FPPC Enforcement Decisions: May 14, 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, May 14, 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.

Mass Mailings at Public Expense

In the Matter of County of Los Angeles County Fire Department; FPPC No. 21/292. Staff: Alex Rose, Senior Commission Counsel and Paul Rasey, Special Investigator. Respondent is represented by Gary Winuk of Kaufman Legal Group, APC. The Los Angeles County Fire Department sent prohibited campaign-related mass mailings at public expense, in violation of Government Code Section 89001 (1 count), failed to include the proper advertising disclosures on mailers and other advertisements, in violation of Government Code Sections 84502, 84504.1, 84504.2, 84504.3, and 84504.6 (5 counts), failed to timely file a semi-annual campaign statement, in violation of Government Code Section 84200, subdivision (b) (1 count), failed to timely file five 24-Hour Reports, in violation of Government Code Section 84204 (5 counts), and failed to timely report an independent expenditure on the semi-annual campaign statement, in violation of Government Code Section 84200, subdivision (b) (5 counts). Fine: $85,000.

In the Matter of John Valdivia; FPPC No. 22/396. Staff: Theresa Gilbertson, Attorney Supervisor and Paul Rasey, Special Investigator. In 2021, John Valdivia, in his capacity as Mayor for the City of San Bernardino, caused a mass mailing paid for at public expense and distributed to about 2,000 people that featured Valdivia’s name and office, in violation of Government Code Sections 89001 and 89002 (1 count). Fine: $3,500.

Campaign Late Filer/Reporter

In the Matter of James “Barrett” Reed, Jennifer Cooper, Monica Intaglietta, and Reed for Santa Barbara City Council 2021; FPPC No. 21/965. Staff: Kevin Cornwall, Senior Commission Counsel. James “Barrett” Reed was an unsuccessful candidate for the Santa Barbara City Council in 2021. Reed for Santa Barbara City Council 2021 was his candidate-controlled committee. Jennifer Cooper and Monica Intaglietta served as the committee’s treasurer and assistant treasurer, respectively. Respondents failed to timely disclose the responsible officer for contributions received from LLCs, in violation of Government Code Section 84211 (1 count). Fine: $1,000.

In the Matter of WeLead OC Fund and Karen Hinks; FPPC No. 19/1773. Staff: Theresa Gilbertson, Attorney Supervisor and George Aradi, Special Investigator. WeLead OC Fund, a multipurpose organization, qualified as a recipient committee in 2019 when the organization accepted a payment of more than $2,000 for the purpose of making an independent expenditure. Karen Hinks was the principal officer and treasurer. The Committee failed to timely file a statement of organization, a semiannual campaign statement, and a late independent expenditure report, in violation of Government Code Sections 84222, 84200, and 84204 (3 counts). Additionally, the independent expenditure was a mailer that failed to comply with the Act’s requirements for advertisement disclosure, in violation of Government Code Sections 84502 and 84504.2 (1 count). Fine: $1,755 (Tier Two).

In the Matter of California Political Rebuild Team, Orrin Heatlie, and Robyn Riley; FPPC No. 25/112. Staff: Chance Felkins, Commission Counsel. This matter arose from an audit performed by the Franchise Tax Board’s Political Reform Audit Program. California Political Rebuild Team is a general-purpose committee. The Committee’s treasurer is Robyn Riley. The Committee’s principal officer is Orrin Heatlie. The Committee failed to timely report occupation and employer information for contributions made on a quarterly campaign statement, two semi-annual campaign statements, and two pre-election campaign statements, in violation of Government Code Section 84211(f) (5 counts). Fine: $1,125 (Tier Two).

Revolving Door

In the Matter of Antonia Jimenez; FPPC No. 22/673. Staff: Alex Rose, Senior Commission Counsel and Roone Petersen, Special Investigator. Antonia Jimenez was the County of Los Angeles Department of Public Social Services Director. Jimenez violated the Act by making and/or participating in making a governmental decision on or about January 20, 2022, regarding a pitch proposal between the County of Los Angeles and Accenture, a company that was a prospective employer to Jimenez, in violation of Government Code Section 87407 (1 count). Fine: $3,000.

Advertisements

In the Matter of Affordable Housing Advocates Santa Cruz; FPPC No. 24/568. Staff: Laura Columbel, Senior Commission Counsel and Jay Gehres, Special Investigator. Affordable Housing Advocates Santa Cruz is a local primarily formed committee. Don Lane served as the treasurer. The Committee failed to include the proper advertisement disclosures in mailers, flyers, a website, and an electronic media ad, in violation of Government Code Sections 84502, 84504.2, and 84504.3 (9 counts). Fine: $1,946 (Tier One).

Statement of Economic Interests Late Filer/Reporter

In the Matter of Ariel Kelley; FPPC No. 24/1012. Staff: Jaleena Evans, Commission Counsel.  The respondent is represented by Gary Winuk of Kaufman Legal Group. Ariel Kelley is a City Councilmember for the City of Healdsburg and a Commissioner for the California Coastal Commission. Kelley failed to timely file an Assuming Office Statement of Economic Interests for her position with the California Coastal Commission, in violation of Government Code Section 87202 (1 count), failed to timely report income on the 2021 Annual Statement of Economic Interests for the City Council, in violation of Government Code Section 87207 (1 count), and failed to timely report stocks on the 2023 and 2024 Annual Statements of Economic Interests for the City Council, in violation of Government Code Section 87206 (2 counts). Fine: $1,600 (Tiers One and Two). 

