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AD-55 Watch: GOP Assembly Candidate supports NPP Candidate for City Council

Posted by Allen Wilson on February 24, 2014

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Local elected Republicans support Republicans for local office, right?

Not exactly with GOP Assembly candidate Diamond Bar Councilwoman Ling-Ling Chang.

The Diamond Bar-Walnut Patch article dated January 16, 2014 revealed that Chang is supporting Betty Tang for Walnut City Council.

It was brought to this author’s attention Tang is a registered voter but as a NPP (No Party Preference).

Furthermore, Chang opts not to endorse Republicans former Assemblyman now Walnut Councilman Bob Pacheco and Councilwoman Mary Su.

Both Pacheco and Su have been long standing Republicans whom has done very well with limited government philosophy and served the Walnut community with distinction.

Perhaps, it is because Chang was once a DTS (Decline-to-State) voter in 1998 and again in 2004 until she finally became a Republican in 2006 after being elected to the Walnut-Valley Water District Board of Directors in 2005.

Perhaps, it is because Chang doesn’t want to ruffle any political feathers with her protege Senator Huff whom still have icy feelings towards Bob Pacheco, which is widely known in local political circles in the San Gabriel Valley, due to Huff’s bitter lost in 1998 for State Assembly to Pacheco.

GOP Assembly candidate going around in Republican circles seeking the party’s blessings should give pause to GOP activists.

Yes, Local Elected Republicans should support local Republican candidates, especially if one is a Republican Assembly candidate, because Republicans want to maintain party philosophy of limited government and not those that have no preference to any political party like Tang.

By showing up at GOP circles and functions is one thing, but GOP activists should not be blinded by facts and the truth of a GOP Assembly candidate.

Yes, facts are stubborn things!

Posted in 55th Assembly District, Brea, California, La Habra, Placentia, State Assembly, Yorba Linda | Tagged: , , , | 1 Comment »

AD-55 Watch: Diamond Bar Councilman Tye Enters and Fee-Tax Position Haunts

Posted by Allen Wilson on January 24, 2014

SteveTye

Diamond Bar Councilman Steve Tye has thrown his hat in the ring as a GOP Candidate for State Assembly in the 55th Assembly District.

Mr. Tye was first elected to the Diamond Bar City Council in November 2005 after losing in a bitter June 2005 Special Election contest to Jack Tanaka for a seat that was vacant due to Bob Huff elevation to the State Assembly in 2004.  Mr. Tye has been re-elected in 2009 and as recently in 2013.

On June 25, 2013, OC Political article entitled “55th AD Watch:  Another Candidate Dual Run?” inquired at the time whether Councilman Tye was flirting a run for two offices:  City Council and State Assembly.

Those inquiries are now put to a rest with confirmation that Mr. Tye is indeed an Assembly candidate.

However, Mr. Tye position on taxes and fees may not sit well with Conservative voters in the GOP safe Assembly District, especially in North Orange County portion of the 55th Assembly District.

On September 21, 2010, the Diamond Bar City Council unanimously approved an increase of user fees for Community Services, Public Works and Community Development Departments to be phased in the next three years tied with CPI (Consumer Price Index) beginning on July 1, 2010.

Diamond Bar City Manager James DeStefano submitted the 40 page report to the council for approval.

This contributor spoke to the Diamond Bar City Council on September 21, 2010 with a reminder that an increase of user fees are misguided in an unstable economy and that such user fees are taxes which comes out of someone’s pocket one way or the other.

Councilmember Tye was adamant with a defensive tone, according to September 21, 2010 Council Minutes, by stating:

“…this is not a tax but a user fee.”

“…was a proponent for adding a fee for licensing a cat.”

“…it is appropriate if it costs $100 to issue a permit to have a water heater install in his home that he should pay the $100.”

“…likes the idea of someone plans to add to his home he pays the fees for it.”

“When the City gets closer to recovering those user fees, it will be better for all of the citizens of Diamond Bar.”

The Orange County Register Editorial on September 21, 2010 clarifies during the debate over Proposition 26 proposal to close loopholes regarding fees and the two-thirds vote requirement for approval by the state legislature:  “Calling fees what they are:  Taxes“.

The Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association has been vigorously fighting over the Fire Fee (Tax) that was approved in 2011 along party lines with Democrats support and Republicans opposed in the state legisature and signed into law by Governor Brown.

