPC No. 19/828. Staff: David E. Castro, Commission Counsel. Darin Stowell, as a Chief Psychologist for California Correctional Health Care Services, failed to timely file a 2018 Annual Statement of Economic Interests, in violation of Government Code Section 87300 (1 count). Fine: $200 (Tier One).

In the Matter of Suz Montgomery; FPPC No. 19/898. Staff: Angela Brereton, Chief of Enforcement and Shaina Elkin, Staff Services Analyst. Suz Montgomery, an Advisory Council Member for the Ventura County Area Agency on Aging, failed to timely file a 2018 Annual Statement of Economic Interests, in violation of Government Code Section 87300 (1 count). Fine: 200 (Tier One).

In the Matter of Josh Peterson; FPPC No. 20/659. Staff: Angela Brereton, Chief of Enforcement and Shaina Elkin, Staff Services Analyst. Josh Peterson, a Member of the General Plan Implementation Review Committee for the City of Fresno, failed to timely file an Assuming Office Statement of Economic Interests, in violation of Government Code Section 87300 (1 count). Fine: $200 (Tier One).

In the Matter of Andrew Kelley; FPPC No. 21/412. Staff: Angela Brereton, Chief of Enforcement and Taylor Culberson, Assistant Political Reform Consultant. Andrew Kelley, a Planning Commissioner for Alameda County, failed to timely file a 2019 Annual Statement of Economic Interests, in violation of Government Code Section 87203 (1 count). Fine: $200 (Tier One).

In the Matter of Nicholas Targ; FPPC No. 21/420. Staff: Angela Brereton, Chief of Enforcement and Taylor Culberson, Assistant Political Reform Consultant. Nicholas Targ, a Planning Commissioner for Portola Valley, failed to timely file a 2019 Annual Statement of Economic Interests, in violation of Government Code Section 87203 (1 count). Fine: $200 (Tier One).

In the Matter of Scot Nicol; FPPC No. 21/421. Staff: Angela Brereton, Chief of Enforcement and Taylor Culberson, Assistant Political Reform Consultant. Scot Nicol, an Alternate Member for the Independent Cities Risk Management Authority, failed to timely file an Assuming Office Statement of Economic Interests, in violation of Government Code Section 87300 (1 count). Fine: $200 (Tier One).

In the Matter of Eduardo Soriano-Hewitt; FPPC No. 21/502. Staff: Angela Brereton, Chief of Enforcement and Taylor Culberson, Assistant Political Reform Consultant. Eduardo Soriano-Hewitt, a Council Aide for the City of Los Angeles, failed to timely file a 2019 Annual Statement of Economic Interests, in violation of Government Code Section 87300 (1 count). Fine: $200 (Tier One).