Ventura Councilman Won’t Face Charges

Ventura Councilman Neal Andrews will not face criminal charges over allegations that he broke a city campaign law, officials announced Friday.

Despite the appearance of impropriety, Andrews did not knowingly violate the law when a political action committee that he helped form paid for two advertisements supporting his council campaign, Ventura County Dist. Atty. Greg Totten said in a prepared statement.

The allegations stemmed from ads that ran shortly before the November 2001 City Council election. The ads were purchased by Pacific Action Consortium, which was managed by a company owned by Andrews. The check for the ads was signed by Andrews.

As part of a settlement last year stemming from a civil lawsuit filed by the city, Andrews and Sharon Schnell, treasurer of Pacific Action Consortium, each agreed to pay the city $1,050, while not admitting wrongdoing.