The $150 Fire Fee (Tax) for Fiscal Years 2011-12 AND 2012-2013 has effected hundreds and thousands of properties under the CalFire’s jurisdiction known as the State Responsibility Area.

So, Mr. Tye says “a fee is not a tax” may not have read the Orange County Register article, has a lack of understanding of why HJTA is fighting a fire fee that is a tax and surely has a lot of explaining to the voters in the 55th Assembly District whom loathe fees AND taxes.

Posted in 55th Assembly District, Brea, California, La Habra, Placentia, State Assembly, Yorba Linda | Tagged: , , , , , , , | 3 Comments »

Fullerton Mayor Doug Chaffee Responds to Kelly Thomas Verdict

Posted by Allen Wilson on January 13, 2014

Chaffee

Fullerton Mayor Doug Chaffee responds to the acquittal verdict for the Fullerton officers tried in the death of Kelly Thomas:

Today, the jury has spoken and we respect the verdict.  I understand and appreciate how difficult this has been for the Thomas family. We appreciate not everyone may agree with the jury’s verdict.  But we trust that the community will respect the verdict and the juror’s decisions.

Over the course of the past two and a half years the City of Fullerton has taken the initiative to implement reforms to our police department so it can provide the best possible service to our community. As Fullerton’s new Mayor, I will continue to make certain those efforts continue.

Mayor Chaffee was elected in June of 2012 along with Greg Sebourn and Travis Kieger during the recall election that swept out trio Councilmembers Richard Jones, Pat McKinley and Don Bankhead out of office due to the Kelly Thomas beating and other issues that snarled the Fullerton Police Department.

Note:  Travis Kieger was unsuccessful in retaining his seat in November of 2012, which he was replaced by Jan Flory.

Posted in Fullerton | Tagged: , , , | Leave a Comment »

Councilmembers Murray and Eastman Cost Anaheim Taxpayers $2 Million

Posted by Allen Wilson on January 8, 2014

KrisMurrayGail Eastman

The protracted issue regarding how Anaheim councilmembers are elected has come to an end but with a steep price.

Councilmembers Kris Murray and Gail Eastman has cost the taxpayers of Anaheim at a tune of $2 Million.

The City of Anaheim has already racked up $1.2 Million to defend itself and now must bear the cost of paying the litigants legal bills of over $1 Million, the ACLU and Anaheim Community Activists, who brought the issue to it’s head two years ago.

The Orange County Register reports that Anaheim Mayor Tom Tait says, “the cost of fighting the lengthy lawsuit could have been avoided if the City Council in August 2012 had approved his call for similar ballot measure.”

The two councilmembers joined with then-Councilman Harry Sidhu in 2012 as council majority stubbornly rejected Mayor Tait’s proposal.

The issue centers around Latino activists who echoed the need to change how councilmembers are elected from at-large to districts, because no Latino currently sits on the dais and 52% of the community are Latinos.

The settlement was agreed upon from a case Moreno, et al. vs. City of Anaheim that was slated to go to trail on March 17, 2014 regarding the California Voting Rights Act (CVRA).

The Voice of OC reported that Councilmember Murray called the deal “a win for our citizens, for our residents, for the taxpayers of Anaheim.”

Ironically, the Orange County Register reports that Councilmember Murray says, “I am still opposed to a form of single-member district election.  I think this lawsuit and the fees attached to it are unfortunate for this city.”

In the January 8th, 2014 edition of The Anaheim Blog contributor Matthew Cunningham asserts that the ACLU and Jose Moreno are at fault for costing the taxpayers huge legal bills:  “The fault lies with the plaintiffs’ stubborn insistence on bypassing the voters in favor of the imposition of single-member districts by judicial fiat.”

Frankly, Mr. Cunningham forgets that Councilmembers Murray and Eastman have an fiduciary duty to protect the city’s assets such as taxpayer funds and settle the issue back in 2012 as suggested by Mayor Tait to let the voters decide how their councilmembers are elected.

Councilmembers Murray and Eastman should realize that the buck stops with them and they have the power by finding a consensus with Mayor Tait instead of fighting against him and the community.

The bottom line is this:  consensus is cheap, litigation is expensive.

