Grand Jury Hears Baugh Aide and Campbell’s Spouse

The Orange County Grand Jury heard testimony Monday from two witnesses in the investigation of alleged campaign finance irregularities of Assemblyman Scott Baugh and the failed candidacy of a Democratic candidate thrown off last month’s ballot.

Kendrick Campbell, the husband of failed candidate Laurie Campbell, and Todd Nugent, campaign manager for Baugh (R-Huntington Beach), both appeared before the grand jury, which is investigating possible links between the new assemblyman and Campbell’s candidacy, sources said.

“Both were to be there in the morning,” said a source close to the Republican Party. “Todd was told to come back in the afternoon.”

A Sacramento judge ordered Laurie Campbell removed from the ballot in the 67th Assembly District race a month before the Nov. 28 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 and Baugh have repeatedly insisted that they had nothing to do with her candidacy.

Baugh’s campaign treasurer has said that he assisted Baugh in returning a $1,000 contribution from Kendrick Campbell by obtaining $1,000 in cash and giving it to Baugh. Treasurer Dan Traxler has said he gave the cash to Baugh, who returned it to the Campbells on Sept. 21, the day Laurie Campbell filed to run for the Assembly seat and paid her $699 filing fee.

Baugh did not report the contribution or its return in three campaign finance reports, then issued an amended report and filed it a few hours before polls closed on election day. The use of cash in amounts exceeding $100 is a violation of campaign law.