FPPC Enforcement Decisions, April 2025
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 10, 2025
For More Information Contact:
Shery Yang (916) 322-7761
Additional information on each of the enforcement cases listed below can be found in the 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, April 10, 2025. 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 Contribution Limits
In the Matter of Vicky Santana, Santana for Senate 2018, and David Gould; FPPC No. 20/614. Staff: Neal Bucknell, Senior Commission Counsel; Lance Hachigian, Supervising Special Investigator; Ann Flaherty, Special Investigator; and Kaitlin Osborn, Special Investigator. Gould is represented by Leilani Beaver of Beaver Legal Corporation. This matter arose from an audit performed by the Franchise Tax Board’s Political Reform Audit Program. Santana was an unsuccessful candidate for California State Senate, District 32, in the June 5, 2018 Primary Election. Santana for Senate 2018 was Santana’s candidate-controlled committee. Gould was the Committee’s treasurer. The Committee, Santana, and Gould accepted over-the-limit campaign contributions (and caused Santana’s parents to make over-the-limit campaign contributions) in violation of Government Code Sections 83124 and 85301, and Regulation 18545, subdivision (a)(1) (1 count); reported inaccurate information on a 24-Hour Report, which concealed the true source of campaign funds, in violation of Government Code Section 84203 (1 count); and caused Santana’s parents to make a campaign contribution in the name of another, in violation of Government Code Section 84301 (1 count). Fine: $15,000.
Behested Payments
In the Matter of Evan Low and Evan Low for Assembly 2020; FPPC Nos. 20/231 & 23/443. Staff: Jenna C. Rinehart, Senior Commission Counsel, and George Aradi, Special Investigator. The Respondents are represented by Amber Maltbie of Nossaman LLP. Low was first elected to State Assembly in 2014 and left office on December 1, 2024. Low was a successful candidate for State Assembly in the March 3, 2020 and the November 3, 2020 elections. Evan Low for Assembly 2020 was Low’s candidate-controlled committee. Low failed to timely file behested payment reports, in violation of Government Code Section 84224 (3 counts), and failed to verify campaign statements, in violation of Government Code Section 81004 (7 counts). The Committee and Low failed to timely disclose accrued expenses, in violation of Government Code Section 84211 and Regulation 18421.6 (7 counts), and failed to timely disclose subvendor payments, in violation of Government Code Sections 84303 and 84211 (4 counts). Additionally, the Committee and Low failed to maintain campaign records, in violation of Government Code Section 84104 (1 count), and failed to properly terminate the Committee, in violation of Government Code Section 84214 and Regulation 18404 (1 count). Fine: $106,000.
Advertisements
In the Matter of Jessica Martinez City Council 2020, Cynthia Riva, Jessica Martinez, Martinez for Assembly 2020, and Glenn Sheppard; FPPC No. 20/176. Staff: Cinthya Bernabé, Commission Counsel. Jessica Martinez was a successful candidate for the Whittier City Council, District 1, in the March 3, 2020 Primary Election, an unsuccessful candidate for State Assembly, District 57, in the November 3, 2020 General Election, and an unsuccessful candidate for State Assembly, District 56, in the November 5, 2024 General Election. Jessica Martinez City Council 2020 (the “City Committee”) and Martinez for Assembly 2020 (the “Assembly Committee”) were Martinez’s candidate-controlled committees. Cynthia Riva was the treasurer of the City Committee, and Glenn Sheppard was the treasurer of the Assembly Committee. Martinez and the City Committee failed to include the proper advertisement disclosures in a mass mailer, in violation of Government Code Section 84305 and Regulation 18435 (1 count).
Martinez, the City Committee, and Riva failed to timely file one preelection campaign statement, in violation of Government Code Sections 84200.5 and 84200.8, and Regulation 18405 (1 count); an amendment to the Statement of Organization to report the City Committee’s qualification date, in violation of Government Code Section 84101 (1 count); and one semi-annual campaign statement, in violation of Government Code Section 84200 (1 count). Martinez, the Assembly Committee, and Sheppard failed to timely file three 24-Hour Reports, in violation of Government Code Section 84203 (3 counts), and failed to accurately report the correct amount received in one 24-Hour Report, in violation of Government Code Section 84203 (1 count). Additionally, Martinez failed to timely file a candidate statement of economic interests for the November 5, 2024 General Election, in violation of Government Code Section 87201 (1 count). Fine: $2,372 (Tiers One and Two).
Campaign Late Filer/Reporter
In the Matter of San Marcos Teachers for Quality Education and Dale Pluciennik; FPPC No. 24/1289. Staff: Alex Rose, Senior Commission Counsel. San Marcos Teachers for Quality Education was a local general purpose committee. Dale Pluciennik was the Committee’s treasurer. The Committee and Pluciennik failed to timely disclose contributions on two pre-election campaign statements, in violation of Government Code Section 84211 (2 counts), and failed to include the name of its sponsor, San Marcos Educators Association, in the Committee’s name on three campaign statements, in violation of Government Code Section 84106 (3 counts). Total Penalty: $3,407 (Tiers One and Two).
In the Matter of Carlos Avalos 4 Downey Schools and Carlos Avalos; FPPC No. 20/039. Staff: Cinthya Bernabé, Commission Counsel. Carlos Avalos was an unsuccessful candidate for the Downey Unified School District Board of Education in the November 3, 2020 General Election. Carlos Avalos 4 Downey Schools was Avalos’ candidate-controlled committee. The Committee and Avalos failed to timely file three 24-Hour Reports, in violation of Government Code Section 84203 (3 counts), and two semiannual campaign statements, in violation of Government Code Section 84200 (2 counts). Fine: $3,227 (Tier One).
Statement of Economic Interests Late Filer/Reporter
In the Matter of Barbara “Bobbi” Chadwick; FPPC No. 18/017. Staff: Jenna Rinehart, Senior Commission Counsel, and Paul Rasey, Special Investigator. Bobbi Chadwick, a former member of the Trinity County Board of Supervisors, failed to timely disclose income on the 2018, 2019, and 2020 Annual Statements of Economic Interests, in violation of Government Code Section 87207 (5 counts). Additionally, Chadwick failed to timely file a 2020 Annual/Leaving Office Statement of Economic Interests, in violation of Government Code Section 87204 (1 count). Fine: $2,100 (Tier One).
In the Matter of Ingrid Gonzalez; FPPC No. 24/742. Staff: Kristin E. Goulet, Commission Counsel. Ingrid Gonzalez, an Aquatic Facility Manager for the City of Los Angeles Department of Recreation and Parks, failed to timely file the Assuming Office, 2020 Annual, 2021 Annual, 2022 Annual, and 2023 Annual Statements of Economic Interests, in violation of Government Code Section 87300 (5 counts). Fine: $2,000 (Tier One).
In the Matter of Ray Chandler; FPPC No. 23/616. Staff: Alex Rose, Senior Commission Counsel. Ray Chandler, Regional Compliance Officer for the Department of Health Care Access and Information, failed to timely report two sources of income on an Assuming Office and the 2020 Annual Statement of Economic Interests, in violation of Government Code Section 87300 (4 counts). Fine: $200 (Tier One).