Conroy Accuses Spitzer of Breaking Election Laws

Campaign officials for Orange County supervisorial candidate Mickey Conroy filed a complaint Friday with the district attorney’s office alleging that his opponent violated the county’s campaign finance law.

A spokesman for Todd Spitzer, a deputy district attorney who is opposing Orange Assemblyman Conroy in the November election, denied the charge, characterizing it as “a sign of desperation.”

The complaint alleges that Spitzer failed to report the true source of $86,100 he loaned to his campaign.

James Lacy, an attorney for Conroy’s campaign, alleged that as a deputy district attorney, Spitzer could not have accumulated that amount of money and, that even if he did, evidence of it is not contained on economic interest statements Spitzer filed as a candidate.

In addition, the complaint claims that Spitzer is failing to report in-kind services he has received from his political consultant, the Kamber Group. The consultant does not charge a fee, but is being paid for expenses, is earning commissions for mailers and other media and would get a bonus if Spitzer wins, said Harvey Englander, a vice president of the company.

Englander said the contract is identical to those he has with other candidates. “We are not donating our services,” he said.

Mark Thompson, a consultant for Conroy, said regardless of the arrangement, donation of services must be reported as an in-kind donation, and is limited to $1,000.

“The agreement is illegal,” he said. “He is receiving these services for free. It is not allowed. It is really a contribution.”

A district attorney’s spokesman said the complaint likely would be forwarded to the state attorney general because Spitzer is on leave from the district attorney’s office.

Spitzer could not be reached for comment.

Jamie Morris, a treasurer for the Spitzer campaign who is Spitzer’s wife, rejected the charge. “Everything is on the up and up,” she said. “The money came from his personal savings account. Todd is a good saver. I concur with those who say Todd is cheap.”

County campaign laws do not require disclosure in an economic interest statement of funds kept in a personal savings account or a mutual fund.

Englander characterized the complaint as “laughable.”

“This is reaching so far,” he said. “I wish all my clients had opponents reaching this far. It shows how desperate they are.”