Did Not Lead Fiedler, Davis Aide Insists

Martha Zilm, campaign manager for Republican state Sen. Ed Davis of Valencia, said Saturday she “never led anybody to do anything” during secretly recorded meetings to collect evidence leading to the felony indictments of rival Rep. Bobbi Fiedler and Fiedler’s top aide.

Davis, of Chatsworth, has said Zilm, acting under the direction of the Los Angeles County district attorney’s office, recorded meetings with Fiedler aides in which an alleged scheme to bribe Davis into quitting the U.S. Senate race was discussed.

Fiedler and aide Paul Clarke, her fiance, were indicted last month by a Los Angeles grand jury for allegedly offering to pay Davis’ $100,000 campaign debt if he dropped out of the race.

“I never led anybody to do anything,” Zilm told reporters here. “We just did what any good citizen would do.”

Davis, former Los Angeles police chief, has said he went to authorities after a Los Angeles businessman relayed to his campaign an offer from the Fiedler camp to pay Davis’ deficit, since reduced to $15,000.

Both are in a crowded race for the GOP nomination for the chance to face Democratic U.S. Sen. Alan Cranston in November.

Davis reportedly has said that during the investigation Zilm did indicate, under direction of the district attorney’s office, that Davis might drop out of the race, but only after the Fiedler campaign made its alleged bribe.

Davis “never for an instant” considered withdrawing from the race, Zilm told reporters.

‘Doesn’t Make Any Sense’

The alleged bribery scheme, she said, “absolutely doesn’t make any sense. It makes no sense whatsoever.

“It may be because he (Davis) has been the front-runner he has been in the way of some people who have very great ambitions.”