Posted in Anaheim, California, Uncategorized | Tagged: , , , , | 35 Comments »

Anaheim Chamber Misleading E-Newsletter

Posted by Allen Wilson on January 7, 2014

AnaheimChamber

The Anaheim Chamber recently boasts that the EZ (Enterprise Zones) was a success due to a recent independent audit in the January 7th, 2014 e-newsletter edition of “This Week in Anaheim”:

The recently published audit of Year One of the Anaheim Enterprise Zone was confirmation of the Chamber’s successful launch and operation of the EZ. According to the independent audit,  “the City of Anaheim and the Anaheim Chamber of Commerce have developed an effective partnership and made substantial progress implementing the Enterprise Zone Program, and in carrying out core responsibilities.” The audit’s “assessment of the Program’s first year of operation revealed many key successes” and judged that the “the Enterprise Zone Program achieved a substantial number of its first-year goals, and made significant progress on the other goals. This includes processing 1,417 voucher applications from local businesses, each representing a newly hired employee.”

This is no surprise: last summer, the Governor’s Jobs Czar told the Chamber that if every Enterprise Zone in the State operated as well and as efficiently as the Anaheim EZ, the program would not have been eliminated. This was a judgment echoed by other leaders in Sacramento.

The Chamber stood-up a successfully operating Enterprise Zone in next to no-time. As of December 4, 5,786 job-creation vouchers had been issued – in less than two years.

That is a testament to the City of Anaheim’s wisdom in contracting out the operation of the EZ, rather than running it in-house; the city recognized it was unlikely to achieve as much success, as quickly, as the Anaheim Chamber of Commerce. We were able to administer the EZ at half of what it would have cost the city to do so in-house, while deriving vouchering revenues back to the city to the tune of $400,000.

“I am extraordinarily proud of the work our Chamber staff and Enterprise Zone team did in administering and managing the Zone. Today, there are businesses operating in Anaheim and not out of state because of the Enterprise Zone,” said Chamber of Commerce Chairman Jeff Farano. “Today, there are many formerly unemployed and hard-to-employ Anaheim residents who now have jobs because of the Enterprise Zone.  That is a real record of accomplishment of which all Chamber members and Anaheim residents can be proud.”

However, the Anaheim Chamber neglects to disclose in their e-newsletter that the same audit reported chamber’s spotty expense tracking according to the December 30th, 2013 article in the Voice of OC.

The Chamber was awarded a five-year contract by the City of Anaheim in 2012 at an initial cost of $1.8 Million, then it was bumped to an additional $1.1 Million for the need to hire more staff at a grand total of $2.9 Million for the purpose of administering Anaheim’s enterprise zone.

The full account of the audit was performed by Sjoberg Evashenk Consulting at the request of the City of Anaheim.

The Voice of OC reports that “chamber’s expense tracking was so shoddy that auditors could not determine whether the business group spent taxpayer funds on other, perhaps political, activities.”

The Voice of OC further reports that “the chamber’s tracking of staff time was unreliable, so verifying the organization’s spending under the contract was impossible”, Ouch!

When a civic organization, such as a chamber, that gathers support from the business community should be forthcoming with all of the facts and not omitting facts for the purpose of bragging rights on the success of the enterprise zone program.

It makes one wonder if the Anaheim Chamber had a journalist in mind when producing the e-newsletter for accurate reporting instead of a propaganda tool at the behest of those at the top in charge of the organization.

Therefore, misleading or slanted information of any documentation such an e-newsletter diminishes the reputation of an organization.

Posted in Anaheim | Tagged: , , | 7 Comments »

SB County Supervisor Ovitt announces retirement Assemblyman Hagman enters contest

Posted by Allen Wilson on January 6, 2014

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In a stunning move, San Bernardino County Supervisor Gary Ovitt announces his retirement and that he will not seek a third term on the Board of Supervisors.

Ovitt hails from Ontario who is an ordained Minister, once a Councilmember and has served on the San Bernardino County Board of Supervisors from the Fourth District since 2004.

This contributor has confirmed that Assemblyman Curt Hagman (R-Chino Hills, District 55) will be running as a candidate to succeed Ovitt in June 2014.

Hagman is serving his last term in the State Assembly in 2014 due to term limits.

The Fourth District makes up 133 square miles with 400,000 residents in Chino, Chino Hills, Montclair and Ontario.

