Corruption in AD 40 Race? Charges filed Against Blumenfeld and Healey
We all know how shady local politics are but Assembly candidates Laurette Healey and Bob Blumenfeld are quickly becoming the poster children for alleged shady dealings.First off, we've become aware of a complaint filed with the State Labor Commissioner by a person employed by the campaign to secure Laurette Healey the Democratic nomination for the 40th Assembly District seat being vacated by Lloyd Levine. The individual claims that they were to be paid $3500 a month for their services. Three weeks into the engagement the campaign worker was asked to sign a contract. They asked if they could time to have a lawyer review it. When the worker told the Healey campaign there were elements of the contract they could not agree to; the campaign allegedly refused to pay the individual for work performed prior to the request by the campaign for a contract. To see the complaint filed against Healey, click here.
The other bad little kid in the AD 40 Democratic race is Bob Blumenfeld. A third candidate in the race, former AD 40 Chief of Staff Stuart Waldman, has filed charges with the Fair Political Practices Commission alleging that Blumenfeld's employer, Congressman Howard Berman and Blumenfeld's father, political operative Michael Blumenfeld created an independent expenditure committee - the Santa Monica based "Valley Democrats for Change" - as method to launder contributions from Berman and the elder Blumenfeld to the candidate's account. If this allegation is correct, Berman and Blumenfeld would be in violation of campaign laws which limit the amount an individual can contribute to a campaign. According to the complaint released by the Waldman Campaign, Berman and Blumenfeld reached this limit last year. Additionally, the law prohibits independent expenditure committees from working in concert with the candidate; Waldman's complaint details and alleges involvement and coordination from Berman and his staff in the Blumenfeld campaign.
In a related story, bad news for the man Waldman, Healey and Blumenfeld are seeking to replace. Levine's opponent in the 23rd Senate District Democratic race, Fran Pavley, is running 2-1 ahead of Levine in recent polls.
Labels: AD40, bob blumenfeld, Fran Pavley, laurette healey, lloyd levine, stuart waldman
Posted by Michael Higby @ 5/15/2008 08:00:00 AM
61 Comments:
Bye bye Nanny Levine! I'd say try the private sector but something tells me you wouldn't make it one week.
Good old Fat Stuart and even Fatter Higby making up lies again. These "allegations" are manufactured and bullshit. There were no filings against Healey.
It is very sad that these men are so threatened by a strong Lesbian woman they have to lie and sleaze her.
Now if only someone could manage to get an investigation going against John Perez in AD46 for living outside the district...
California Supreme Court overturns gay marriage ban! Let's see where Healey and the others stand on this issue that is going to so profoundly affect the lives of thousands of gay Californians.
If only the boys running in AD 40 would focus on actual issues that they can impact rather than 1) use scare tactics to paint a picture of our district to look like an under-served war zone(Blumenfeld) or 2)lie and say that they are an "educator" -- who's ever heard of a substitute teacher educating anybody? -- just to hit a hot topic and try to get ahead.(Waldman).
8:39 am
Are you saying this:
http://mayorsam2.blogspot.com/2008/05/personnel-complaint-against-laurette.html
is a fabrication OR it was never actually filed? OR both?
What Mayor Sam and 11:29 are saying is that a personnel complaint is "corruption."
How stupid.
yea 12:42 cause we really see politicians who renege on paying their employees as virtuous. if they steal from their employees they will steal from you.
Congratulations to Mayor Sam and Stuart Waldman. Now you guys can make it legal and get married. Mayor Sam, why not man up and call this the "Elect Stuart Waldman" blog?
8:40 AM holding up her sexual orientation as a forcefield doesn't help advance GLBT equality. Makes you look like an idiot though.
March 2008
Under penalty of perjury, Waldman signed papers telling the Secretary of State he is an "educator" and wants to be listed that way on the ballot. Now, he's sending mail to voters claiming to be an educator.
The TRUTH is: Stuart Waldman has NO teaching credential OR teacher training. He worked on the political staffs of Hertzberg and Levine until he was fired a year ago by Levine.
