2 Dymally Aides Given Stiff Fines for Violations in L.A. Council Race

Levying its second-stiffest penalty ever, the California Fair Political Practices Commission Wednesday fined two aides to Rep. Mervyn Dymally $187,500 for campaign violations committed when one of the aides ran for Los Angeles City Council.

The commission charged that Kenneth Orduna, an unsuccessful council candidate in 1987, and Lonnie Sanders, his campaign treasurer, were guilty of 134 campaign law violations. The most serious counts involved intentional efforts to skirt a Los Angeles contribution limit of $500 per person per election.

“This was absolutely outrageous,” said Ben Davidian, the commission’s chairman, after the five-member panel unanimously approved the fine during a meeting in Los Angeles. “It’s one of the most serious and flagrant violations of the Political Reform Act we have ever had at the commission.”

Orduna, who is Dymally’s chief of staff, and Sanders, a special assistant to the Compton Democrat, could not be reached for comment. But Dymally angrily denounced the commission decision as racist.

He questioned why Orduna and Sanders are being fined far more than the $30,000 that former San Diego Mayor Roger Hedgecock was assessed in May in a settlement of a $1-million campaign corruption lawsuit the commission had filed against him.

“He was a white Republican from San Diego and they are black Democrats from Compton,” said Dymally, whose district includes Hawthorne, Carson, Gardena and Harbor Gateway. “The racism is obvious. It’s a double standard.”

Davidian rejected such arguments, contending that the commission’s case against Hedgecock was severely undermined when 12 of the 13 felony counts filed against the former mayor were thrown out by the California Supreme Court.

The remaining felony charge was sent back to Superior Court and ultimately removed from Hedgecock’s record when prosecutors decided not to retry the case.

“It’s apples and oranges, comparing this case with Hedgecock,” Davidian said. “ . . . This case was clear, intentional manipulation of the process. (Orduna and Sanders) knew what they were doing. They did it intentionally. They did it to mislead the voters.”

The case against the Dymally aides stems from Orduna’s campaign four years ago for the City Council’s 10th District seat, which was won by Nate Holden. The 10th District is centered in the Crenshaw area and extends west into parts of Fairfax, Palms and Beverlywood.

The commission asserted that most of the violations by Orduna and Sanders were committed intentionally to evade the $500 contribution limit for Los Angeles City Council races.

Among the methods they used, the commission said, was to receive donations greater than $500 and then underreport them or fail to report them at all. The pair also put contributions of unknown origin in the names of fictitious donors, the panel said.

Nancy Eichler, an attorney representing Orduna and Sanders, argued at the political practices commission meeting that the fine was excessive. Her clients, she said, deserved better treatment since they did not challenge the commission’s charges and are unable to pay the fine.

“A fine in the amount of $187,000 simply does not make sense. . . . It is beyond the comprehension of a working-class person,” Eichler said. “My clients simply don’t have the resources.”

Orduna’s annual salary is $77,000 and Sanders’ is $45,000, she said. Dymally said that the commission action will not affect the employment of the aides, who work in the congressman’s Compton district office.

Appearing Wednesday before commission members, Eichler also portrayed her clients as unable to comply with campaign reporting requirements because they were overwhelmed by the demands of the council race. Commission member Joseph Rattigan challenged that view, pointing out that Orduna and Sanders were familiar with campaigns after years of service for Dymally.

“These are no babes in the woods,” he said.

Members of the commission’s staff said the fine is second only to the $290,000 penalty that former Sacramento County Supervisor William Bryan agreed to pay in 1988 to settle a complaint filed by the commission. The complaint charged that Bryan had failed to fully and truthfully disclose campaign receipts and expenses, sources of personal income and investments.

The breakdown of the fine imposed Wednesday is $174,500 against Orduna, Sanders and the Orduna campaign committee; $1,000 against Orduna and Sanders; $9,000 against Orduna, and $3,000 against Sanders.

Commission spokeswoman Carol Thorp said Wednesday that although the penalty is assessed in part on the campaign committee, Orduna and Sanders will be held responsible for ensuring payment of the entire fine.