OC campaign finance watchdog Shirley Grindle joins the growing number of those watching Hoa Van Tran’s troubling campaign disclosures.

Grindle sent me her formal complaint (click below) that she has filed against the supervisoral candidate with the state attorney general’s office.  She has a nine-point list of beefs, and then she goes deep:

“It is apparent that full disclosure of in-kind contributions and campaign expenditures is not being made.  It also appears that this is intentional considering the fact that Edgardo Reynoso has worked on many political campaigns in California and has been a staff member to Assemblyman Lou Correa.” 

COMPLAINT 

                                                                                                            8 May 2008

Dept. of Justice

110 West A Street, Ste. L500

San Diego, Ca. 92101

Attn:  Gary W. Schons, Sr. Asst. Atty. General

            Re:  Failure to Report Contributions and Expenditures by Orange County                         Candidate (for Supervisor) Hoa Van Tran and Phu Do Nguyen, Trsr.                        Reporting Period 1-1-08 thru 3-17-08

Dear Mr. Schons:

            This is a complaint alleging failure to disclose in-kind contributions and expenditures that occurred in the reporting period 1-1-08 thru 3-17-08 by the “Hoa Van Tran for Supervisor” Committee 1303899.

            Hoa Van Tran is running against incumbent Supervisor Janet Nguyen;  the election will be held in early June – a few weeks away.  It has been brought to my attention that several in-kind contributions and expenditures were not reported for the period 1-1-08 thru 3-17-08 in which they occurred.  The following contributions and expenditures are those for which no disclosure has been made to-date:

1.      An undisclosed expenditure was paid by a Campaign Committee check to the Registrar of Voters on 3-6-08 in the amount of ~$1,430 for a Filing Fee.  (This has been verified by Christina Avila at the Registrar of Voters).

2.      An undisclosed expenditure was paid by a Campaign Committee check to the Registrar of Voters on 3-6-08 in the amount of $5,965 for the Ballot Statement.  (This has been verified by Christina Avila at the Reg. of Voters).

3.      An undisclosed expenditure was paid by Campaign Committee check #1005 in the amount of $500 for staff salaries.

4.      An undisclosed expenditure was paid by a Campaign Committee check (check number unknown) on 3-16-08 in the amount of $500 to a private contractor for setting up the office computer network. 

5.      An undisclosed In-Kind Contribution by the Ramada Inn Garden Grove for a “comped” room for Edgardo Reynoso (Hoa Van Tran’s Campaign Consultant).  His hotel expense of $l700/month is reportedly being comped by the hotel at Treasurer Phu Nguyen’s request.  There is no report of this “in-kind” contribution by Ramada Inn in the Form 460 Campaign Statement.

6.      An undisclosed expenditure of approximately $l500 for campaign consulting services by Edgardo Reynoso for the period 3-1 thru 3-17-08.  It is believed that this was paid by a Campaign Committee check; Reynoso is reportedly earning $3000-$3500 per month for his consulting services. 

7.      Within the referenced reporting period, office equipment was purchased using the candidate’s personal credit card.  Two desktop PCs, 1 laptop PC, l Laser Printer, 1 Router and 3 Microsoft Office software packages were purchased for use in the campaign office.  These purchases are not reported on the Form 460 Campaign Statement either as “in-kind” contributions by the candidate or as campaign-related expenditures on Schedules E (Expenditures) or F (Accrued Expenses).

8.      Food for volunteers and staff in the amount of approximately $200 was reportedly paid by cash from the campaign funds.   None of this is reported in the Form 460 Campaign Statement.

9.      Gas for volunteers and staff in the amount of approximately $350 was reportedly paid by cash from the campaign funds.  None of this is reported in the Form 460 Campaign Statement.

It is apparent that full disclosure of in-kind contributions and campaign

expenditures is not being made.  It also appears that this is intentional considering the fact that Edgardo Reynoso has worked on many political campaigns in California and has been a staff member to Assemblyman Lou Correa.  Failure to disclose the campaign expenses makes it appear there is more money in the campaign committee than actually exists and that is probably why these items were not disclosed.  In any event, the two checks I have copies of indicate that at least 16 checks were probably written prior to 3-15-08 on the Campaign checking account, yet only 3 expenditures in excess of $100 are reported on Schedule E and none of these appear to be any of the above 9 items.  Additionally, only about $18 in expenditures under $100 was reported on Schedule E.   A rough estimate of the amount of the unreported expenses/contributions listed in Items 1-9 is roughly $17,000.

            It is hereby requested that Hoa Van Tran and his Treasurer comply fully with the State’s disclosure laws by immediately filing an amended Form 460 Campaign Report with the Orange County Registrar of Voters covering the referenced reporting period.  Their intentional failure to divulge this information on their initial Form 460 Campaign Statement is a major violation of the Political Reform Act and warrants substantial fines.      

Sincerely,

Shirley L. Grindle

5021 E. Glen Arran

Orange, Calif. 92869

714 633-0851

Cc:  Peggy Lowe, OC Register;  Christian Berthelsen, LA Times

Encl:  Form 460 Campaign Statement 1-1-08 thru 3-16-08

          Copy of Campaign Checks #1005 and #1016

          Sources - Names and Phone Numbers

          Copy of TheLiberalOC.com Blog posted on May 8, 2008         

Posted in: California Legislature • County elections '08 • Elections '08 |

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