FPPC Enforcement Decisions: June 18, 2026
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 need further assistance, please contact the FPPC communications office at (916) 322-7761 or press@fppc.ca.gov.
The following are enforcement decisions approved by the Fair Political Practices Commission at its regular monthly meeting held on Thursday, June 18, 2026. 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 Gavin Newsom; FPPC No. 25/1196. Staff: Alex Rose, Senior Commission Counsel and Paul Rasey, Special Investigator. Respondent is represented by Tom Willis of Olson Remcho, LLP. Gavin Newsom, current Governor of California, failed to timely file 18 Behested Payment Reports, in violation of Government Code Section 84224 (18 counts). Fine: $31,500.
Advertisements
In the Matter of Citizens for Safe Access 2020, Lynn Ballantyne, Dolores Welty, 100 Hospitality, LLC, and Jacqueline Dilley; FPPC No. 20/1115. Staff: Neal Bucknell, Senior Commission Counsel and Ann Flaherty, Special Investigator. Respondents are represented by Richard Rios of Olson Remcho, LLP. Citizens for Safe Access 2020 was a Los Angeles County general purpose committee, which changed status to become primarily formed in the City of Pomona to support Measure PM and/or oppose Measure PO. Dilley was the committee’s treasurer and principal officer. Ballantyne, Welty, and 100 Hospitality, LLC qualified as major donors in 2020 by virtue of contributions that they made to the committee. The committee paid for advertisements in support of Measure PM and in opposition to Measure PO, but failed to include required major funding disclosures regarding top contributors of $50,000 or more. Dilley and the committee violated Government Code section 84503 (1 count). Also, within the meaning of Government Code section 84510, subdivision (b), Ballantyne, Welty, and 100 Hospitality, LLC aided and abetted in the carrying out of this violation. Fine: $85,000.
In the Matter of San Franciscans Against the Recall of Chesa Boudin Sponsored by Real Justice PAC, Jin Ding, and Zoe Wong-Weissman; FPPC No. 21/737. Staff: Cinthya Bernabé, Commission Counsel and Jay Gehres, Special Investigator. Respondents are represented by Andrew Werbock and Sue Vang of Olson Remcho, LLP. San Franciscans Against the Recall of Chesa Boudin Sponsored by Real Justice PAC is a primarily formed recipient committee. Jin Ding served as the Committee’s treasurer, and Zoe Wong-Weissman served as the assistant treasurer. The Committee failed to include “Paid for by” or “With” disclaimers and failed to disclose that the PAC was a Top Funder in eight text messages, in violation of Government Code Sections 84504.7(b)(1) and 84504.7(b)(3) (8 counts). The Committee, Ding, and Wong-Weissman failed to timely report contributor information on two quarterly and three semiannual statements, in violation of Government Code Section 84211(k) (5 counts). Fine: $4,437 (Tiers One and Two).
In the Matter of Covina Unified Education Association PAC, Mark Signaigo, Calie Smejkal, & Adam Hampton; FPPC Nos. 21/876 & 24/1368. Staff: Laura Columbel, Senior Commission Counsel and George Aradi, Special Investigator. Covina Unified Education Association PAC is a county general purpose committee. Mark Signaigo served as a previous treasurer. Calie Smejkal serves as the current treasurer and Adam Hampton is the principal officer. The Committee and Hampton failed to include the proper advertisement disclosures in signs and an electronic media ad, in violation of Government Code Sections 84504.2 and 84504.3 (3 counts). Additionally, the Committee, Signaigo, and Smejkal failed to file two semiannual statements, in violation of Government Code Section 84200 (2 counts). Fine: $687 (Tier One).
Campaign Late Filer/Reporter
In the Matter of Nina Johnson, Tony Vallejo, and Nina Johnson for City Council 2021; FPPC No. 21/1020. Staff: Kevin Cornwall, Senior Commission Counsel. Nina Johnson was an unsuccessful candidate for the Santa Barbara City Council in 2021. Nina Johnson for City Council 2021 was her candidate-controlled committee. Tony Vallejo served as the Committee’s treasurer. The Committee and Vallejo failed to timely disclose the responsible officer for contributions received, in violation of Government Code Section 84211 (1 count), and failed to timely disclose the aggregate amount of contributions received from the same contributor via different LLCs, in violation of Government Code Sections 84211, subdivision (f), and 82015.5, subdivision (b) (1 count). Fine: $4,000.
