Santa Ana : Election Reform Group Files Suit Against Foes

A citizens’ group backing a proposal to alter the city’s election procedures filed a lawsuit Friday against opponents, charging violations in reporting of campaign contributions.

The suit, filed by Jim Lowman, chairman of the Santa Ana Merged Society of Neighbors, accuses Robert Miranda, who was treasurer of two political action committees that fought the proposal on last June’s ballot, of failing to report contributions to the city clerk.

Miranda denied that any contributions were concealed and said that he made full reports to the clerk on all pertinent information. “We filed all those late contribution reports,” he said.

Miranda said he had heard nothing about the charges Friday and added that the lawsuit was probably an effort to get some publicity before next week’s election.

Lowman said the accusations were reported to the district attorney’s office in August, but no action was taken because no criminal intent could be proved. The lawsuit asks that Miranda’s two committees, the Good Government Committee and the Santa Ana Chamber of Commerce Political Action Committee, be fined more than $100,000 and ordered to pay attorneys’ fees.

The proposal to provide for ward elections and a directly elected mayor was narrowly defeated in June, and the citizens’ group is making a second attempt with a measure on Tuesday’s ballot. Lowman said he hopes that the lawsuit will send a message that “no more shenanigans will be tolerated” this time around.