Sherman Accuses Sybert of Violating Campaign Law

Democratic congressional candidate Brad Sherman on Wednesday accused his Republican rival of violating federal laws by coordinating with a supposedly independent group to hand out “scurrilous leaflets.”

In a complaint filed with the Federal Elections Commission, Sherman alleged that Rich Sybert failed to disclose his connections to a group called Citizens for Fair Representation.

The small, Thousand Oaks-based group has been handing out fliers attacking Sherman for calling himself a pro-business candidate when his campaign is being financed by “East Coast Labor Bosses.”

The group has also publicly called for Sherman to resign from the full-time State Board of Equalization, saying he is spending too much time on his congressional campaign for the 24th District seat that represents Thousand Oaks, Malibu and portions of the San Fernando Valley.

“He stepped over the legal line with these attack pieces he’s putting out now,” Sherman said in an interview. “Not only are these the kind of anonymous hit pieces that make voters cynical, they are also a violation of federal law.”

“That’s nonsense,” Sybert said. “Whatever Citizens for Fair Representation has been doing, it has been doing on its own.”

Sybert said he has seen the material distributed by members of the group and agrees with their characterization of Sherman.

“They have pointed out accurately that he is funded almost entirely by East Coast labor bosses,” Sybert said of his Democratic opponent. “He ought to address those charges substantially instead of looking for some technical hook to attack them.”

Furthermore, Sybert called attention to the Republican Party’s complaint this year that Sherman collected donations to repay an old campaign debt from his races for the Board of Equalization but used that money to finance his congressional campaign.

“He is effectively laundering money through himself,” Sybert said, which would violate laws governing the mixing of state and federal contributions.

Sherman has rebutted those allegations, and the Federal Elections Commission has yet to take any action.

The dueling complaints foreshadow what party officials expect to be a particularly rough fight over the seat being abandoned by retiring Rep. Anthony C. Beilenson (D-Woodland Hills).

Although both candidates expressed hope that the campaign does not turn nasty, each also plans to send out mass mailings that highlight the differences between his own stellar record and the shortcomings of his opponent.

“You can legitimately criticize somebody without being nasty,” Sybert said.

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Sherman said his opponent showed his willingness to sling mud when he attacked Paul Jhin in the GOP’s March primary. The mailer questioned the Korean immigrant’s adoption of the anglicized name Paul and whether Jhin’s campaign was being bankrolled by foreign corporations.

Jhin called the mailer racist and full of lies.

Sybert took credit for the mailer, as required by law. But Sherman points out that the disclosure was in tiny type and difficult to read.

“Now,” Sherman said, “he is hitting me with a piece so negative that he won’t even put his name on it in small letters.”

Instead, the leaflet carried the name of Tom Lee, identified as president of Citizens for Fair Representation. Sherman’s complaint notes that Lee worked for Sybert’s 1994 congressional campaign and was paid for expenses and “professional services.”

The complaint also notes that Citizens for Fair Representation’s treasurer is Douglas A. Hewitson, who is on Sybert’s campaign steering committee.

Hewitson said he is no longer affiliated with the group because, as chairman of the Oak Park Municipal Advisory Council, he is too busy.

He said he thought he had terminated its status as a federally listed political action committee last year, but the Federal Elections Commission still lists it as active, with Hewitson as treasurer.

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Lee, a Republican activist who is also a candidate for the Thousand Oaks City Council, confirmed that he is president of the group. He said the group has not coordinated any of its efforts to defeat Sherman with Sybert’s campaign.

Furthermore, he said he has replaced Hewitson in the treasurer post, filling that job with Tony Strickland, campaign manager for Republican Assembly candidate Tom McClintock.

Lee said the group does not have to report this year’s activities to the Federal Elections Commission because it has not yet raised or spent $1,000--the threshold that triggers mandatory filings.

“This is a desperate act by the Sherman campaign,” Lee said. “I guess we are becoming a very effective organization.”