FPPC Enforcement Decisions, December 16, 2021
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 16, 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 December 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, December 16, 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.
Mass Mailing Sent at Public Expense.
In the Matter of County of Stanislaus; FPPC No. 17/325. Staff: Jenna C. Rinehart, Commission Counsel and Alethea Perez, Special Investigator. The respondent was represented by Thomas E. Boze, County Counsel. The County of Stanislaus sent a mass mailing that featured a governmental official at public expense, in violation of Government Code Section 89001 and Regulation 18901 (3 counts). Fine: $9,000.
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 December 16, 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.
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In the Matter of Keep Stanton Safe No on QQ and Nancy Heitman; FPPC No. 16/19937. Staff: Bridgette Castillo, Senior Commission Counsel. The respondents were represented by Mark S. Rosen. Keep Stanton Safe No on Measure QQ was a local primarily formed ballot measure committee that opposed Measure QQ, a tax repeal initiative, in connection with the November 8, 2016 Election. Nancy Heitman was the Committee’s principal officer. The Committee and Heitman failed to include the proper advertisement disclaimers on street and lawn signs, in violation of Government Code Section 84504 (2 counts). Fine: $850 (Tier Two).
Campaign Late Filer/Reporter
In the Matter of Vista Teachers Association PAC, Keri Avila, and Debra Wheelock; FPPC No. 18/1054.Staff: Angela Brereton, Chief of Enforcement and Dominika Wojenska, Associate Governmental Program Analyst. Vista Teachers Association PAC is a local general purpose committee that was politically active in advance of the November 3, 2020 General Election. Keri Avila is the Committee’s treasurer and Debra Wheelock is the Committee’s former treasurer. The Committee, Avila, and Wheelock failed to timely file one preelection campaign statement, in violation of Government Code Section 84200.5 (1 count), two semi-annual campaign statements, in violation of Government Code Section 84200 (2 counts), and five 24-hour reports, in violation of Government Code Section 84203 (5 counts). The Committee, Avila, and Wheelock also failed to report certain activity on a preelection campaign statement, in violation of Government Code Section 84211 (1 count). Fine: $4,368 (Tier One & Two).
In the Matter of Theodore Dzuiba for Senate 2019, Theodore Dzuiba for Senate 2020, and Theodore Dzuiba; FPPC No. 20/346. Staff: Marissa Nash, Commission Counsel. Theodore Dzuiba was an unsuccessful candidate for State Senate in the March 26, 2019 Special Primary Election. Theodore Dzuiba for Senate 2019 and Theodore Dzuiba for Senate 2020 were Dzuiba’s candidate-controlled committees. The 2019 Committee and Dzuiba failed to timely file one semi-annual campaign statement, in violation of Government Code Section 84200 (1 count) and one 24-hour report, in violation of Government Code Section 84203 (1 count). The 2020 Committee and Dzuiba failed to timely file one semi-annual campaign statement, in violation of Government Code Section 84200 (1 count) and two 24-hour reports, in violation of Government Code Section 84203 (2 counts). Fine: $3,562 (Tier One & Two).
In the Matter of Fresno Teachers Association PAC and Leticia Rice; FPPC No. 18/305. Staff: Christopher Burton, Assistant Chief of Enforcement. Fresno Teachers Association PAC is a local general purpose committee that was active during the November 8, 2016 General Election. Leticia Rice was the Committee’s treasurer at the time of the subject violations. The Committee and Rice failed to timely file one preelection campaign statement, in violation of Government Code Section 84200.5 (1 count) and six 24-hour reports, in violation of Government Code Section 84203 (6 counts). Fine: $2,413 (Tier One & Two).
In the Matter Josue Alvarado for California State Assembly District 57 2020 and Josue Alvarado; FPPC No. 20/1037. Staff: Alex Rose, Commission Counsel. Josue Alvarado was an unsuccessful candidate for State Assembly District 57 in the March 3, 2020 Primary Election. Josue Alvarado for California State Assembly District 57 2020 was Alvarado’s candidate-controlled committee. The Committee and Alvarado failed to timely file one semi-annual campaign statement, in violation of Government Code Section 84200 (1 count), one preelection campaign statement, in violation of Government Code Section 84200.5 (1 count), and one 24-hour report, in violation of Government Code Section 84203 (1 count). Fine: $1,503 (Tier One & Two).
