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LOS ANGELES (AP) - The executive director of a law enforcement group that endorses Republican gubernatorial nominee Bill Simon said today he had two photos showing then Lt. Gov. Gray Davis accepting a campaign contribution in his state Capitol office -- in violation of the law.

Monty Holden, head of the California Organization of Police and Sheriffs, told reporters the Jan. 31, 1998, photos show Davis, then campaigning for his first term as governor, accepting a $10,000 check from Al Angele, then executive director of COPs.

The photos show Davis standing next to a man identified by COPS as Angele. They are holding either side of a $10,000 check as they stand in an office, that according to COPS, was the lieutenant governor's office.

The claims are ``false and possibly slanderous,'' Davis campaign press secretary Roger Salazar said. ``This charge is categorically false. No such exchange of campaign funds took place inside then Lt. Gov.'s Davis' Capitol office in Sacramento.''

Davis said the meeting took place in his campaign office in Los Angeles, which would not be illegal.

Simon initially made the allegation Monday after the candidates met in Los Angeles for their first debate before the Nov. 5 election.

But Tuesday, Simon backed away from the allegations, saying it was a matter between COPS and the Fair Political Practices Commission. ``It's not my allegation ... this is California Organization of Police and Sheriffs speaking, not me,'' Simon said KGO-AM.

During the debate, Davis cast Simon as too conservative for California and Simon accused Davis of running a corrupt and failed administration.

``Mr. Simon is a true-blue, think-tank conservative. ... He is simply out of step with the values of most Californians,'' the Democratic governor said in his opening remarks at Monday's hourlong debate sponsored by the Los Angeles Times.

Simon responded by accusing Davis of linking policy decisions to campaign donations, mismanaging the state's energy crisis and turning a budget surplus into a $23.6 billion deficit.

``What the people of California deserve to hear, but what they probably won't from Mr. Davis, is an apology,'' Simon said, `` ... an apology to all Californians for a disastrous four years in office.''

During a news conference after the debate, Simon said he had evidence about Davis and the illegal campaign contribution.

He said there was a letter from COPS to the Fair Political Practices Commission.

Before Simon's staff could produce the letter, filed earlier Monday, Davis aides contacted the former member it named and he categorically denied the claim.

Angele called the charge by current COPS members ``totally unbelievable.''

``I've never been in (Davis') office in my life,'' said Angele, now a Davis appointee to the Board of Prison Terms. ``I don't understand it. It's out of left field.''

During the debate, Davis highlighted Simon's opposition to abortion, new gun laws and some environmental regulations, and touted his own accomplishments in education, health care and transportation. He criticized Simon for failing to produce a budget plan of his own and sought to portray him as inexperienced.

With less than a month until the Nov. 5 election, Simon trails Davis in polls and would like further opportunities to confront the governor in person. But Davis agreed to no other debates beyond Monday's.

Also Monday, the campaigns released new finance statements covering July 1 through Sept. 30. Simon reported raising $10.5 million, spending $11.1 million and ending the period with $4.3 million cash on hand. Davis said he raised $9.4 million, spent $20.2 million and had $21.3 million cash on

Last year the INS also did not interview and identify 19 percent of the foreign-born inmates at state prisons in California, and that that portion was continuing to grow, with backlogs of foreign-born inmates requiring interviews increasing.
"The declining coverage at the state prisons is due, in part, to the fact that California has done little to help INS streamline the IRP process beyond initial program enhancements implemented in 1995," the audit said. "As a result, INS agents must maintain an active presence at 11 intake facilities dispersed throughout the state over an area roughly 120,000 square miles in size.
"In contrast, Texas funnels all foreign-born inmates through one intake facility," the audit said.

Can thank Davis for that too.http://www.washtimes.com/national/20021008-86048984.htm