CA: State campaign watchdog levies record fine against Migden (State Senator "Hit'n'Run")

SFGate.com ^ | 3/18/08 | Matthew Yi

[NormsRevenge]

SACRAMENTO -- State Sen. Carole Migden has been fined $350,000 by the California Fair Political Practices Commission, the largest penalty ever levied against a state office candidate, for dozens of violations including failing to disclose seven years' worth of political expenses that she paid with credit cards, the watchdog agency said today.

The agency's investigation was prompted in part by a complaint filed last fall by fellow San Francisco Democrat Mark Leno, an Assembly member who is one of two Democrats trying to unseat Migden in the June primary.

The agency's initial probe concerned $397,000 in credit card expenses from Migden's campaign funds that the senator failed to itemize. State law requires candidates to list the names and addresses of vendors being paid with a credit card for expenditures of more than $100.

But commission investigators found other violations, 89 total, the agency said. They included Migden's failure to report campaign expenditures on time, inaccurate disclosures of cash payments and receipts and personal use of campaign funds.

Migden has agreed to pay the fine, according to the commission, but at least three of the five commissioners need to approve the agreement. They are scheduled to meet Thursday to take up the matter.

Migden can pay the fine out of her campaign funds.

The previous record for a fine against a state office candidate was the penalty levied against then-Lt. Gov. Cruz Bustamante, who was assessed $263,000 in April 2004 for improperly raising $3.8 million during the previous year's gubernatorial recall election.

[NormsRevenge]

Well, at least it's a record and gets Cruz knocked down a notch..

[ArmstedFragg]

Couldn’t have happened to a more deserving individual. The Bee’s comment section is full of adjectives describing her, and they’re all accurate.

[SWAMPSNIPER]

Best thing to do with Migden is to finish the lobotomy, stuff her ugly carcass, and display her in the Smithsonian!

[Wingy]

Since I can’t find any mention of party affiliation I guess we are talking about a dem?

[Tamar1973]

The agency's investigation was prompted in part by a complaint filed last fall by fellow San Francisco Democrat Mark Leno, an Assembly member who is one of two Democrats trying to unseat Migden in the June primary.

There's your clue.

[Political Junkie Too]

...a complaint filed last fall by fellow San Francisco Democrat Mark Leno, an Assembly member who is one of two Democrats trying to unseat Migden in the June primary.

But Mark, didn't you hear she has leukemia?

-PJ

[Cicero]