In the Matter of Democratic Woman's Club of San Diego County and Rosamond Blevins; FPPC No. 18/1057. Staff: Jenna C. Rinehart, Commission Counsel and Paul Rasey, Special Investigator. Democratic Woman's Club of San Diego County is a local general purpose committee. Rosamond Blevins is the Committee’s treasurer. The Committee and Blevins failed to timely file a statement of organization, in violation of Government Code Section 84101 (1 count), and three semi-annual campaign statements, in violation of Government Code Section 84200 (3 counts). Fine: $918 (Tier One).
In the Matter of Feigenbaum for Hemet Treasurer 2020 and Howard Feigenbaum; FPPC No. 20/922. Staff: Angela Brereton, Chief of Enforcement and Tara Stock, Intake Manager. Howard Feigenbaum was an unsuccessful candidate for Treasurer of the City of Hemet in the November 3, 2020 General Election. Feigenbaum for Hemet Treasurer 2020 was Feigenbaum’s candidate-controlled committee. The Committee and Feigenbaum failed to timely file a pre-election campaign statement, in violation of Government Code Section 84200.5 (1 count). Fine: $226 (Tier One).
Statement of Economic Interests Late Filer
In the Matter of Nick Rivera; FPPC No. 19/283: Staff: David E. Castro, Commission Counsel. Nick Rivera, as a Planning Commissioner for the City of Watsonville, failed to timely file a 2017 and 2018 Annual/Leaving Office Statement of Economic Interests, in violation of Government Code Sections 87203 and 87204 (2 counts). Fine: $1,600 (Tier One).
In the Matter of Gregory Garcia; FPPC No. 19/1109. Staff: Alex Rose, Commission Counsel. Gregory Garcia, a Planning Commissioner for the City of Selma, failed to timely file an Assuming Office, 2018 Annual, 2019 Annual, and a 2020 Annual Statement of Economic Interests, in violation of Government Code Sections 87202 and 87203 (4 counts). Fine: $800 (Tier One).
In the Matter of Patricia Nolen; FPPC No. 19/1391: Staff: David E. Castro, Commission Counsel. Patricia Nolen, as a member of the Corcoran City Council, failed to timely file a 2018 Annual Statement of Economic Interests, in violation of Government Code Section 87203 (1 count). Fine: $400 (Tier One).
In the Matter of Vincent Andreotti; FPPC No. 19/1202. Staff: Angela Brereton, Chief of Enforcement and Kimberly Rawnsley, Staff Services Analyst. Vincent Andreotti, a Board Member with the California Rice Commission, failed to timely file a 2018 Annual Statement of Economic Interests, in violation of Government Code Section 87203 (1 count). Fine: $200 (Tier One).
In the Matter of Cindy Rodas; FPPC No. 21/718. Staff: Angela Brereton, Chief of Enforcement and Taylor Culberson, Assistant Political Reform Consultant. Cindy Rodas, an Alternate Member of the Board of Directors for Pooled Liability Assurance Network JPA, 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 Vicente Carrasco; FPPC No. 21/733. Staff: Angela Brereton, Chief of Enforcement and Taylor Culberson, Assistant Political Reform Consultant. Vicente Carrasco, a Planning Commissioner for the City of Corcoran, failed to timely file an Assuming Office Statement of Economic Interests, in violation of Government Code Section 87202 (1 count). Fine: $200 (Tier One).
In the Matter of Tiffany Vela; FPPC No. 21/1045. Staff: Angela Brereton, Chief of Enforcement and Taylor Culberson, Assistant Political Reform Consultant. Tiffany Vela, a Social Worker I with HHSA Social Services, failed to timely file a 2020 Annual Statement of Economic Interests, in violation of Government Code Section 87300 (1 count). Fine: $200 (Tier One).