Waldman wouldn't be a history teacher by chance, would he?
Anonymous said:
Stuart has been busy blogging about himself and trashing his boss all day with no job and all.
Levine is BOUND BY LAW which prohibits him from discussing why Waldman was let go but the inside scoop is that Stuart was campaigning from his state office on the taxpayers dime.
A big no no.
June 05, 2007 1:03 PM
1:20 - any truth to the rumors that Lloyd traded Stuart's personnel file to Bob for some Berman donor lists?
1:06 p.m. I was checking out the candidate websites and you are wrong:
Stuart has had the opportunity to work at local K-12 schools throughout the Valley teaching students. Additionally, Stuart is an adjunct faculty member at National University. The opportunity to teach students continues to energize Stuart in his fight to provide teachers with the adequate pay they deserve, guarantee the safety of our children at school and provide students with tools and resources they need to succeed in college and in life. Stuart believes quality education is a right not a privilege.
I hate to get in a pissing contest with Lloyd Levine, Mitch the Bitch and Michael Blumenfeld but if Waldman was lying about being a techer would he have all these teachers endorsing him?
MARIA AGAZARYAN, Teacher, Birmingham High School
CECILE BENDAVID, Professor, Cal State Northridge
BLAIR CARROLL, Teacher Librarian, Canoga Park High School
LEE FRANK, Retired English Teacher
ROSLAYN KAHN, Teacher, L.A. Community College & Santa Monica City College
STEVEN KOFAHL, Teacher, Birmingham High School
STEVEN KOSOY, Middle School Teacher, LAUSD
SIDNEY LASAINE, Retired High School Teacher, LAUSD
SARA-JEAN LIPMEN, Teacher, Hamilton High School
JOHN MEARS, Teacher, West Valley Occupational Center
FAFFI MERON, Teacher, Kadima Academy
KAREN MIZRAHI, Teacher, Las Virgenes School District
JENNIFER KOSOY, Teacher, Shirley Avenue Elementary School
WENDY PHELPS, Professor, Cal State Northridge
HEATHER PREIMESBERGER, Teacher, West Valley Occupational Center
DAN PROCTOR, Teacher, Northridge Middle School
LOUIS PUGLIESE, Professor, Cal State Northridge
NANCY RUTHERFORD, Teacher, Belmont High School
LEONARD SEGAL, Teacher, LAUSD
GLENN SHOCKLEY, Teacher, Chatsworth High School
Good thing Pavley is doing so well or the hounds would have to be released on baby Lloyd.
Word has it when Lloyd loses AnVil has a commission seat for him. one currently held by a mayate.
Nice research 1:31pm! I hear there's an opening at the EPA maybe you can get in.
Referencing someone's website about themselves is not exactly fact-checking.
It doesn't seem that he mentions how long he's been an "adjunct" professor at the highly competitive National University, nor does it state how long he's had this opportunity to teach valley students. Maybe all these extra teaching jobs are why Levine fired him from his office!!
Google Blumenfeld, Waldman and Healey.
Blumenfeld's website does not come up in the first page of results. First on his list? Mayor Sam. Ha ha. That's good news for anyone looking for info on Bob, Mayor Sam is the goto space.
Google Stuart and the first result is his website. Second is Mayor Sam.
Laurette also has her website as the first search result and Mayor Sam is result #4.
Bad news for Blumenfeld. Good news for Mayor Sam!
Word has it that when Stuart loses, he won't return to teaching.
Interesting that Blumenfield got the UTLA endorsement.
1:41 should learn how to spellcheck before doing a Google search. It's Blumenfield, idiot.
Waldman is a joke. It is difficult to fathom any assembly member taking this guy seriously.
Ask Bill Clinton about Bob.
Doesn't Lloyd just look dumber and dumber?
lots of inside baseball. polls don't look good for bob or laurette hence their mudslinging.
Bloggin slap fight in progress.
LOL
Keep the moderator busy!!
anyone want a file on bob?
Anyone of these guys ever live in Oregon??
