Official Accused of Missing Campaign Report Deadline

The state Fair Political Practices Commission has accused Councilman Fred Cressel of eight counts of failing to submit election campaign disclosure statements on time.

The commission’s complaint involves documents listing campaign contributions that Cressel was required to submit under California’s Political Reform Act when he ran for City Council in 1995 and then for mayor, unsuccessfully, last year.

Cressel is accused of failing to submit two disclosure statements and filing six others late. He faces a maximum fine of $16,000 if an administrative law judge finds him guilty on all eight counts. A hearing date is still to be set.

Cressel said he will fight the accusations, adding that the fine is unfairly harsh.

“I realize that I was late, but the only thing about it is: If you have a toothache, you don’t cut off your head,” he said.

Running a stationery business, campaigning and then serving on the City Council kept him from filing on time, Cressel said. He said the charges were inspired by political opponents trying to smear him, and he disputed the commission’s accusation that he failed to submit two statements.

Gary Huckaby, a commission spokesman, said investigators were reviewing city records to determine whether Cressel filed one of the allegedly late statements on time. But, he added, the commission stands by the other seven alleged violations.

“The public was denied its right to know who was supporting the candidate,” Huckaby said.