Free Republic

The state's political watchdog agency has imposed a $55,000 fine against the Latino Builders Association for 11 counts of laundering contributions to candidates running for office in Chula Vista, National City and San Diego. The association's director, Jose Mireles, engineered a scheme to evade campaign laws by directing employees and business associates to make contributions to candidates that were later reimbursed by the Latino Builders Association, according to the Fair Political Practices Commission. The commission, which enforces state contribution and disclosure laws, imposed the maximum fine of $5,000 for each of the counts Thursday. “Concealing the true source of campaign...

SACRAMENTO The Coastal Commission has told an appointee of Assembly Speaker Fabian Nunez that she should not show up to vote on a high profile Pebble Beach golf development because her appointment was made in violation of state law. The commission's executive director, Peter Douglas, said Monday that Elizabeth Brem's appointment as an alternate was not sanctioned by the commissioner she would represent. She agreed to skip the meeting, Douglas added. Nunez last week named four people to serve as commission alternates just days before the panel was set to vote on the Pebble Beach development, which is backed by...

Chula Vista has an early campaign issue and it is called “the mayor's bodyguard.” This isn't about the conduct or qualifications of private security contractor, this is about the way the city of Chula Vista has mishandled the matter at every turn and the folly of doing public business behind closed doors. How did the city find the private contractor (two versions exist)? Why did the council not receive more than a cursory report when the hiring item first came up in September? Why was the private contractor being paid from two separate accounts? Who, exactly, authorized the city's purchase...

CHULA VISTA – Although his bodyguard was driving him to all mayoral functions in a new, fully loaded SUV the city had bought, Mayor Steve Padilla collected his $1,000 monthly car allowance for nearly four months, records acquired by the The San Diego Union-Tribune show. The city's payroll records also show that Padilla reimbursed the city $3,500 in late January for car allowances received in October, November, December and part of January. “It was a mistake,” Padilla said of collecting a car allowance. “It was an oversight on my part.” Padilla said he realized the mistake in early January when...