Cardenas Fined for Late Reports on Fund-Raising

The Los Angeles Ethics Commission has levied penalties totaling $1,560 against two state campaign committees controlled by Assemblyman Tony Cardenas (D-Panorama City) for the late filing of fund-raising reports, officials said Thursday.

Because Cardenas is a candidate for the 2nd District seat on the Los Angeles City Council, he was required to file campaign finance statements by Oct. 10 for all of his controlled committees, including one formed for an aborted run for secretary of state.

The secretary of state committee and another Cardenas state panel did not file disclosure statements with the city until Nov. 29, which was 50 days late. Another pair of reports due Nov. 1 were 28 days late.

Penalties Stem From Greuel’s Complaints

Each committee was fined $780, or $10 for each day it was late in filing disclosure statements, according to letters by the Ethics Commission dated Dec. 4 and released Thursday.

Cardenas has until Dec. 21 to either pay the penalties or appeal.

Wendy Greuel, a rival in Tuesday’s council election, filed complaints about the late filings. She has voiced concern that the state committee’s undisclosed spending might benefit Cardenas’ city campaign, an accusation the assemblyman has denied.

Cardenas Camp Calls Mistake Inadvertent

“Tony Cardenas has attempted to skirt the law,” said Julie Buckner, a spokeswoman for Greuel. “We think voters have a right to know who is spending money in campaigns and for what.”

A spokesman for Cardenas said the tardiness in filing was inadvertent.

“Tony, after finding out that not all the i’s were dotted and t’s crossed, ordered that [the filing] be done,” said Josh Pullium. Some of the confusion, he added, stemmed from the fact that state disclosure laws are different from city laws.

The most recent filing for the secretary of state committee shows its treasury is down to $21,793 after Cardenas had previously raised $493,000 for the account.

Pullium said Cardenas returned much of the money, including a $100,000 check from the San Manuel Band of Mission Indians.

The assemblyman also had paid bills for services provided before he decided against running for the statewide job.