Posted in California, Uncategorized | Tagged: , , , | 1 Comment »

Yorba Linda Councilmembers Young and Lindsey served Recall Notice

Posted by Allen Wilson on January 5, 2014

Recall

As many were prepping for the holidays last month Yorba Linda Councilmembers Tom Lindsey and Craig Young were served with recall notice at the December 17th city council meeting.

The signature requirement for the recall of Yorba Linda councilmembers is 20% if the registration is less than 50,000, but at least 10,000.  The last report of registration by the county election officials to the Secretary of State was on February 10, 2013, which shows that there were 40,501 registered voters in Yorba Linda.

The recall proponents will need to gather 8,100 signatures to mount a recall campaign against the two councilmembers within 120 days.

Councilmember Lindsey was elected in 2010 and stands for re-election this November.

Councilmember Young was elected in 2012 and stands for re-election in 2016 who is also running this June 2014 for State Assembly in the 55th Assembly District, which will be problematic as recall could hamper his Assembly prospects.

Orange County Register reported late summer of 2012 the recall efforts of Councilman John Anderson failed because the proponents did not get enough signatures.

 

Lindsey

NOTICE OF INTENT TO CIRCULATE RECALL PETITION
(Served to Tom Lindsey on December 17)

 

TO THE HONORABLE Thomas H. Lindsey: Pursuant to Section 11020, California Elections Code, the undersigned registered qualified voters of Yorba Linda, in the State of California, hereby give notice that we are the proponents of a recall petition and that we intend to seek your recall and removal from the office of City Councilmember, in Yorba Linda, California and to demand election of a successor in that office.

 

The grounds for recall of Councilmember Thomas H. Lindsey are:

 

Broke his campaign pledge of low-density development.

 

a. Voted against an urgency ordinance, which would have placed a moratorium on high density development and that would help further a ballot measure to eliminate or reduce high-density housing sites that include 4-story buildings with heights up to 50 feet.

 

b. Refused to listen to concerned residents and deal harshly with the County regarding development of over 500 homes in fire sensitive land near the northeast corridor of the City.

 

c. Lindsey’s vote to kill the high-density moratorium is an abandonment of his signed statement in his 2010 Contract with Yorba Linda, which pledged to voters that all infill development projects would be consistent with their existing and surrounding neighborhoods.

 

Is fiscally irresponsible and unethical.

 

a. Put the City at risk for a $19 million breach of contract lawsuit with the County and the Sheriffs Department in an ill-fated attempt to renegotiate Yorba Linda’s police services contract with the Brea Police Department, after the police contract was signed and approved by both the City and County.

 

b. Participated in a public smear campaign of three fellow councilmembers, voting to publicly disclose confidential closed-session information used during the November 2012 election.

Councilman Lindsey responded to the recall:

PLEASE, DO NOT SIGN THE RECALL

 

It will cost Yorba Linda taxpayers tens of thousands of dollars in filing fees alone. This recall is a misguided attempt by a narrow special interest to bully council into adopting extreme policies that will hurt our economy, kill jobs and also cost residents hundreds of thousands in attorneys’ fees.

 

A city-wide moratorium on new construction in response to this special interest group’s opposition is a disproportionate reaction we cannot afford.  It’s the same kind of reactionary policy-making that takes place in Sacramento which is driving so many businesses from California.

 

This recall is a reckless erosion of council’s independence from bullying special interests.  It’s an intimidation tactic that sets a precedent on future councils’ willingness to do what is right for ALL residents, not bend to the will of special interests.

 

I’m a low-density housing advocate who carefully negotiates as opposed to recklessly abandons the fiduciary responsibility owed taxpayers and I’m fully supportive of the diligent efforts by our Sheriffs.  I’ve worked hard to help get our finances in order, already saving us millions in interest, and am disappointed this group would waste tens of thousands of taxpayer dollars on this unnecessary effort.

Yorba Linda Mayor Craig Young

NOTICE OF INTENT TO CIRCULATE RECALL PETITION
(Served to Craig Young on December 17)

TO THE HONORABLE Craig Young: Pursuant to Section 11020, California Elections Code, the undersigned registered qualified voters of Yorba Linda, in the State of California, hereby give notice that we are the proponents of a recall petition and that we intend to seek your recall and removal from the office of City Councilmember in Yorba Linda, California and to demand election of a successor in that office.

