FPPC Enforcement Decisions, August 2025

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

August 21, 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, August 21, 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 Kimberly Ho for City Council 2020 and Kimberly Ho; FPPC No. 21/1068. Staff: Laura Columbel, Commission Counsel and Ann Flaherty, Special Investigator. Kimberly Ho was a successful candidate for Westminster City Council in the November 3, 2020, General Election and Kimberly Ho for City Council 2020 was Ho’s candidate-controlled committee. The Committee and Ho accepted campaign contributions that exceeded contribution limits, in violation of Government Code Section 85301, subdivision (a) and Regulation 18545 (1 count); and failed to timely report certain nonmonetary contributions on one semi-annual campaign statement, in violation of Government Code Section 84211 (1 count). Fine: $5,500

Campaign Non-Filer

In the Matter of Brown for Bassett School Board Member 2024 and Samuel Brown, FPPC No. 24/1046. Staff: Theresa Gilbertson, Senior Commission Counsel. Brown was an unsuccessful candidate for the Bassett Unified School District Governing Board in the November 5, 2024 General Election. Brown for Bassett School Board Member 2024 was Brown’s candidate-controlled committee. Brown and the Committee failed to timely file two pre-election campaign statements, in violation of Government Code Sections 84200.5, 84200.8, and 84206 (2 counts). Fine: $5,000

In the Matter of No on Ross Valley Schools Measure E Sponsored by the Coalition of Sensible Taxpayers and Ingrid Harris; FPPC No. 25/545. Staff: Jaleena Evans, Commission Counsel. No on Ross Valley Schools Measure E Sponsored by the Coalition of Sensible Taxpayers was a local primarily formed ballot measure committee. Ingrid Harris was the Committee’s principal officer. The Committee and Harris failed to include the sponsoring committee’s information in their website disclaimer and failed to include the proper advertisement disclaimers on four electronic media advertisements, in violation of Government Code Sections 84502 and 84504.3 (5 counts). Fine: $1,551 (Tier One)

In the Matter of Palo Altans for Sensible Zoning and Timothy Gray; FPPC No. 21/168. Staff: Neal Bucknell, Senior Commission Counsel; and Jay Gehres, Special Investigator. Palo Altans for Sensible Zoning is a local general purpose committee that supported various candidates for Palo Alto City Council for the November 3, 2020 General Election. Timothy Gray was the Committee’s treasurer. The Committee and Gray: failed to timely file a semiannual campaign statement, in violation of Government Code Section 84200 (1 count); failed to timely file a pre-election campaign statement, in violation of Government Code Section 84200.5 (1 count); and failed to timely file six 24-Hour Reports, in violation of Government Code Section 84204 (6 counts). Also, the Committee paid for ads, which failed to include the proper advertising disclosure, in violation of Government Code Section 84506.5 (4 counts). Fine: $835 (Tier One)

Lobbying Reporting

In the Matter of A. O. Smith Corporation and Joshua C. Greene; FPPC No. 25/464. Staff Chance Felkins, Commission Counsel. A. O. Smith Corporation is a Lobbyist Employer and was registered to lobby for the 2019 – 2020 legislative session. Joshua C. Greene is A.O. Smith Corporation’s responsible officer. A. O. Smith Corporation and Greene failed to timely file a lobbyist employer report, in violation of Government Code Section 86117 (1 count). Fine: $2,098 (Tier Two)

Campaign Late Filer/Reporter

In the Matter of Gary Hardie Jr., Gary Hardie for Lynwood Schools 2015, and Hardie for Lynwood Schools 2024; FPPC No. 21/627. Staff: Jonathan Rivera, Commission Counsel. Gary Hardie Jr. was a successful candidate for the Lynwood Unified Board of Education in the November 2020 General Election and the November 2024 General Election. Gary Hardie for Lynwood Schools 2015 (the “2015 Committee”) and Hardie for Lynwood Schools 2024 (the “2024 Committee”) were Hardie’s candidate-controlled committees. The 2015 Committee and Hardie failed to timely file one semi-annual campaign statement, in violation of Government Code Section 84200 (1 count), two pre-election campaign statements, in violation of Government Code Sections 84200.5 and 84200.8 (2 counts), and six 24-Hour Reports, in violation of Government Code Section 84203 (6 counts). Hardie failed to timely file an officeholder campaign statement, in violation of Government Code Section 84206 (1 count). The 2024 Committee and Hardie failed to timely file four 24-Hour Reports in violation of Government Code Section 84203 (4 counts). Fine: $2,558 (Tier One)

