Killea Attacks Over GOP Memo on Her

San Diego Assemblywoman Lucy Killea, responding to news that she was the subject of a memo allegedly prepared for Republicans by state employees at taxpayers’ expense, struck back Friday by filing two complaints with the Fair Political Practices Commission.

One complaint charges Byron Wear, Killea’s Republican opponent in the 78th Assembly District race, with failing to report a contribution to his campaign by California taxpayers. The second alleges that GOP leader Pat Nolan violated state campaign reporting requirements by failing to report the contribution of his state-paid staff to Wear’s campaign.

On Friday, The Times reported that documents and information provided by GOP sources showed Killea was among several Democrats targeted in research papers prepared by Republican workers. The papers represent computer files purged by Assembly Republican Caucus staff the morning after the FBI searched four legislators’ offices, Nolan’s among them, in connection with a lengthy investigation into political corruption.

Sources have said the computer records were erased because Republican employees feared the FBI would learn they were doing campaign work on state time and using government equipment.

The memo on Killea detailed a plan to investigate her financial holdings before the Nov. 8 election; the fall race between Killea and Wear, her only major opponent, is expected to be tight because of the many Republican voters in the 78th Assembly District.

The document, provided to The Times by a GOP legislative staff member, lists abbreviated phrases describing real estate Killea owns in Washington and Texas. It also alludes to possible violations of health and welfare and building codes.

Killea said Friday that “to use state employees and equipment for political campaigning is outrageous” and expressed hope that the FPPC will act swiftly on the complaints.

“The fact that someone was looking into my personal life is not surprising, because that often happens in political life,” Killea said. “But the fact is this was done secretively and on state time at taxpayers’ expense. . . . There was a benefit to Mr. Wear’s campaign here that was not reported.”

Ann Richards, a spokeswoman for Nolan in Sacramento, said “there is no evidence whatsoever that any work was done on state time.” She said the Assembly Republican Caucus staff is composed of “political people who routinely use their weekends and evenings to work on campaigns.”

Wear refrained from criticizing the investigation into Killea’s financial holdings, but said he was unaware of the research until it was reported in The Times.

“I had absolutely no idea what the caucus people were doing so I have no way of determining whether this is all true or not,” Wear said. “I’ve been running an issues campaign, a positive campaign that emphasizes my vision of the future and Killea’s voting record.”

Wear said he is not concerned about the complaint, calling it “a phony tactic” designed “to grab headlines.”

In filing the complaints, Killea argues that the memo compiled about her falls within the definition of “campaign activities” outlined in commission regulations.

FPPC officials could not be reached for comment on the complaints.