FPPC to investigate Assembly Speaker’s fundraising practices
By CHIARA CANZI Special to the Daily Press
The Fair Political Practices Commission (FPPC) announced on Wednesday that it will investigate allegations brought forth by a Santa Monica-based consumer rights group against Assembly Speaker Fabian Nunez and his fundraising efforts.
Consumer Watchdog, formerly known as the Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights, argues that Nunez raised over-the-limit campaign contributions from companies with matters before the legislature.
“The Speaker requested contributions from these companies,” said Carmen Balber with Consumer Watchdog. “And these donors admitted that their charitable contribution was requested by a politician.”
Balber said Nunez was fundraising for a non-operating charitable organization called Collective Space Downtown Los Angeles.
“He has raised more than $271,000 on requested donations,” Balber said. “We want the investigation to go forward for the simple fact that while the speaker was campaigning, the company’s nonprofit status was suspended and he was fundraising for a defunct company.”
Nunez’ Deputy Chief of Staff Steve Maviglio’s rebuttal centered on the consumer rights group’s goal.
“First of all, the organization at the time was not defunct, it was still active in the community and it was small,” he said. “And (Consumer Watchdog’s) goal is character assassination, to generate news.”
In November, the Los Angeles Times reported questionable donations made by more than 20 corporations for Collective Space. According to Consumer Watchdog these funds were in turn spent on public events sponsored by Nunez’s staff.
“The events were called ‘Speaker Nunez Soccer Fest’ and things like that,” Balber said. “They prominently featured the speaker in promotional material.”
Maviglio said that the FPPC’s investigation is a formality.
“We are confident that the FCCP will dismiss this complaint against the speaker, just like it has every single other complaint lodged by this publicity-seeking organization,” he said.“These charges were generated for the purpose of a press release.”
The complaint alleges that six of the donors — Blue Cross of California, the California Correctional Peace Officers Association, Pacific Gas & Electric, Southern California Edison, The Gas Co.-Sempra and Zenith Insurance — gave the speaker the maximum amount allowed in the state of California to Nunez’s 2005-2006 campaign.
“A politician cannot under the law solicit funds for charitable organizations,” Balber said.“He benefited by advancing his political profile.”
Roman Porter with the FPPC said in a statement that his organization has responded to the complainant and that “we will be investigating the allegations.”
The FCCP’s mission is to promote the integrity of representative state and local government in California through fair, impartial interpretation and enforcement of political campaigns, lobbying and conflict of interest laws.
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on April 3, 2008. Read the original PDF.