Ex-Manager of Cal-Vet Unit Accused by FPPC

The former manager of the farm and home loan program for the state Department of Veterans Affairs was accused Friday of violating the Political Reform Act by failing to disclose real estate holdings.

William P. V. Garcia, now holding the post of supervising property agent in the Cal-Vet Farm and Home Purchases Division, the unit he once managed, was charged in a four-count accusation filed by Fair Political Practices Commission Executive Director John Keplinger.

An attorney for Garcia denied the charges. A hearing will be held by the commission.

Law’s Requirements

The voter-approved political reform law requires elected officials and other top state administrators to annually disclose their investments and other personal financial information.

Lynn Montgomery, a spokeswoman for the commission, said that “at this point” the commission had found no suspected criminal action that would send the case to the district attorney.

The commission said Garcia did not properly disclose ownership of deeds of trust in two Sacramento properties for the years 1981, 1982, and 1983. It also said Garcia held an interest in deeds of trust on eight other properties in 1984, but did not report them as required. Most of the properties ranged in value from $1,000 to $10,000, although two holdings were listed at between $10,000 and $100,000.

Residential Properties

The properties, all residential, were held at a time when Garcia served as manager of the Cal-Vet Farm and Home Purchases Division. The commission said: “Besides being a state employee, Garcia has his own real property investment business, although it is not incorporated or licensed.”

The accusations against Garcia were not related to an earlier Cal-Vet controversy involving department employees who used insider information to acquire repossessed houses.

Garcia’s attorney, Carlos Alcala, said, “We are denying everything. All the information they want has been reported. It is there somewhere.” The attorney said the charges involve “technical reporting violations.”

Alcala said Garcia would file a counter action against the commission charging the agency with singling out his client for prosecution because Garcia has challenged the affirmative action policies of the Deukmejian Administration in a Civil Service appeal of his demotion.