In the Matter of Randy Rowse, Carola Nicholson, and Rowse for Mayor 2021; FPPC No. 21/1056. Staff: Kevin Cornwall, Senior Commission Counsel. Randy Rowse was a successful candidate for Mayor of Santa Barbara in 2021. Rowse for Mayor 2021 was his candidate-controlled committee. Carola Nicholson served as the committee’s treasurer. The Committee and Nicholson failed to timely disclose contributor information, in violation of Government Code Section 84211 (1 count), and failed to timely disclose the aggregate amount of contributions received by the same contributor, in violation of Government Code Sections 84211, subdivision (f), and 82015.5, subdivision (b) (1 count). Fine: $3,000.
In the Matter of Association for the City of La Jolla; FPPC No. 25/1064. Staff: Alex Rose, Senior Commission Counsel and Roone Petersen, Special Investigator. Respondent is represented by Jim Sutton of Rutan & Tucker LLP. Association for the City of La Jolla is a primarily formed local agency formation Commission (“LAFCO”) in support of a LAFCO proposal to incorporate a City of La Jolla. The Committee failed to timely file monthly campaign statements, in violation of Government Code Section 84252 (1 count). Fine: $2,500.
In the Matter of California Apartment Association Issues Committee (“CAAIC”) & Ashlee Titus; FPPC No. 25/181. Staff: Laura Columbel, Senior Commission Counsel and Kaitlin Osborn, Special Investigator. Respondents are represented by Ashlee Titus of Bell McAndrews & Hiltachk LLP. California Apartment Association Issues Committee (“CAAIC”) is a state general purpose committee. Ashlee Titus serves as the Committee’s treasurer. The Committee and Titus failed to timely aggregate contributions on one pre-election statement, in violation of Government Code Section 82015.5 (1 count) and two semiannual statements, in violation of Government Code Section 84211 (2 counts). Fine: $4,500 (Tier Two).
In the Matter of Elrawd MacLearn for Clerk-Recorder-Assessor 2022 and Elrawd MacLearn, FPPC No. 22/502. Staff: Theresa Gilbertson, Attorney Supervisor and Kaitlin Osborn, Special Investigator. Elrawd MacLearn was an unsuccessful candidate for the Santa Barbara County Clerk-Recorder-Assessor during the June 7, 2022 Primary Election. Elrawd MacLearn for Clerk-Recorder-Assessor 2022 was MacLearn’s candidate-controlled committee. The Committee and MacLearn failed to timely file pre-election campaign statements and 24-Hour Reports, in violation of Government Code Sections 84200.5 and 84203 (4 counts). Fine: $2,303 (Tier One and Tier Two).
In the Matter of Citizens for Better Education, Kimberley Mazzulli, and Janis Evangelista; FPPC Nos. 21/794 and 22/1005. Staff: Jaleena Evans, Commission Counsel. Citizens for Better Education is a county general purpose committee. Janis Evangelista previously served as the Committee’s treasurer and Kimberley Mazzulli previously served as the Committee’s Principal Officer. The Committee failed to timely file semi-annual campaign statements, in violation of Government Code Section 84200 (7 counts), failed to timely file pre-election campaign statements, in violation of Government Code Section 84200.5 (2 counts), and failed to timely file a 24-Hour Report, in violation of Government Code Section 84203 (1 count). Fine: $589 (Tier One).
In the Matter of Ramon Castro for Imperial Irrigation District Division 3 2022, Ramon Castro, and Raymond Gonzalez; FPPC No. 24/010. Staff: Jonathan Rivera, Commission Counsel. Castro was an unsuccessful candidate for the Imperial Irrigation District in 2022. Ramon Castro for Imperial Irrigation District Division 3 2022 was the candidate's candidate controlled committee. Raymond Gonzalez served as the Committee's treasurer. The Committee failed to timely file an amended statement of organization in violation of Government Code Section 84103 (1 count), two pre-election campaign statements in violation of Government Code Sections 84200.5 and 84200.8 (2 counts), four semiannual campaign statements in violation of Government Code Section 84200 (4 counts), and two 24-Hour Reports in violation of Government Code Section 84203 (2 counts). Fine: $504 (Tier One).