The grounds for recall of Councilmember Craig Young are:

Broke his campaign pledge of low-density development.

a. Voted against an urgency ordinance, which would have placed a moratorium on high-density development and that would help further a ballot measure to eliminate or reduce high-density housing sites that include 4-story buildings with heights up to 50 feet.

b. Refused to listen to concerned residents and deal harshly with the County regarding development of over 500 homes in fire sensitive land near the northeast corridor of the City.

Is fiscally irresponsible and unethical.

a. Put the City at risk for a $19 million breach of contract lawsuit with the County and the Sheriffs Department in an ill-fated attempt to renegotiate Yorba Linda’s police services contract with the Brea Police Department, after the police contract was signed and approved by both the City and County.

Betrayed the trust of Yorba Linda voters and his 4-year commitment to the community to serve on the city council.

a. Declared his candidacy for State Assembly in August 2013 within just 8 months of being sworn in for his first term as a city councilman. Ironically, his November 2012 campaign statement specifically stated he had no hidden agenda and no axe to grind.
Mayor Young responded to the recall:
PLEASE, DO NOT SIGN THE RECALL

 

It will cost Yorba Linda taxpayers tens of thousands of dollars in filing fees alone. This recall is a misguided attempt by a narrow special interest to bully council into adopting extreme policies that will hurt our economy, kill jobs and also cost residents hundreds of thousands in attorneys’ fees.

A city-wide moratorium on new construction in response to this special interest group’s opposition is a disproportionate reaction we cannot afford. It’s the same kind of reactionary policy-making that takes place in Sacramento which is driving so many businesses from California.

This recall is a reckless erosion of council’s independence from bullying special interests. It’s an intimidation tactic that sets a precedent on future councils’ willingness to do what is right for ALL residents, not bend to the will of special interests.

I’m a low-density housing advocate who carefully negotiates as opposed to recklessly abandons the fiduciary responsibility owed taxpayers and I’m fully supportive of the diligent efforts by our Sheriffs. I’ve worked hard to help get our finances in order, already saving us millions in interest, and am disappointed this group would waste tens of thousands of taxpayer dollars on this unnecessary effort.
The Yorba Linda Residents for Responsible Representation (YLRRR) responds to Lindsey and Young:
We do know how much it costs. Did you know that ALL Yorba Linda taxpayers are paying over $100,000 a month to subsidize the underpayment of landscape maintenance fees by certain districts in the Landscape Maintenance Assessment District? These districts are supposed to be self sufficient and pay their own way. Craig Young and Tom Lindsey support these subsidies.

Did you know that high-density housing has increased 70% in Yorba Linda and that it is decreasing ALL of our property values in the millions? There is absolutely no way a 4-story, 125 unit, multi-family apartment complex is going to increase property values adjacent to single-family homes. When presented with an opportunity to place a moratorium on high-density development so voters could correct high-density zoning issues, both Young and Lindsey cow towed to developers and voted against the moratorium.

Did you know that Young and Lindsey put the City at risk for a $19 million lawsuit with the County of Orange because they both made an ill-fated attempt to renegotiate our police contract with the City of Brea? The City had a signed contract with the Sheriff’s Department and both Young and Lindsey were willing to violate the terms of that contract and pay more for police services from Brea.

Lindsey and Young are costing our city millions. A recall is a drop in the bucket.

Posted in 55th Assembly District, State Assembly, Yorba Linda | Tagged: , , , , , | 9 Comments »

AD – 55 Watch: OC Sheriff Hutchens Endorses Phillip Chen

Posted by Allen Wilson on December 9, 2013

We just received this Press Release from the Phillip Chen for Assembly Campaign:

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Sheriff Sandra Hutchens Endorses
Phillip Chen for Assembly in AD 55

YORBA LINDA, CA – – The Phillip Chen for Assembly campaign announced this morning that Orange County Sheriff Sandra Hutchens has endorsed Phillip for Assembly in the 55th district. Sheriff Hutchens is one of the most popular public servants in Orange County.

“As a reserve deputy sheriff, Phillip Chen is committed to public safety and to helping make our homes, schools and neighborhoods safer places,” said Hutchens. “Combined with his experience as a school board member, health care expert and small business owner, Phillip has all the qualities needed to be an excellent representative for the 55th district.”

Phillip Chen is a Republican running in the 55th district with the support of the district’s current representative, Curt Hagman. The district covers parts of Los Angeles, Orange and San Bernardino counties.