In the Matter of AFSCME Local 3634 PAC and Q Arachchi; FPPC No. 22/926. Staff: Bridgette Castillo, Senior Commission Counsel. Respondents were represented by Dexter Rappleye of Bush Gottlieb. AFSCME Local 3634 PAC is a state general purpose committee. Q Arachchi serves as the Committee’s treasurer. The Committee and Arachchi failed to timely file five 24-Hour Reports, in violation of Government Code Section 84203 (5 counts) and failed to timely file one pre-election campaign statement, in violation of Government Code Section 84200.5 (1 count). Fine: $1,910 (Tiers One and Two)

In the Matter of Campbell High School Teacher’s Association PAC, and Margarita Ortiz-Minett; FPPC No. 22/215. Staff: Chance Felkins, Commission Counsel. Campbell High School Teacher’s Association PAC is a local general purpose committee. Margarita Ortiz-Minett served as the Committee’s treasurer. The Committee and Ortiz-Minett failed to timely file six semi-annual campaign statements, in violation of Government Code Section 84200 (6 counts), failed to timely file one pre-election campaign statement, in violation of Government Code Section 84200.5 (1 count), and failed to file two 24-Hour Reports, in violation of Government Code Section 84203 (2 counts). Fine: $1,183 (Tier One)

In the Matter of North American Pallet Association, and Alejandro Gonzalez Jimenez; FPPC No. 25/283. Staff: Christopher B. Burton, Assistant Chief of Enforcement and Vanessa Greer, Political Reform Consultant. North American Pallet Association is a local general purpose committee. Alejandro Gonzalez Jimenez serves as the Committee’s treasurer. The Committee and Gonzalez Jimenez failed to timely file two semi-annual campaign statements, in violation of Government Code Section 84200 (2 counts). Fine: $1,057 (Tier One)

In the Matter of Youth Power PAC, Sponsored by PowerCA Action, and Luis Sanchez; FPPC No. 23/728. Staff: Bridgette Castillo, Senior Commission Counsel. Respondents were represented by Andrew Werbrock of Olson Remcho. Youth Power PAC, Sponsored by PowerCA Action is a state general purpose committee. Luis Sanchez serves as the Committee’s treasurer. The Committee and Sanchez failed to timely report subvendor payments on two pre-election campaign statements, in violation of Government Code Section 84211 subdivision (k)(6) (2 counts). Fine: $700 (Tier Two)

In the Matter of Richmond District Democratic Club (“RDDC SMO”), Richmond District Democratic Club (“RDDC PAC”), Christine Randolph, and Margaret Cooley; FPPC No. 20/990. Staff: Cinthya Bernabé, Commission Counsel and Special Investigator Kaitlin Osborn. Richmond District Democratic Club is a slate mailer organization (“RDDC SMO”) and local general purpose committee (“RDDC PAC”). Each committee has its own identification number. Margaret Cooley served as treasurer of the RDDC PAC. Christine Randolph and Margaret Cooley served as treasurers for the RDDC SMO. The RDDC PAC and Cooley failed to timely file a pre-election campaign statement, in violation of Government Code Section 84200.5 (1 count) and three semiannual campaign statements, in violation of Government Code Section 84200 (3 counts). The RDDC SMO, Randolph and Cooley failed to timely file eight semiannual campaign statements, in violation of Government Code Section 84218 (8 counts) and three 24-Hour Late Payment Reports, in violation of Government Code Section 84220 (3 counts). Fine: $268

Statement of Economic Interests Late Filer/Reporter

In the Matter of Graham Thiel; FPPC No. 25/562. Staff: Christopher B. Burton, Assistant Chief of Enforcement and Amber Rodriguez, Staff Services Analyst. Graham Thiel, a former Planning Commissioner and a current City Council Member for the City of Moraga, failed to timely file a 2023 Annual, Leaving Office, and Assuming Office Statement of Economic Interests, in violation of Government Code Sections 87202, 87203, and 87204 (3 counts). Fine: $400 (Tier One)

In the Matter of Shawn Robinson; FPPC No. 25/646. Staff: Christopher Burton, Assistant Chief of Enforcement and Fela Williams, Staff Services Analyst. Shawn Robinson, a Material and Stores Supervisor I with the Division of Adult Institutions for Centinela State Prison, failed to timely file an Assuming Office Statement of Economic Interests, in violation of Government Code Section 87300 (1 count). Fine: $200

In the Matter of Lucio Perez; FPPC No. 25/380. Staff: Christopher Burton, Assistant Chief of Enforcement and Fela Williams, Staff Services Analyst. Lucio Perez, an Associate Director with the Napa County Resource Conservation Center, failed to timely file an Assuming Office Statement of Economic Interests, in violation of Government Code Section 87300 (1 count). Fine: $200