The Star published a news report about Barbra Williamson's campaign donations last Saturday. Click here to read the story.
Barbra Williamson has explained some of the issues on a past entry. Click here to see that entry.
Now, she has issued a press release with more information. Click on continue reading to see it.
PRESS RELEASE OF NOVEMBER 1, 2008SIMI VALLEY COUNCILMEMBER BARBRA WILLIAMSON
The Ventura County Star has erroneously insinuated in its article of November 1, 2008 that certain campaign contributions to City Councilmember Barbra Williamson may have been in violation of campaign financing regulations of the City. This article is without factual support.
Campaign financing regulations within the City of Simi Valley, as they apply to its local elections, are codified in the Simi Valley Municipal Code Chapter 5 "City Election Campaign Finances". The specific Section of the Chapter which addresses the allegations made by The Ventura County Star, is 2-5.08(d) "Miscellaneous Regulations Relating to Contributions". This Section clearly states "nothing herein shall prohibit a person who directs or controls contributions of any entity from making a separate contribution from his or her own personal fund, and such contributions shall not be aggregated for purposes of the contribution limits of this chapter". Although this governing provision of the Code was specifically pointed out to the reporter drafting the story that appeared in the newspaper, the reporter failed to understand its application to the reported facts.
In the case of the highlighted corporate contributions received by Councilmember Williamson, all were made by independent and unrelated California Corporations which operate with their own respective shareholders and Boards of Directors. Each independently contributed within the amount allowed by the Code.
The Ventura County Star article further questioned personal contributions by individuals employed by a Simi Valley business. This business, of note, has no interests before the City and neither is any anticipated. These personal contributions are legal. The employees verified that they made the contributions, individually, and from their personal checking accounts, as permitted by the Code.
The purpose of the City's campaign finance regulation is to prevent fraud. Councilmember Williamson fully and timely reported her contributions. Her intent was clear; to comply with the law and make her campaign transparent.
In spite of Barbra's rebuttal it looks like the Star is sticking to its story. Given that the Star endorsed Williamson for re-election there doesn't appear to be an obvious motive for the paper to smear Barbra on the eve of the election. I guess we'll just have to wait for a follow-up article to see what additional evidence may or may not exist to support the story.
This is a re-run from an earlier thread that disappeared quickly:
It is disappointing to see that Barbra accepted money from Saperstein and Gerson, not because they were legal or illegal, but because they now connect her to Kunicki/Osborn/Strickland.
Barbra is very independent and will say that donations don't affect her vote.
But the appearance of her getting so much money from them makes one wonder if Osborn told her that the VCRCC wouldn't endorse her (or might even campaign against her) unless she endorsed Strickland and maybe even promised the donations if she bought in. Was she afraid the Republicans would campaign against her? Was it too tempting to play with these guys and make her campaign easier? Did that compromise her independence?