“I am deeply honored to have the support of Sheriff Sandra Hutchens, one of the most respected crime-fighters in California, and I look forward to working with her and our law enforcement community to keep us safe,” Chen said.

Phillip Chen is a small business owner and USC Professor who was the top vote-getter in the Walnut Valley Unified School District Board election in November of 2011. He is a top advisor on health care issues to Supervisor Mike Antonovich and a reserve Deputy Sheriff for the L.A. County Sheriff’s Department. Phillip was appointed by Governor Pete Wilson to serve in the Governor’s Office of Criminal Justice Planning, where he worked on legislation involving foster care, gang prevention, drug awareness, and mental health.

Phillip is a Doctoral Candidate at USC, he has a Master’s in Public Administration from USC and holds a B.A. in Communications from Cal State Fullerton. In addition, Phillip teaches Public Administration as an Adjunct Professor at USC.

Posted in 55th Assembly District, Brea, California, La Habra, Placentia, State Assembly, Yorba Linda | Tagged: , , , | Leave a Comment »

President Lincoln’s 1863 Thanksgiving Proclamation

Posted by Allen Wilson on November 28, 2013

AbrahamLincoln

By the President of the United States of America.

A Proclamation.

The year that is drawing towards its close, has been filled with the blessings of fruitful fields and healthful skies. To these bounties, which are so constantly enjoyed that we are prone to forget the source from which they come, others have been added, which are of so extraordinary a nature, that they cannot fail to penetrate and soften even the heart which is habitually insensible to the ever watchful providence of Almighty God.

In the midst of a civil war of unequaled magnitude and severity, which has sometimes seemed to foreign States to invite and to provoke their aggression, peace has been preserved with all nations, order has been maintained, the laws have been respected and obeyed, and harmony has prevailed everywhere except in the theatre of military conflict; while that theatre has been greatly contracted by the advancing armies and navies of the Union. Needful diversions of wealth and of strength from the fields of peaceful industry to the national defence, have not arrested the plough, the shuttle or the ship; the axe has enlarged the borders of our settlements, and the mines, as well of iron and coal as of the precious metals, have yielded even more abundantly than heretofore. Population has steadily increased, notwithstanding the waste that has been made in the camp, the siege and the battle-field; and the country, rejoicing in the consiousness of augmented strength and vigor, is permitted to expect continuance of years with large increase of freedom. No human counsel hath devised nor hath any mortal hand worked out these great things. They are the gracious gifts of the Most High God, who, while dealing with us in anger for our sins, hath nevertheless remembered mercy. It has seemed to me fit and proper that they should be solemnly, reverently and gratefully acknowledged as with one heart and one voice by the whole American People.

I do therefore invite my fellow citizens in every part of the United States, and also those who are at sea and those who are sojourning in foreign lands, to set apart and observe the last Thursday of November next, as a day of Thanksgiving and Praise to our beneficent Father who dwelleth in the Heavens. And I recommend to them that while offering up the ascriptions justly due to Him for such singular deliverances and blessings, they do also, with humble penitence for our national perverseness and disobedience, commend to His tender care all those who have become widows, orphans, mourners or sufferers in the lamentable civil strife in which we are unavoidably engaged, and fervently implore the interposition of the Almighty Hand to heal the wounds of the nation and to restore it as soon as may be consistent with the Divine purposes to the full enjoyment of peace, harmony, tranquility and Union.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and caused the Seal of the United States to be affixed.

Done at the City of Washington, this Third day of October, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and sixty-three, and of the Independence of the Unites States the Eighty-eighth.

By the President: Abraham Lincoln

William H. Seward,
Secretary of State

Thanksgiving

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged: , , | Leave a Comment »

North Orange County Community College Officials received hidden gifts

Posted by Allen Wilson on November 4, 2013

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The Fair Political Practices Commission (FPPC) will consider imposing fines for seven (7) North Orange County Community College District  (NOCCCD) officials and trustees ranging from $200 to $400 at their upcoming meeting on November 14, 2013.

The seven NOCCCD officials named in the agenda on the proposed fines are four trustees:  Leonard Lahtinen, Molly McClanahan, Donna Miller and Manny Ontiveros along with three officials:  Fullerton College President Rajen Vurdien, former Cypress College President Michael Kasler and Chancellor Ned Doffoney.

The Sacramento Bee reports that numerous of electeds and officials were named due to gifts that were received from a bond advisers that went unreported, which is violation of California gift reporting under the Government Code Section 87207.