In the Matter of Casey McKeon; FPPC No. 26/206. Staff: Christine Shantz, Commission Counsel and Paul Rasey, Special Investigator. Casey McKeon, City Council Member of Huntington Beach, failed to timely report two gifts on an Assuming Office Statement of Economic Interests, in violation of Government Code section 87202 (2 counts). Fine: $700 (Tiers One and Two).

In the Matter of Erik Peterson; FPPC No. 23/652. Staff: Christine Shantz, Commission Counsel and Special Investigator Paul Rasey. Erik Peterson, Member of the City Council of Huntington Beach, failed to timely report a gift on a Leaving Office Statement of Economic Interests, in violation of Government Code Section 87204 (1 count). Fine: $600 (Tier Two).

In the Matter of Pat Burns; FPPC No. 26/205. Staff: Christine Shantz, Commission Counsel and Special Investigator Paul Rasey. Pat Burns, Candidate for City Council of Huntington Beach, failed to report two gifts on an Assuming Office Statement of Economic Interests, in violation of Government Code section 87202 (2 counts). Fine: $700 (Tiers One and Two).

In the Matter of Michael Gates; FPPC No. 26/208. Staff: Christine Shantz, Commission Counsel and Paul Rasey, Special Investigator. Michael Gates, City Attorney for Huntington Beach, failed to timely report a gift on a 2023 Annual Statement of Economic Interests, in violation of Government Code Section 87203 (1 Count). Fine: $600 (Tier Two).

In the Matter of Alex Ferguson; FPPC No. 26/188. Staff: Kendall L.D. Bonebrake, Chief of Enforcement and Amber Rodriguez, Associate Governmental Program Analyst. Alex Ferguson, a Planning Commissioner for the City of Pacifica, 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 Ashley Banta; FPPC No. 26/091. Staff: Kendall L.D. Bonebrake, Chief of Enforcement and Amber Rodriguez, Associate Governmental Program Analyst. Ashley Banta, a Planning Commissioner for the City of Vacaville, 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 Briana Weisinger; FPPC No. 26/136. Staff: Kendall L.D. Bonebrake, Chief of Enforcement and Amber Rodriguez, Associate Governmental Program Analyst. Briana Weisinger, an Associate Regional Director of the Small Business Development Center Network for the Southwestern Community College District, failed to timely file a 2024 Annual Statement of Economic Interests, in violation of Government Code Section 87300 (1 count). Fine: $200 (Tier One).

In the Matter of Emma Orozco; FPPC No. 25/762. Staff: Theresa Gilbertson, Supervising Attorney and Joselyne Soto, Associate Governmental Program Analyst. Emma Orozco, as Planning Commissioner for the City of Calipatria failed to timely file a 2023 Annual SEI, in violation of Government Code Sections 87203 (1 count). Fine: $200 (Tier One).

In the Matter of Ilan Sigura; FPPC No. 26/099. Staff: Kendall L.D. Bonebrake, Chief of Enforcement and Amber Rodriguez, Associate Governmental Program Analyst. Ilan Sigura, a Planning Commissioner for the City of Sunnyvale, 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 Jazmine Hernandez; FPPC No. 25/1050. Staff: Kendall L.D. Bonebrake, Chief of Enforcement and Amber Rodriguez, Associate Governmental Program Analyst. Jazmine Hernandez, a Planning Commissioner for the City of Stockton, 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 Marco Durazo; FPPC No. 26/182. Staff: Kendall L.D. Bonebrake, Chief of Enforcement and Amber Rodriguez, Associate Governmental Program Analyst. Marco Durazo, a Planning Commissioner for the City of San Bruno, 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 Namquan Nguyen; FPPC No. 26/147. Staff: Kendall L.D. Bonebrake, Chief of Enforcement and Amber Rodriguez, Associate Governmental Program Analyst. Namquan Nguyen, a City Council Member for the City of Westminster, 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 Raj Salwan; FPPC No. 24/1280. Staff: Franceska Gonzalez, Commission Counsel. Raj Salwan, Fremont City Councilmember and Alameda County Transportation Commission Board Member, failed to timely disclose a financial interest on the 2023 Annual Statement of Economic Interests in violation of Government Code Section 87206 (1 count), and a Candidate Statement of Economic Interests for the November 5, 2024 General Election, in violation of Government Code Section 87207 (1 count). Fine: $200 (Tier One).

In the Matter of Gracey Van Der Mark; FPPC No. 26/207. Staff: Christine Shantz, Commission Counsel and Special Investigator Paul Rasey. Gracey Van Der Mark, as a member of the City Council in Huntington Beach, failed to timely report a gift on an Assuming Office Statement of Economic Interests, in violation of Government Code section 87207 (1 Count). Fine: $100 (Tier One).