Party Chairman Acted by Himself, O.C. Democrats’ Lawyer Tells FEC

An attorney for the Orange County Democratic leadership has notified the Federal Election Commission that party Chairman Jim Toledano “acted solely on his own” in his handling of a questionable $10,000 campaign contribution.

Attorney Fredric D. Woocher has written the commission that the party’s executive committee, when learning of Toledano’s activities, “agreed that Mr. Toledano had neither explicit nor implicit authority to act as he did in the name of the party,” according to a letter obtained by The Times.

In addition, Woocher has advised executive committee members to consider officially repudiating Toledano’s actions in connection with the contribution, according to a party activist who declined to be named.

Toledano, who could not be reached for comment Wednesday night, faces a Monday recall vote by the Orange County Democratic Central Committee.

He has been the target of party criticism over a last-minute campaign mailer in the March 26 primary, urging support for congressional candidate Jim Prince, who finished third, and unopposed Assembly candidate Lou Correa.

Financing the mailer was a $10,000 donation from Prince’s sister, Debra Lee LaPrade.

Toledano has acknowledged receiving a check from LaPrade’s husband, depositing it under the name of the party Central Committee and spending it on the mailer without consulting other party leaders.

The donation might have violated campaign financing laws because the LaPrades had already reached their contribution limits on the Prince campaign.

Toledano has said he did not realize the money came from Prince’s sister.

The party’s executive committee hired Woocher to look into the matter.