The Sacramento Bee further explains the investigation was triggered by the Ventura County District Attorney which uncovered unreporting of gifts from bond advisers, which prompted the FPPC to do an investigation of their own.

According to the Sacramento Bee one of the bond advisers named in giving gifts to the seven NOCCCD officials is E.J. De La Rosa & Co., Inc , which has underwritten 375 bonds totaling $14.5 Billion for local governments since 2009.

Below is the stipulation and order by the FPPC for the seven NOCCCD officials due to gift reporting violations:

Staff: Political Reform Consultant Adrianne Korchmaros, Legal Analyst Tracey Frazier, and Law Clerk Kyle Levy. In this matter, Respondent, Rajen Vurdien, as the President of the North Orange County Community College District, failed to timely disclose gift(s) of: one meal valued at $153.86 on his 2010 Statement of Economic Interests; and one meal valued at $180.00 on his 2011 Statement of Economic Interests. All gifts were from E.J. De La Rosa & Co., Inc. and all omissions were in violation of Government Code Section 87207 (2 counts). Total Proposed Penalty: $400.
Vurdien – Stip

Staff: Political Reform Consultant Adrianne Korchmaros, Legal Analyst Tracey Frazier, and Law Clerk Kyle Levy. In this matter, Respondent, Donna Miller, as Trustee for the North Orange County Community College District, failed to timely disclose gift(s) of: one meal valued at $153.86 on her 2010 Statement of Economic Interests. All gifts were from E.J. De La Rosa & Co., Inc. and all omissions were in violation of Government Code Section 87207 (1 count). Total Proposed Penalty: $200.
Miller – Stip

Staff: Legal Analyst Tracey Frazier and Law Clerk Liz Smutz. In this matter, Respondent, Michael Kasler, as the President of the North Orange County Community College District, failed to timely disclose gift(s) of: one meal valued at $180.00 on his 2011 Statement of Economic Interests. All gifts were from E.J. De La Rosa & Co., Inc. and all omissions were in violation of Government Code Section 87207 (1 count). Total Proposed Penalty: $200.
Kasler – Stip

Staff: Political Reform Consultant Jeanette Turvill and Legal Analyst Tracey Frazier. In this matter, Respondent, Molly McClanahan, as a Member of the North Orange County Community College District Board of Trustees, failed to timely disclose gift(s) of: one meal valued at $180.00 on her 2011 Statement of Economic Interests. All gifts were from E.J. De La Rosa & Co., Inc. and all omissions were in violation of Government Code Section 87207 (1 count). Total Proposed Penalty: $200.
McClanahan – Stip

Staff: Political Reform Consultant Jeanette Turvill and Legal Analyst Tracey Frazier. In this matter, Respondent, Manny Ontiveros, as a Member of the North Orange County Community College District Board of Trustees, failed to timely disclose gift(s) of: golf and two meals totaling $318.55 on his 2011 Statement of Economic Interests. All gifts were from E.J. De La Rosa & Co., Inc. and all omissions were in violation of Government Code Section 87207 (1 count). Total Proposed Penalty: $200.
Ontiveros – Stip

Staff: Political Reform Consultant Adrianne Korchmaros, Legal Analyst Tracey Frazier, and Law Clerk Kyle Levy. In this matter, Respondent, Leonard Lahtinen, as a Member of the North Orange County Community College District Board of Trustees, failed to timely disclose gift(s) of: one meal valued at $153.86 on his 2010 Statement of Economic Interests. All gifts were from E.J. De La Rosa & Co., Inc. and all omissions were in violation of Government Code Section 87207 (1 count). Total Proposed Penalty: $200.
Lahtinen – Stip

Staff: Political Reform Consultant Adrianne Korchmaros, Legal Analyst Tracey Frazier, and Law Clerk Kyle Levy. In this matter, Respondent, Ned Doffoney, as Chancellor for the North Orange County Community College District, failed to timely disclose gift(s) of: meals totaling $153.86 on his 2010 Statement of Economic Interests; and meals totaling $180.00 on his 2011 Statement of Economic Interests. All gifts were from E.J. De La Rosa & Co., Inc. and all omissions were in violation of Government Code Section 87207 (2 counts). Total Proposed Penalty: $400.
Doffoney – Stip

Posted in North Orange County Community College District | Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a Comment »

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