Assemblyman Felipe Fuentes gives "Monetary Thanks" to CD 2 Council Candidate, err, Assemblyman Paul Krekorian

"A simple act of professional appreciation?? Yeah Right!!"

Paul Krekorian Campaign Consultant Eric Hacopian has undertaken another "political campaign black ops" with support of Connected Attorney Stephen Kaufman.

According to the Los Angeles Times, Assemblyman "Felipe Fuentes-Handel" has picked the most particular time to offer a "$15,000 financial thanks" to fellow Assemblyman Paul Krekorian for his support during the recent budget process in Sacramento, some details from the Times story.

Using $15,000 from his state campaign committee, Fuentes bought television time in the San Fernando Valley for an ad praising the work of Krekorian, a Los Angeles Democrat, during the recent budget debate in Sacramento. The ad does not mention Krekorian’s bid for the council seat vacated by City Controller Wendy Greuel but thanks Krekorian for “protecting Valley families and local jobs during this budget crisis.” Krekorian’s campaign consultant, Eric

Hacopian, said his client was not aware of the ad until voters began calling his office to say they had seen it. One of Krekorian’s opponents, Christine Essel, issued a news release accusing Krekorian of attempting to skirt campaign finance rules, and her campaign questioned why the ad had not been filed with the city Ethics Commission.

Stephen J. Kaufman, a lawyer for Fuentes, said the assemblyman merely wanted to thank Krekorian for his role during the budget negotiations. “These ads are not being done with respect to the CD 2 race. They do not mention Assemblyman Krekorian’s candidacy and they do not reference the City Council election in any way,” Kaufman said. The ads, he continued, “do not urge the viewers to do anything, let alone urge voters to make a decision one way or the other with respect to the election.”

One can only shake their heads and observe the result of one of Hacopian's better "Black Ops" in support of a candidate.

And for you Sierra Club members, your endorsement means what to Krekorian considering Fuentes past "commitment" to preserving Sunland-Tujunga's last piece of open space, the Verdugo Hills Golf Course.

The Fuentes association may not be helpful to Krekorian with some voters in the northern reaches of the district. Fuentes wrote a proposal, which was ultimately shelved, that would have allowed MWH Development Corp. to build 229 homes on the Verdugo Hills Golf Course despite the objections of neighborhood activists and Los Angeles city officials.

Politics as usual.

These comments from the LA Times story.

** used to be the appearance of impropriety was cause for dismissal, Fuentes and Krikorian shoud resign immediatly
Posted by: simi chuy September 17, 2009 at 08:59 AM

** What a crock? He just happens to run tv ads "thanking" the only member of the State Assembly who has an election in one week? Apparently, no other member of the Assembly deserved such thanks? What did Krekorian do that was so special and worthy of thanks in the worst budget crisis in the history of California?

Does anyone really buy this garbage? How stupid does Krekorian and Fuentes think we are?
Maybe I'm going out on a limb here, but could it be do to the fact that the City's laws won't allow contributions that large, so Fuentes found a way around the law to donate $15,000.

Is there any wonder why Sacramento politicians are held in such low esteem? Shameless. I can see why he sent his lawyer to do all the talking for him. You know the old saying, "Keep your friends close and your lawyers closer."
Posted by: Lawrence M. Smalley September 17, 2009 at 09:32 AM

Your thoughts....................................