SACRAMENTO : Political Fine for S.D. Fire Union
The union representing San Diego firefighters has agreed to pay a $1,500 fine for failing to report campaign expenditures in two recent City Council races.
In a settlement agreement released Tuesday, Local 145 of the International Assn. of Fire Fighters agreed to pay the fine because it failed to properly report $19,700 spent on behalf of former council members Linda Bernhardt and Bruce Henderson.
The union spent the money on “independent” efforts for both incumbents during the waning days of their 1991 campaigns, according to the settlement with the state’s Fair Political Practices Commission.
Firefighters spent $13,500 for a mailer on behalf of Bernhardt, who unsuccessfully fought a recall in April. The union spent nearly $6,200 for two mail pieces in Henderson’s unsuccessful bid for reelection in November.
The settlement said Local 145 could have been fined up to $4,000 because it did not disclose the independent expenditures overnight, as required under state campaign law.
The commission’s staff recommended the lesser $1,500 fine, however, because the union did not intentionally hide its contributions and was cooperative with the agency’s investigation into the matter.
The proposed settlement will be brought before the commissions Aug. 6 for approval.
Start your day right
Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.