Levine is a big fat sissy if he takes another government job after getting his political ass beat. Take the hint, Levine. Grow a pair and get a real job.
don't mind wetspot. he's just talking to himself again.
Well 1:35 - I hate to tell you, but although those are real teachers, they are also mostly real Dem party members (DP/SFV) from the valley that Stuart has been meeting with for years and years and years while haunting the Dem party meetings as he should have been when he was working for the Assembly men to liaison between the elected and the party. Instead, he has been campaigning for 10 years. Not hard to find teachers in the Dem party.
Oh. That top ranking school, National. That's a great school. It sits right next to Phoenix.
In all fairness, Lloyd Levine is anything but dumb. He's not fat either.
I just thought I'd throw that in there for the poster who keeps calling Higby and Waldman fat.
It's unfortunate that Democrats in the State Legislature judge "success" by how many new bills they've passed to tax someone. In that regard, Pavley's ahead, all right, but how does that make her better than Levine?
I hate all his new bills to raise spending but there are worse out there by far, like the idiot who wants to triple the tax on beer just as the prices are soaring anyway because of costs of ingredients. Levine had a good idea to encourage workers to exercise but forcing employers of more than 10 people to create a gym or offer yoga classes is too much. But that's ALL any of the Democrats do, just ORDER companies to do things that tax them or consumers. Instead of offering tax incentives.
Blumenfield getting the UTLA endorsement means avoid him like the plague. What a sorry bunch all around.
Speaking of old AD 40 races, I hope everybody tunes in to the Colbert Report tonight to see the brilliant Andrei Cherny.
Watch him and tell me you don't wish he were your Assemblyman now.
Nice one, 1:52.
Your point indicts Waldman and his campaign of misinformation quite succinctly. Do you really think Healey or Blumenfield approached Mayor Sam about this? What's that saying again? "If you sling mud, you lose ground." Way to go, Waldo!! Let's hear it for cheap shot artist Stuart Waldman and his campaign of no ideas whatsoever.
Good afternoon Ladies and Gentlemen, (removes hat and bows low with flourish):
I would remind you that the disclosure of Sir Waldman's personnel file by a one Tall Lloyd issue was one that the crew and I, if you will, brought to your attention some time ago. Our comments were of course dismissed 'pon this very blog as more of Captain Jack's inane drivel. (Smiles) However, drivel is as drivel does and when drivel turns into a downpour (turns hand over and looks at nails), the sots of course immediately look to Captain Jack to sail in (makes swashbucking motions) and provide oil in the form of filched knowledge to sooth roiling waters. (Winks) That's what the pink bismuth is for, savvy?
As we understand it, the sots are abuzz over tales of shopping ye files to blogs who would have them. But alas dead men tell no tales as nary a blogger would bite the pickled herring served up with a bloomin' onion, saavy?
"Word has it that when Stuart loses, he won't return to teaching."
Admit it Stuart. . . THAT was funny.
Captain Jack = windbag has-been with old news. But did he ever have new news?
Andrei Cherny = uncharismatic ass who couldn't win an assembly seat if the Speaker tried to hand him one. Who did he fellate to get on Fox?
Healey = clearly the poster of the stuff about herself being a strong lesbian who "threatens men." No, Laurette, your ridiculously lame attitude is what bothers men. And women. And boys and girls.
Me = Not shocked that Blumenfield has no web site. They didn't have no stinkin' web in 1967, and Michael Berman don't need no stinkin' newfangled web to . . . to . . . Crap, Michael can't complete the sentence. Emphysema attack.
Levine = No talent loser. Senate race shows true stripes. Remember he did beat Cherny though. What does this say of Cherny?
Waldman = Smart. Grassroots. Worst accusation is that he plans ahead and substitute teaches instead of full time. Is that the best they can do?
Blumenfield = Bitter Bermanite Bonehead Butt-ugly Boondoggle.
And still a district director on June 4.
Good evening Ladies and Gentlemen, (moves nightcap out of eyes and gives the folks a wink):
Bloody hell, I'm still sore after my kerfuffle down the back stairs at City Hall. But I'm doing better thanks to the company of the Bard who had me in stitches and Nurse Nicehands who ministered to my bruises. But enough of this. Let's talk about something else, shall we?
