D.A. Investigators Interview Baugh’s Election Treasurer : Campaign: Fiscal adviser to new assemblyman is questioned by those looking into delayed reporting and ties to ousted rival.

District attorney’s investigators questioned the campaign treasurer for newly elected Assemblyman Scott Baugh on Thursday as they continued to check possible links between the Baugh campaign and ousted Democratic candidate Laurie Campbell.

Two investigators interviewed Treasurer Dan Traxler on Thursday morning as part of their review of the Campbell candidacy and Baugh’s campaign finance disclosure statements.

Traxler acknowledged speaking with two investigators, but the Costa Mesa-based financial adviser and accountant declined to discuss the interview.

Baugh, a Huntington Beach attorney who was chosen Tuesday to replace recalled Assemblywoman Doris Allen, acknowledged in campaign documents filed Tuesday that he failed for several months to report a $1,000 contribution from Campbell’s husband.

Baugh did not disclose the contribution from Rick Campbell in three previous state-required campaign finance reports filed between the time he received the money and Tuesday, when he wrote that it had been “inadvertently omitted.”

Laurie Campbell was removed from the ballot a month before Tuesday’s election amid allegations that she was a “stealth candidate” recruited by GOP leaders seeking to siphon votes from Baugh’s chief Democratic opponent, Linda Moulton-Patterson.

Republican leaders, while admitting they were interested in persuading more Democrats to run in the winner-take-all special election, have repeatedly denied having anything to do with the Campbell candidacy.

Traxler disputed a published account in which Baugh blamed Traxler for the original reporting error and a delay in correcting it.

“I hope he was misquoted,” Traxler said.

Traxler said Thursday that Baugh, in fact, provided the information for a series of financial disclosure statements that omitted the $1,000 contribution until just hours before the polls closed Tuesday. Baugh won with 45% of the vote.

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Baugh’s Republican and Democratic opponents in Tuesday’s election have accused Baugh of purposefully failing to list the contribution to hide his relationship with the Campbells and his alleged role in recruiting her.

Baugh, who was scheduled to attend a legislative retreat Wednesday, could not be reached for comment. He also has repeatedly denied having anything to do with Campbell’s candidacy.

The contribution is the first direct link between the Baugh campaign and Campbell. When questions arose about the candidacy of Campbell--a political unknown and newcomer to Orange County--Baugh initially denied knowing her, then acknowledged that the two had met and attend the same Newport Beach church.

Baugh and Laurie Campbell also worked together in the late 1980s in the Sacramento office of a major California law firm.

Baugh worked at Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe from Sept. 10, 1987, through Feb. 22, 1991, handling commercial litigation. Laurie Campbell worked as a secretary in the firm’s Sacramento office from April 27, 1987 through Oct. 10, 1988.

Campbell was removed from the ballot in October after a Sacramento judge ruled that her nomination papers had been falsified. She signed under oath that she had gathered nomination signatures. The petitions had actually been circulated by two unidentified men.

The Orange County district attorney is now investigating the falsification, which is a felony. Supervising Deputy Dist. Atty. Guy Ormes has also said the office is “investigating Baugh’s ties to” candidate Campbell, as well as his campaign disclosure statements.

Ormes said Baugh “has promised to come in and talk with us on Monday.”

In campaign finance reports filed shortly before the polls closed Tuesday, Baugh said he received the $1,000 contribution from Rick Campbell, then returned it several weeks later on the day Laurie Campbell filed for the 67th District race. She paid a $699 filing fee on that day.

Meanwhile, Baugh was expected to join his new Republican Assembly colleagues Thursday for a fund-raising tournament at Big Horn Golf Club in Palm Desert, the kickoff to a three-day policy planning summit.

The summit, called to craft what insiders are dubbing a “contract with California,” is expected to include much back room debate on who will assume the speakership. The current Speaker, freshman Brian Setencich of Fresno, will likely be challenged by Orange County Assemblyman Curt Pringle, who has the backing of Baugh and other conservatives, as well as the state GOP and Gov. Pete Wilson.

Times staff writer Eric Bailey contributed to this report.