CA: Memo adds to questions Shelley faces (ShmelleyGate)

Contra Costa Times ^ | 2/1/05 | Mark Gladstone and Dion Nissenbaum

[NormsRevenge]

SACRAMENTO - Buried amid thousands of pages collected by auditors investigating Secretary of State Kevin Shelley is a memo from a state consultant who attended a union-sponsored "Take Back the White House" rally.

The consultant wrote that he "was there to represent the SOS office" at the April 3, 2004, event and a state investigator's note on the document indicates that one of Shelley's top deputies asked the consultant to go.

Shelley aides have vigorously denied that the Secretary of State's office misused federal voter outreach funds to send consultants hired with the money to partisan political events. Shelley's spokeswoman says he was not involved in deploying the workers.

But Shelley's role -- what he knew and when he knew it -- will be a central issue Thursday when he testifies under oath before a legislative committee. Lawmakers say they want to know if Shelley was in charge of his office and, if not, who was.

The anticipated showdown could determine whether Shelley, the scion of a prominent San Francisco political family and just a year ago considered a rising star in the Democratic Party, can salvage his reputation and political career.

The appearance, if Shelley keeps his promise to testify, will mark only the second time in recent history that a statewide constitutional officer has faced such a serious legislative investigation. Five years ago, Insurance Commissioner Charles Quackenbush stormed out of a hearing on his conduct. He later resigned as evidence mounted that he used insurance industry settlement funds to promote his political ambitions.

In Shelley's case, staff activity reports filed by state-hired consultants show that some attended partisan events unrelated to their work of registering voters. They went to political rallies and NBA All-Star events. They attended Democratic fund-raisers and political parties.

[EagleUSA]

It is amazing what has happened to our state...Gray Davis and his leftist mafia have run us into the ground, but the fools in this state keep voting these mobsters back in. Shelley is just another wrung on the ladder that needs to be climbed to clean up the management of this state. And it is a loooonnnnggggg ladder.

[calcowgirl]

Ahhhh... the daily dose of Shmelley!

Do Shelley's actions constitute misconduct in office as that term is used in the state's constitution? "That's the criteria for impeachment," said state Sen. Tom McClintock, R-Thousand Oaks, who sits on the Legislature's investigative committee. "That's the ultimate question."

That's the first question. Then comes the "criminal" question.

CALIFORNIA CONSTITUTION
ARTICLE 4  LEGISLATIVE

SEC. 18.  (a) The Assembly has the sole power of impeachment.
Impeachments shall be tried by the Senate.  A person may not be
convicted unless, by rollcall vote entered in the journal, two thirds
of the membership of the Senate concurs.

   (b) State officers elected on a statewide basis, members of the
State Board of Equalization, and judges of state courts are subject
to impeachment for misconduct in office.  Judgment may extend only to
removal from office and disqualification to hold any office under
the State, but the person convicted or acquitted remains subject to
criminal punishment according to law.

[Simmy2.5]

http://www.sfgate.com/ Check out the poll. And given that the poll usually skewers left given the readership (the DUmmie crowd), Shelley is digging a bigger hole everyday.

[heleny]

Shelley's role -- what he knew and when he knew it -- will be a central issue Thursday when he testifies under oath before a legislative committee.

What nearly perfect timing for the Democrats to de-emphasize this scandal.

After all, the testimony will be only half a day or so after President Bush delivers the annual State of the Union address. Even local news on Thursday will probably still report on reactions to Bush's address or to the Democrat rebuttal, since those speeches won't have finished until long after most of Wednesday's local evening news programs have ended. Then comes the weekend news cycle, which will simply recycle the rebuttals to and discussions of the President's speech.