Democrats Will Decide Toledano’s Fate in Vote

Jim Toledano, the chairman of the Orange County Democratic Party, will face a vote by the central committee later this month to determine whether he should be ousted, party officials said Thursday.

Four members of the central committee, including Vice Chairwoman Jeanne Costales, signed a letter this week, calling for a vote on May 20, said R.O. Davis, a coalition ex officio committee member.

Davis contended that Toledano has broken party rules and put his own interests ahead of the party. He cited a last-minute campaign mailer that Toledano sent out just before the March 26 primary that was paid for by a $10,000 contribution.

Toledano has acknowledged that he never reported the contribution to the party leadership or sought approval for the mailer.

“We can’t have a campaign not knowing what the party chairman is going to do. He’s liable to do anything,” said Davis, 59, of Buena Park, a candidate for Congress in the 39th District and a retired general contractor. “We need to get down to the business of the party. We can’t be sidetracked by these things.”

Under party rules, three members of the central committee can force the ouster vote. It takes two-thirds of the committee to oust a chairman. Davis predicted he had the votes to remove Toledano.

Toledano, 52, an Irvine attorney who has chaired the county party since January 1995, said he will “deal with whatever happens when it happens.”

“Under the circumstances, I obviously made some mistakes,” Toledano said. “I look forward to the opportunity for the Orange County Democratic Central Committee to hear the facts for the first time, to consider them carefully and calmly, and then to act in a manner which is consistent with due process.”

Toledano has been under fire among party leaders since details of the mailer emerged following the primary. The mailer asked voters to support Jim Prince, who was running for Congress, and Lou Correa, who was running for the Assembly. Prince finished third in his race; Correa ran unopposed.

The mailer was paid for by a $10,000 donation from Prince’s sister, Debra Lee LaPrade of Paradise Valley, Ariz. Toledano has acknowledged that he accepted a check signed by LaPrade’s husband, Paul, deposited it in a local bank under the name of the central committee, and then spent it on the mailer without consulting other party officials.

Toledano maintains, however, that Debra Lee LaPrade did not identify herself as Prince’s sister and that he had no reason to suspect she was.

“I was contacted and I was offered the money,” Toledano said. “This was a chance to do something proactive for the first time, so I acted.”

The contribution may have violated federal campaign contribution laws because the LaPrades had already spent the limit of $1,000 each on the Prince campaign. According to FEC regulations, if the $10,000 donation was earmarked for support for Prince, it would be a violation.

“If I had known who she was, obviously I wouldn’t have done what I did,” Toledano said.

Toledano’s actions have already prompted the county party treasurer, David Levy, to resign, although he remains active pending a replacement. The party’s executive committee took a vote of no-confidence and hired Santa Monica attorney Fred Woocher to study the matter.

Costales said Woocher has so far issued a preliminary report only. She declined to comment on the report or the Toledano matter other than to say she believes the chairman has broken several party rules, including the opening of an unauthorized checking account in the name of the party and accepting money without going through the treasurer.