(Scratches head and tries to do mental math) Sots, how much an hour does counsel pull from your treasure chest when you've got the kind of legal troubles one of the boys in this campaign has? Does the boy turn to his dear old dad or someone else's dear old dad, saavy?
One of the boys who we predict will get a severe spanking from Lady Frances will need a new job come the end of the year. One Clowncilman is running for re-election, and will find that perhaps a deal exists that His Nibbs will run the boy against the bald plated pirate, even though His Nibbs promised to NOT run a candidate endorsed by His Nibbs against him.
Now, let's see how close we are to the truth by the amount of remarks that get posted; the more posts against me, the more correct my guess is for we all know now that if you hit the knee, the jerks make themselves known rather quickly, savvy?
Good evening Mayo(ever so gently tips martini glass in Mayo's direction):
You may wish to unroll the scrolls of my previous remarks, perhaps the Bard would be so kind to do so for you (motions to Bard, Bard hands the Captain what be the proper scroll). At the risk of my sending to Davy Jone's Locker you might want to recant your assessment of my prognostication ability, savvy?
However I will give a quick tip of my plumed hat (removes plumed hat from hatrack, makes gentle tipping motion in Mayo's direction)that your assessment of the Daddy's boy and the Boy Wonder will earn you a gold star for today. Though your composition is not what the Bard would refer to as elegant you've earned a few doubloons from the likes of myself and the following Irish blessing:
May the frost never afflict your spuds.
May the leaves of your cabbage always be free from worms.
May the crows never pick your haystack.
If you inherit a donkey, may she be in foal.
Is Captain Jack really Greg Nelson?
Is Mayo really Stuart Waldman?
Blumenfield (father and son), Berman and Levine ought to find a good criminal defense attorney. Martin Ludlow was convicted of a felony for getting $14,000 worth of free staff from a labor organization. This is a U.S. Congressman taking hundreds of thousands of dollars of federal campaign money and laundering it through an IE to avoid contribution limits. Do you really think the Bush appointed US Attorney isn't going to take interest in a case involving the Democratic Chair of the Foreign Affairs Committee.
The DA's Public Integrity Division is drooling over this case.
Could there be a more obvious case of coordination and conspiracy? The boss and the father! Especially when the TV ad from the alleged IE is Blumenfield home movies. How frikkin stupid. Did they capture the footage on hidden camera?
Why take the chance? This is why you NEVER see parents doing IE's for their kids. It's not credible that they don't coordinate.
Can't wait to see their faces when investigators storm in and grab hard drives and email trails from all of these guys.
It will cost them millions to defend against the feds. Possible jail time...
Was it really worth it?
Mayo, don’t forget to add that Laurette Healey also bothers her fellow homosexuals. Yes, that is right. Let's not forget that the real story of the Stonewall endorsement debacle was not that Waldman and Blumenfeld stacked the room (as candidates often do) but that lesbian Laurette was unable to secure the executive board endorsement proposal from Stonewall, her fellow homosexuals.
Does anyone else notice that Laurette Healey often anonymously posts the "strong lesbian" bit any time there is a negative post about her?
Berman and Waxman for Obama.
Waxman, Berman jump on Obama 'super' wagon
Two California Democratic members of Congress, Henry Waxman and Howard Berman, endorsed Sen. Barack Obama's presidential bid on Thursday, moving the Illinois senator closer to securing the party nomination.
“Barack Obama has laid out a foreign policy vision driven by principle and conviction, and he understands that our moral authority and our safety as a nation go hand in hand,” said Berman in a statement.
“Senator Obama’s vision for change has inspired tens of millions of Americans. And he’s also proved that he has the experience, judgment, integrity, and toughness to bring real reform to Washington," added Waxman.
Both were previously uncommitted.
The Obama campaign announced four added superdelegates today. The others are Larry Cohen, president of the Communications Workers of America, and Rep. Jim McDermott of Washington.
