In Signed Statements, 4 Deny Commissioner Was Host of Hahn Fundraiser

Mayor James K. Hahn’s campaign took steps Monday to counter recent allegations of improper fundraising, gathering four statements that a city commissioner did not play host at a recent fundraiser.

Last week, a prominent attorney and friend of mayoral challenger Bob Hertzberg said he saw Dominick Rubalcava, the president of the board of the Department of Water and Power, playing host at a fundraising breakfast for Hahn on Thursday.

City ethics laws prohibit commissioners from raising money for city candidates.

Fred Gaines, the lawyer who made the accusation, submitted a formal complaint to the city Ethics Commission last week.

Rubalcava initially did not respond to requests for comment, but a day later insisted that he had not been the event’s host.

On Monday, Hahn campaign advisor Kam Kuwata distributed a signed statement in which Rubalcava swore that he did not organize or act as the host of the fundraiser at Pacific Dining Car.

Kuwata also distributed signed statements from Judy Johnson, Frank Villaneda and Gerard Orozco, attesting that Rubalcava did not host the fundraiser.

Orozco wrote that he, not Rubalcava, had introduced the mayor.

Gaines said Monday that he stood by his version of the event.

He said he is scheduled to talk with Ethics Commission investigators later this week.