O.C. Democrats Split Over Ouster of Chairman Toledano

Leaders of Orange County’s Democratic Party split Tuesday night in a vote over whether Chairman Jim Toledano should resign for accepting a $10,000 donation that might have violated federal contribution limits.

“I am still the party chairman. I will remain the party chairman,” Toledano said after the closed-door vote near midnight by the 11-member executive board.

The donation came from Debra Lee LaPrade of Paradise Valley, Ariz., the sister of Jim Prince, a candidate for the 46th Congressional District seat last week.

Toledano used the contribution to finance a mailer urging support for Prince and Lou Correa, a Democrat who ran unopposed in the 69th Assembly District. It was sent to 30,000 Democratic households in central Orange County the weekend before the primary.

LaPrade said she called Toledano just days before the election and explained to him that while she had “maxed out” her legally allowed contributions to her brother’s campaign, she was still looking for a way to help financially.

LaPrade said Toledano, an attorney, assured her she could contribute the money to the Democratic Party to promote voter awareness.

But the Federal Election Commission, which regulates campaigns for Congress, said funds to a party committee earmarked for specific candidates count against campaign contribution limits for those same candidates--meaning LaPrade might have exceeded contribution guidelines.

Toledano acknowledges that he did not consult his executive board before deciding to spend the $10,000 donation on the mailer.

Jeanne Costales, vice chairwoman of the Democrats’ executive board, said it was for that reason that they took Tuesday night’s vote.

“Mr. Toledano made a unilateral decision. Therefore, the committee voted no confidence,” she said.

There was no immediate call to take the issue of whether Toledano should resign to the full central committee, which meets on April 15.

The mailer financed by LaPrade’s contribution reminded voters that the state Democratic Party had endorsed Prince for the 46th District congressional seat and urged residents to remember to vote. It’s unclear whether it helped Prince, who finished third.