CNN now estimates Obama leads Sen. Hillary Clinton 291 superdelegates to 274. The Obama campaign reports he is roughly 130 delegates shy of securing the nomination.
Comments on the comments:
807-I'll say. Lloyd could get maybe get a job at the Post Office
8:39- Yes Stuart and I get together at Hometown Buffet, binge out and make up lies. That's right no filings against Healey. Oh wait, except the doc we have at MS2
8:40 - It would be sad that the men woudld be threatened were there actually a strong Lesbian running.
11:03 - Investigate! Or Call the LA Weekly.
11:12 - Safe to say that all the AD40 Dems support the Supreme Court ruling. Even the straight candidate.
11:29 - yes 8:39 is saying that.
12:42 - I would fathom that someone who doesn't pay their employees could be called corrupt
12:50 - bingo
12:56 - I doubt I would want to marry Stuart. His wife is a hottie. So was his last one. However, this blog has been critical of Stuart when he deserved it so buzz off.
12:57 - Many Mayor Sam readers have no trouble making themselves look like idiots.
1:06 - Last I heard, Stuart became unemployed a while back and WAS teaching to supplement his income
1:20 - got proof? Or was it because Lloyd's daddy got the job being consultant for stuart's main competition and that was too much of a conflict of interest?
1:29 - I don't is there any truth to your rumor that Lloyd traded Stuart's personnel file to Bob for some Berman donor lists?
1:31 - Sounds like what I heard too
1:35 - That's a lot of cut and paste. You from CD14?
1:36 - Brilliant. Stop playing like you know what you're talking about.
1:40 - Could Lloyd get a job at the EPA?
1:41 - Yup, MS has some good Google Juice thanks to all our readers and friends
1:43 - Stuart didn't get the UTLA endorsement? One more reason to vote for him then
1:41 - Crap I've been spolling it that way too; hanging around Rep Spot too much.
1:50 - If that is true, and let's pretend for ten seconds in your world it is, why would several Assembly members endorse him?
1:51 - What? Did Bill Clinton tell people in West Virginia that Bob was Black?
1:51 #2 - Be nice
1:52 - Where are the polls?
Red Spot at 1:52 - Ya think? Valley kids having fun.
1:52 - Great contribution!
Red Spot at 1:55 - That's why you're paid the big bucks!
1:55 - What kind of file? Nail file? Round file?
Red Spot at 1:57 - No idea but in 1978 I illegally imported Pop Rocks from Oregon to California.
1:58 - But all these guys know how to do IS government work!
2:00 - Well we try to tell him not to do that.
2:29 - Teachers mostly Democrats? Who knew?
2:31 - That Phoenix University is damn expensive though!
2:35 - That's true, Lloyd is quite thin
3:08 - I already said that
3:20 - Andrei is that you?
4:07 - Why would Healey or Blumenfeld point out the charges against them to me?
Captain Jack at 4:28 - Who is shopping what files to which blogs. I've not heard this. Maybe your hat is too tight again.
7:48 - Norman, is that you?
7:55 - Mayo good point about Lloyd vs Cherny. But really Lloyd's dad is better than Andrei's.
Captain Jack at 8:10 - So far no one has posted against you. Are you sure you bruised more than your kerfuffle?
Captain Jack at 8:17 - St. Patrick's Day was like two months ago.
8:22 - That's the buzz I hear.
8:56 - I don't think Mayo is Waldman but Waldman and I eat a lot of mayo at Hometown Buffet!
9:08 - I doubt Bush is going to prosecute Berman but I can't believe they were that stupid.
9:22 - Annoying is annoying, gay or not, and the Stonewallers know it.
Red Spot at 10:35 - Wow even more bad news for Mrs. Bill Clinton. Hey maybe she has a spot on her Senate staff for Lloyd.
Stuttering Bob doesn't attend or speak at candidate gatherings anymore. He could have made an appearance tonight, but didn't. He prefers to stay on the west side of the valley, hiding behind Berman.
Hey Stuttering Bob, come out and fight like a man! Stuart will mop the floor with you, you little f'in weasel!
