Cardenas fine is called too lenient

The city Ethics Commission Tuesday rejected a proposal to issue a $2,050 fine against Councilman Tony Cardenas, saying the agency had been too lenient considering that he had been fined in previous campaigns.

The commission’s investigators determined that Cardenas had failed to submit two scripts for automated campaign telephone calls during his 2007 reelection campaign and received three campaign contributions that exceeded the maximum $500 allowed under the city’s election laws.

Commissioner Sean Treglia said Cardenas should have known better because he had been penalized during the 2002 and 2003 elections.

“We have a candidate here, who, for whatever reason, cannot seem to get it right,” Treglia said.

“Either this candidate needs to get a new treasurer or he needs to take the Ethics Commission a little more seriously,” Treglia said.

Commission Executive Director LeeAnn Pelham said her agency has fined Cardenas $19,000 as a result of 40 violations of campaign finance and disclosure laws since 2002.

Cardenas, who represents a portion of the San Fernando Valley, said through a spokeswoman that he had successfully fought in the past to reduce the number fines sought by the commission.

“I hope the commission is not being retaliatory because its own past mistakes were brought to light,” Cardenas said in a statement.