________________________
________________________
Sen. Mendoza issued a statement after publication, it is below, FPPC story is after the statement.
Public Statement
In my public service as an elected official and as Chair of the Latino Caucus, I have worked hard to provide the best service and representation to my constituents and local communities.
With advice from legal counsel, I helped start the “Yes We Can” committee in 2011, for the purpose of supporting candidates who shared this desire to serve their communities.
When it became clear that the Calderon Family, Ron Calderon and Tom Calderon in particular, would try and take control of the “Yes We Can” committee for their own illicit purposes, I attempted to safeguard the “Yes We Can” funds by transferring the money to another committee that I helped to start.
While, I now realize this was a mistake, my fears were proven justified as a federal court has recently convicted and sentenced to prison Ron and Tom Calderon for public corruption.
While my motives were right, my methods ultimately proved to violate several FPPC campaign reporting rules for which I will accept full responsibility. I plan to move forward and serve my constituents and the people of California.
Staff Report
California State Senator Tony Mendoza, D-Artesia is on the consent calendar for the Nov. 17 meeting of the Fair Political Practices Committee.
Items on the consent calendar are generally voted en masse. Any fines associated with the items are likely to be approved without comment.
Three consent calendar items are related to laundered campaign contribution, over-the-limit contributions, campaign reporting.
Mendoza is looking at total proposed fines of $93,000.
The fines involved Mendoza, Rudy Bermudez, David Gould, Freddie Scott, Alfred Mendoza, John Valencia and several committees.
The consent calendar stated, “in 2012, Senator Tony Mendoza moved $50,000 through his two controlled committees to Rudy Bermudez’s controlled committee. The committees were not properly identified as controlled committees, contributions over the limit were made, and the public was denied adequate disclosure. Much of the money ended up supporting three state candidates running in the June 2012 primary election, one of them being Bermudez.”
In the Matter of Antonio “Tony” Mendoza, Yes We Can, Educating Voters, Freddie Scott, Alfred Mendoza, Mendoza for Assembly 2010, and Central Basin Municipal Water District 2012.
The Enforcement Division is recommending that the Commission approve a settlement for these seven respondents for 12 counts, including making contributions over the limit, improperly controlling both a committee for election or office and two general purpose committees that made expenditures to support or oppose state candidates, failing to properly identify and name a controlled committee, filing inaccurate campaign statements, and failing to timely report contributions.
The FPPC recommended a proposed penalty of $57,000.
In the Matter of Rudolf “Rudy” Bermudez, Bermudez for Assembly 2012, Residents for Good Government and David Gould.
Respondent Rudolf “Rudy” Bermudez was an unsuccessful candidate for the State Assembly, 57th District in the June 5, 2012 Primary Election. Respondent Bermudez for Assembly 2012 was Bermudez’s candidate controlled election committee. At all relevant times, Respondent David Gould was the treasurer of Bermudez for Assembly 2012 and Residents for Good Government, a state general purpose committee which was established to provide “voter education and awareness.” At all relevant times, Residents for Good Government was Bermudez’s controlled committee. As detailed in the stipulation, the Enforcement Division is recommending that the Commission approve a settlement for these four respondents for seven counts, including making contributions over the limit, improperly controlling both a committee for election or office and a general purpose committee that made expenditures to support or oppose state candidates, failing to properly identify and name a controlled committee, filing inaccurate campaign statements, and failing to timely report contributions.
In this matter, the FPPC recommended a proposed penalty of $30,000.
In the Matter of Antonio “Tony” Mendoza, Yes We Can, and John Valencia.
Respondent Senator Tony Mendoza, discussed above, was a candidate who controlled Respondent Yes We Can, a state general purpose committee established by Senator Mendoza in his capacity as Chair of the California Latino Legislative Caucus to independently facilitate the election of Latino candidates in state elections. At all relevant times, Yes We Can was Senator Mendoza’s controlled committee. Respondent John Valencia was at all relevant times the treasurer for Yes We Can. As detailed in the stipulation, the Enforcement Division is recommending that the Commission approve a settlement for these three respondents for two counts, including failing to identify Senator Mendoza as the controlling candidate in Yes We Can’s statement of organization and failing to add his name in the committee’s name, and failing to timely file a preelection campaign statement for Yes We Can disclosing that it made a $50,000 contribution to Educating Voters, another state general purpose committee controlled by Senator Mendoza.
In this matter, the FPPC recommended a proposed penalty of $6,000.