Mayo said: Andrei Cherny = uncharismatic ass who couldn't win an assembly seat if the Speaker tried to hand him one. Who did he fellate to get on Fox?
I respond:
I just watched him on the Colbert Report and ass isn't a word I would use to describe him. Your statement about fellatio is pretty fucked up because A. Why the hell would he want to be on Fox?? Colbert is on Comedy Central and B. He is married to a wonderful woman and they have a beautiful baby. You obviously know nothing about him.
How could Levine beat him? Because Lloyd's dad will put out all the stops. And he did. We'll see what he'll try against Pavley.
Mayo - go get a clue and then come back and respond.
Any Republicans you hate?
Moronic Mayo says: Blumenfield = Bitter Bermanite Bonehead Butt-ugly Boondoggle.
And still a district director on June 4.
I respond:
He has had commercials on CNN during the election coverage and commercials on Comedy Central tonight during Jon Stewart and Colbert. Still a district director after that? You sure?
I thought Cherny was out?
Good afternoon Ladies and Gentlemen (removes hat and bows low with flourish):
For the record, them that post as me are not me. They are them. There's not a ye among us, and we drink rum and not martinis. (Sniffs the air) I'd be willing to wager that there is a cut-and-paste crew lurking nearby attached at the hip to someone rather stocky with graying hair and bad teeth. (Wrinkles nose and has distasteful look on face) But then again, when one eats humble pie one often has pocket mouth, savvy?
No sirrah, you are mistaken. We do not shop files to other blogs as information is, if you will, quite valuable in that it is the main staple of a pirate's business. (Whispers) We either steal it or trade it, savvy? (Peeks into shopping bag) No, it's not us. This information all came from the same source. (Sniffs the air again) Yes, the same source. (Gives bag to Grinderman and Quartermaster) Take this over to Madame Wu and have her use it to brew a pot of tea. Tell me what she says when she reads the leaves. (Quartermaster and Grinderman leave)
We do however think it quite amusing that each and every one of you sots thought it was us when it was, if you will, them. (Looks at sots and smiles) Drink up me hearties, it's going to be a long, hot weekend and someone's back yard party just might have a hitch before it goes off, savvy?
I don't believe anyone pays much attention to Captain Jack whether its him or he says it is or not.
I pay attention to Captain Jack!
I <3 Captain Jack.
Good afternoon 12:53pm (tips hat):
And we, if you will, <3 you too.
So Captain Jack since noone posted remarks against you and you are so full of shit tell us who you predict will win in AD40?
Good afternoon 3:02pm (tips hat):
Predict? You want me to predict? (Looks puzzled) Do I look like a bloomin' fortune teller gypsy to you? (Puts hands on hips) Damn sot. (Rolls eyes) He thinks I can predict who the winner of a local election will be. (Crew laughs) I'll tell you what, sot. I'll predict that the winner of the AD40 race is the one who spends the most money per vote which will be at least 10 times the amount of one gallon of premium gas if not more. (Whispers) And we won't know that until all the chits have been tallied and the barkeeper paid in cash, savvy?
Remember that Lloyd and his daddy were fined $15,000 for illegally transferring funds from the pater familias to the young aspirant in the aftermath of the 2002 race. Now that Larry is head honcho on Bob's campaign, he has come up with a new, potentially illegal, mechanism for doing the same thing.
Go Stuart, GO! Knock this a-hole out!
San Fernando Valley race raises questions about independence of independents
Michael Blumenfield pumps $120,000 into son Bob's campaign effort but says he doesn't discuss it with his son. Donations without direct ties to campaigns can be unlimited.
By Nancy Vogel, Los Angeles Times Staff Writer
May 17, 2008
SACRAMENTO -- Michael Blumenfield thinks his son Bob would do a fine job representing the San Fernando Valley in the state Legislature.
So he poured $120,000 into campaign advertising and, he said, never discussed it with his son, who lives in the same Woodland Hills neighborhood.
By law, such "independent expenditures" cannot be coordinated with candidates. They are most often used by business and union interests to mail brochures and air TV ads for or against candidates in the weeks before an election.
