Yaroslavsky Foes Seek Probe of Fund-Raising

In an unusual alliance, three challengers to county Supervisor Zev Yaroslavsky filed papers with the state Fair Political Practices Commission and the district attorney Wednesday asking that the veteran politician be investigated for possible campaign fund-raising violations.

C.J. McDonald, Shane McLoud and Casey Peters signed the petition alleging that Yaroslavsky, who is running for a second supervisorial term, illegally bundled campaign contributions, violated the $1,000-per-person contribution limit and received of campaign contributions from lobbyists.

Yaroslavsky, through a spokesman, vehemently denied the allegations and portrayed the petition and a related news conference Wednesday as an attempt by the virtually unknown candidates to gain publicity for their campaigns.

None of the opponents has raised more than a few thousand dollars; Yaroslavsky has more than $1 million in his campaign war chest, according to campaign filings.

The three challengers alleged that lawyers who worked for a law firm that employs registered county lobbyists made illegal contributions to Yaroslavsky designed to skirt the $1,000-per-person contribution maximum, that the wives of lobbyists made improper contributions and that Yaroslavsky’s reelection campaign broke campaign fund-raising laws by asking lobbyists for donations.