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# Oops! Oversight may cost candidate
- URL: https://www.smdp.com/oops-oversight-may-cost-candidate/
- Published: 2006-09-28T15:00:00.000Z
- Updated: 2026-10-23T21:26:43.000Z
- Author: Kevin Herrera
- Tags: Government & Politics, Santa Monica, #archive-import

*Schools candidate dismisses his ‘mistake’*

CITYWIDE — A school board candidate who has made financial responsibility a cornerstone of his campaign is currently serving his fifth year of professional probation for violating conditions of the California Accountancy Act.

Barry A. Snell, a certified public accountant, was originally placed on probation by the California Board of Accountancy on Dec. 26, 2001 for practicing public accountancy with an expired license, and for not advising the board in a timely fashion as to his change of address, according to a report on the board’s web site, www.dca.ca.gov.

The infractions, which the 51-year-old Snell characterized on Wednesday as “merely administrative,” carried a fine of $2,500, and Snell was ordered to complete 80 hours of continuing professional education within the first 12 months of probation. He was also required to take a board-approved ethics exam and score 90 percent or better.

Snell, who continues to work as a CPA, paid the fine, but his original check was returned for insufficient funds, extending the length of his probation until Dec. 22, 2007, at which time he will have served close to six years.

“While on probation, Mr. Snell violated the terms of his probation in that he failed to obey all federal, state and local laws, including those rules relating to the practice of public accountancy in California,” read a statement from the board. “He also failed to maintain an active license and failed to make scheduled cost reimbursement payments.”

The charges could have an impact on Snell’s bid for a seat on the Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School Board, given that the candidate has relied heavily on his accounting background as a reason for support. In his candidate statement, Snell said his goals as a school board member include improving the financial stability of the district “by seeking alternative revenue sources and reducing financial mismanagement.”

Snell said the charges are a result of a “mistake” he made while moving his private practice in 2000\. He said the board did not accept all of his continuing education credits and suspended his license. Certified public accountants are required to perform 80 hours of professional education every two years, something which can be done through teaching, writing articles and essays, or enrolling in seminars and college courses, according to Snell.

“They wouldn’t accept some of my credits, so I was fined,” Snell said. “I wrote the check, but at the time I was moving accounts, moving my business, and the check bounced. It was definitely a mistake on my part, but I made good on it.”

Snell said he did not make the probation public because it is already easily available.

“I was never trying to hide from anything,” Snell said. “This has nothing to do with me as a CPA handling my clients. This is an administrative-type thing … As far as I’m concerned, I corrected the error, I’m continuing my education and I’ve moved on.”

Snell said he has been a certified public accountant since 1984.

So far, Snell has received significant backing from education groups, as well as endorsements from two of the city’s most influential organizations — the Chamber of Commerce and Santa Monicans for Renters Rights, the ruling political party in Santa Monica. Snell’s ability to win endorsements from both groups, which are often at odds, seemed to lend the freshman candidate some credibility.

Kathy Dodson, president of the chamber, could not be reached for comment.

Denny Zane, co-chair of SMRR, said the political powerhouse is sticking by Snell.

“What I’ve heard sounded to me like Barry went through a period where he was not keeping his paper work in order, and that is probably an experience that many of us have had,” Zane said. “It doesn’t rise to anything that questions his confidence and his ability to be a school board member and a positive role model for children.”

Snell admits, that for some, the probation issue might call into question his ability to serve on the school board, especially when voters are being asked to approve a $268 million bond measure Nov. 7.

“People will be wondering if this will be something that can roll over to me being a board member and will I be able to handle (budget decisions),”Snell said.“This was just a simple mistake and nothing that has to do with my performance as a CPA. I’m hoping voters will be smart enough to take a look at it and realize that. I’m not perfect. I did make a mistake and I’m hoping that will not affect my candidacy.”

*Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on September 28, 2006.* [Read the original PDF.](https://s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/smdp%5Fbackissues/092806.pdf?ref=smdp.com)