County's campaign ethics commission winds down, 2 complaints still to be decided
Two complaints alleging violations of Ventura County's campaign finance ordinance remain under review despite a recent Board of Supervisors decision to repeal the local rules.
Late last month, county supervisors voted 3-2 to adopt a new ordinance that repeals the current one and is set to take effect 30 days after the board action. That leaves the local system in place for the next few weeks. For now, work continues business as usual, said James Importante, a program management analyst in the County Executive Officer's office.
He has forwarded the two complaints filed on March 28 to a law firm that acts as the compliance officer, investigating allegations and providing recommendations to the county's five-member campaign finance ethics commission.
The complaints are being handled like any other case, Importante said. That will continue until they are resolved or the 30 days runs out on April 27. If any investigation is ongoing at that point, the process would have to stop.
“Once that 30-day time limit is reached, the commission no longer exists, because we no longer have the authority to administer that ordinance,” he said.
Board votes to repeal ordinance
In 2003, a former Board of Supervisors first adopted the county's campaign finance ordinance to limit large campaign contributions from a single source. It applies to candidates for supervisor and countywide offices and currently limits individual contributions to $750 per election.
Without its own ordinance, the county would follow state laws on contribution limits and reporting. This year, the state limit on contributions is $5,500 per election.
Earlier this year, Supervisors Jeff Gorell and Janice Parvin, both elected in November, proposed repealing the county's ordinance that they said was outdated and unnecessary because the state system now exists. Gorell, Parvin and Supervisor Kelly Long voted for the repeal on March 14 and 28, after two required public hearings.
Supervisors Vianey Lopez and Matt LaVere voted no. Both said they would support looking at changes but not a full repeal of the ordinance they said put important safeguards in place.
The board received hundreds of written comments about the matter and heard from dozens of speakers. The vast majority urged the board to reject the repeal.
Two active complaints
On March 28, the county received two complaints from a local resident alleging violations by the Janice Parvin for Supervisor 2022 Committee and the Jeff Gorell for Supervisor 2022 Committee.
One complaint says the Parvin committee received $3,478 transferred from the Janice Parvin for Mayor 2020 campaign. The other says the Gorell committee received $750 from an individual and $750 from the same individual through a family trust.
The Gorell committee said it refunded the $750 contribution from the family trust, which would bring the contribution within the ordinance limit. A copy of the refund check dated Jan. 15, 2023, was provided to the compliance officer, according to an email from the committee.
In a memo last week, the compliance officer at the Strumwasser & Woocher law firm told the ethics commission that he contacted treasurers of both committees to request any relevant information. He had a previously scheduled vacation from April 3-7 but expected to issue an initial written opinion by April 11.
That opinion is expected to look at whether the complaints merit further investigation or should be dismissed.
Cheri Carlson covers the environment and county government for the Ventura County Star. Reach her at cheri.carlson@vcstar.com or 805-437-0260.
This article originally appeared on Ventura County Star: Two campaign finance complaints under review in Ventura County
