Daigle receives warning letter from state
State Assembly candidate Leslie Daigle was one several Orange County officials to receive a warning letter from a state agency detailing their infringement of a state ethics law.
The Fair Political Practices Commission (FPPC) told the Newport Beach councilwoman that she violated government code by voting to appoint herself to a paid position on an outside board or commission. Daigle’s letter was supplied to the Daily Pilot on Thursday by Bob Rush, a Democrat and community activist who is one of several candidates running against her for the 74th District seat.
The letter, addressed to Daigle’s legal counsel, states that the investigation is now closed because Daigle and her attorney cooperated and “made every attempt to reduce the public harm as a result of the violation as soon as it was known ... “
The letter also warns that a similar violation would cost Daigle up to $5,000.
Daigle, a Republican, was one of about 40 local officials accused of violating the law, including fellow Newport Beach Councilmen Rush Hill and Steve Rosansky. Hill has a prior warning issued by the FPPC.
Daigle couldn’t be immediately reached Thursday, but had City Attorney Aaron Harp respond on her behalf.
Harp emphasized that she wasn’t the only one to receive the notice.
“She received a warning letter just like the other 69 council members in the state,” he said, adding she disclosed the warning to the city.
Rush, who found Daigle’s March 1 letter on the FPPC’s website, asked why Daigle hasn’t disclosed it publicly.
“She’s keeping it quiet and the public should really know about this,” he said, adding later, “I think all of our public officials, especially those running for higher office, need to be more honest and open on their public service activities, and particularly violations of law.”
At the time of the offense, the council members believed their votes were an exception to FPPC rules; they did not realize a new interpretation of the law was being used, Harp said.
“No one was potentially violating the rule,” he said.
Since the warning letters were issued, another interpretation of the rules has been approved, which wouldn’t make the voting a violation, Harp said.
FPPC officials could not be reached Thursday night for comment.
In addition to Rush, Daigle’s opponents for the newly redrawn 74th District include Assemblyman Allan Mansoor (R-Costa Mesa) and Irvine financial planner Paul Vann, an independent.
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New endorsements announced
Newport-Mesa Unified School District trustees Martha Fluor, Judy Franco, Karen Yelsey, Dana Black and Walt Davenport, former trustee Serene Stokes, and Deputy Supt. and Chief Business Official Paul Reed are endorsing Daigle, according to a press release issued Thursday by Daigle for Assembly 2012.
Daigle has also garnered endorsements from former California Secretary of Education Marian Bergeson, Costa Mesa Councilwoman Wendy Leece, Irvine Councilman Steven Choi and Irvine Unified School District Trustees Carolyn McInerney and Gavin Huntley-Fenner, according to the release.
Twitter: @britneyjbarnes