$9,000 Paid in Hedgecock Case Suit
The state’s Fair Political Practices Commission announced Thursday that it has collected a $9,000 fine from Roque de la Fuente Jr., the first settlement in connection with a $1.2-million civil suit against San Diego Mayor Roger Hedgecock and several co-defendants alleging more than 450 campaign disclosure violations during Hedgecock’s 1983 campaign.
De la Fuente, whose family owns land in Otay Mesa and 14 local auto dealerships, paid the fine in return for the FPPC dropping charges in its civil suit that he laundered $3,000 into Hedgecock’s campaign.
De la Fuente signed an FPPC consent decree in which he did not admit any campaign violations. His fine was the maximum--three times the amount of the alleged violation.
Hedgecock declined to comment on the fine. His civil attorneys said De la Fuente’s action has no bearing on the civil case that remains against the mayor.
The FPPC’s suit seeks nearly $1 million from Hedgecock in civil penalties.
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