Donations to independent efforts are unrestricted. They have become increasingly common since 2000, when voters capped the size of direct donations to state politicians.
Observers say they've rarely seen a candidate's family run a campaign outside the control of the candidate, although in 2001, five brothers and other relatives and friends financed a $10,000 radio ad campaign on behalf of Los Angeles City Councilman Tom LaBonge.
And although one of Bob Blumenfield's opponents in the Assembly race has complained to a state watchdog agency about the father's advertising, Michael Blumenfield said he's only trying to help his son fulfill his dreams.
"If there's anything we could do for him, we would," he said, "and we would only do it in the most legal and proper way."
Other donors to the effort on behalf of Blumenfield include his sister-in-law, who gave $15,000, and Rep. Howard Berman (D-Valley Village), for whom Bob Blumenfield worked as a district director until last month.
Berman's political campaign kicked in $100,000 to help pay for an ad that features the junior Blumenfield, his wife and young daughter. In all, more than $154,000 has been raised on the candidate's behalf outside his campaign.
Blumenfield is on the June 3 ballot for the Democratic nomination in the 40th Assembly District. The seat is now held by Lloyd Levine, a Democrat from Van Nuys who is running for state Senate. Levine's father, Larry, is Blumenfield's campaign manager.
Larry Levine said he knew nothing about the television advertising until opposing candidate Stuart Waldman of Van Nuys sent out a news release Wednesday accusing Blumenfield of "laundering" funds from his father and boss.
"There has been no coordination," said Levine. "None."
He noted that an independent expenditure committee funded by real estate professionals, dentists and other business interests has spent nearly $300,000 supporting Waldman, a former chief of staff to Lloyd Levine.
Levine said if Waldman is getting support from "virtually every special interest in Sacramento," and Blumenfield is getting support from "Bob's boss and father -- two people who know about him and care about him personally -- which is worse?"
Waldman's wife, Nicole Kuklok-Waldman, this week filed two complaints with the Fair Political Practices Commission against Bob Blumenfield. She noted that Blumenfield sent out a mass e-mail to supporters and others Thursday telling them how to find the independently produced television ad on YouTube, "where you can check it out if you don't see it on your TV."
State law bars candidates from decisions about advertising paid for by independent expenditures, including those regarding the content, timing, location, intended audience or volume of distribution.
"Mr. Blumenfield cannot turn a blind eye to the production and distribution of the commercial," Kuklok-Waldman wrote in her complaint, "and then distribute the commercial himself, through his Candidate Committee, and claim to be within the bounds of the law."
FPPC spokesman Roman Porter said the agency had received a sworn complaint in the matter. The agency has 14 days to notify Kuklok-Waldman whether it will investigate.
Two other Democrats are vying to represent the district, which includes Northridge, Canoga Park and West Hills.
One of them, Laurette Healey of Van Nuys, a former advisor to the state controller, said the controversy illustrates the need for taxpayer-funded campaigns.
"The vote in this district, and any district should not be determined by the size of someone's bank account," she said.
The other, Dan McCory of Reseda, who leads a freelance writers' union, said, "Pumping that much money into the race probably will influence it.
"The person who raises the most money doesn't always win," he said, "but almost always."
With less than three weeks until the primary election, only one other legislative race has inspired more independent expenditures, according to the Fair Political Practices Commission, which began Friday to track and post such expenditures on its website. That's the Democratic contest between West Sacramento Mayor Christopher Cabaldon and Yolo County Supervisor Mariko Yamada for an Assembly seat. More than $482,000 has been spent in that campaign outside the control of candidates.
Close behind is the $400,000 spent so far in the Democratic race for a state Senate seat that encompasses Compton, Rancho Palos Verdes and parts of Long Beach and San Pedro. Real estate, energy, health insurance, tobacco and other business interests have spent $45,400 to oppose Assemblyman Merv Dymally (D-Compton) and $352,000 to support former Assemblyman Rod Wright of Inglewood.
nancy.vogel@latimes.com
Post a Comment
Subscribe to Post Comments [Atom]
<< Home