Campaign Non-Filer
In the Matter of South Bay SV Community Coalition PAC and Anthony Phan; FPPC No. 19/385. Staff: Bridgette Castillo, Senior Commission Counsel and Roone Petersen, Special Investigator. South Bay SV Community Coalition PAC was a general purpose candidate-controlled committee that made independent expenditures during the November 6, 2018 General Election. Anthony Phan served as the Committee’s principal officer and was a member of the Milpitas City Council. The Committee and Phan failed to timely file a qualifying Statement of Organization and identify Phan as the controlling candidate in the name of the Committee, in violation of Government Code Sections 84101 and 84201 (1 count), timely file eight 24-Hour Reports, in violation of Government Code Sections 84204 (4 counts) and 84203 (4 counts), timely file a pre-election campaign statement, in violation of Government Code Section 84200.5 (1 count), accurately disclose the source of a contribution, in violation of Governmental Code Section 84211 (1 count), timely file a semi-annual campaign statement, in violation of 84200 (1 count), timely file an Independent Expenditure Verification, in violation of Government Code Section 84213 (1 count), and include the proper advertisement disclosures in mailers, in violation of Government Code Section 84502 (5 counts). Fine: $56,500.
Recordkeeping
In the Matter of Amnon Shor for State Senate 2022, Amnon Shor, and Thomas Montgomery; FPPC No. 25/190. Staff Jonathan Rivera, Commission Counsel. This matter arose from an audit performed by the Franchise Tax Board’s Political Reform Audit Program. Shor was an unsuccessful candidate for the State Senate in 2022. Amnon Shor for State Senate 2022 was the candidate's candidate-controlled committee. Thomas Montgomery served as the Committee's treasurer. The Committee and Montgomery failed to maintain records, in violation of Government Code Section 84104 (1 count). Fine: $800 (Tier Two).
Statement of Economic Interests Late Filer/Reporter
In the Matter of Phillip Wiley; FPPC No. 24/734. Staff: Kristin Goulet, Commission Counsel. Phillip Wiley, in his former position as Recreation Director for the Los Angeles Department of Recreation and Parks, failed to timely file the Assuming Office and 2020, 2021, 2022, and 2023 Annual Statements of Economic Interests, in violation of Government Code Section 87300 (5 counts). Fine: $3,000 (Tier One).
In the Matter of Aditya Joshi; FPPC No. 25/855. Staff: Theresa Gilbertson, Supervising Attorney and Joselyne Soto, Associate Governmental Program Analyst. Aditya Joshi, as a Consultant for Technology Services and Solutions for the County of Santa Clara, failed to timely file the 2022 and 2023 Annual Statements of Economic Interests and a Leaving Office Statement of Economic Interests, in violation of Government Code Section 87300 (3 counts). Fine: $600 (Tier One).
In the Matter of Elise Brentnall; FPPC No. 25/1004. Staff: Kendall L.D. Bonebrake, Chief of Enforcement and Shaina Elkin, Associate Governmental Program Analyst. Elise Brentnall, a Planning Commissioner for the City of San Juan Bautista, 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 Gurtarpreet Kaur; FPPC No. 26/226. Staff: Kendall L.D. Bonebrake, Chief of Enforcement and Amber Rodriguez, Associate Governmental Program Analyst. Gurtarpreet Kaur, a Planning Commissioner for the City of Bakersfield, failed to timely file a 2024 Annual Statement of Economic Interests, in violation of Government Code Section 87203 (1 count). Fine: $200 (Tier One).
In the Matter of Robert Hall; FPPC No. 25/1111. Staff: Christine Shantz, Commission Counsel. Robert Hall, as a Governing Board Member of the Weed Union Elementary School District, failed to timely file an Assuming Office Statement of Economic Interests, in violation of Government Code Section 87300 (1 count). Fine: $200 (Tier One).