CUDAHY: Cota/Garcia Falsify Committee Name

Vote 4 Cota and Garcia mailer
Originally uploaded by Southeast Cities Corruption Cleanup

In the heated campaign for Cudahy City Council, two running-mates sent a campaign mailer from VOTE 4 COTA AND GARCIA. The problem is that VOTE 4 COTA AND GARCIA doesn’t exist. (Link to Cal-Access search for committee)

State law requires the following:
1. Candidates must have campaign committees if they raise or spend more than $1,000 dollars
2. Campaigns that send more than 200 pieces of campaign literature MUST put the name of their committee on the mailer
3. Candidates MUST report all campaign expenditures and contributions
4. Candidates CAN NOT use personal funds for their campaign unless they loan or contribute to their own campaign committee

VIOLATIONS WILL RESULT IN SEVERE PENALTIES AND/OR CRIMINAL PROSECUTION

(the picture is from the Garcia/Cota mailer)

BELL AND CUDAHY CANDIDATES VIOLATE LAW: Fail to File Campaign Statments

By state law, every candidate must file campaign statements during the election showing who is funding their campaigns and how they spend their money. If you don’t file, you face huge fines and possible investigation by the District Attorney (see Mario Beltran).

For the March 3, 2009 Election, these are the due dates for campaign statements:

January 22

January 31

February 19

In the Southeast Cities, there are some candidates who have NOT FILED statements, breaking the law, and hiding their campaign money.

City of Bell

Nestor Valencia

City of Cudahy

Rosa Diaz (councilmember)

Luis Garcia

Daniel Cota

Nestor Valencia ran in 2007 and never filed in that election either. His campaign committee is called BELL COMMUNITY VOTE TO ELECT NESTOR E. VALENCIA He’s sending mailers, but hasn’t show where the money is coming.

Luis Garcia and Daniel Cota are running together like they did in 2007. They have two committees that sent campaign mailers (VOTE 4 NEW LEADERSHIP from 2007 and VOTE 4 COTA AND GARCIA), but neither filed in 2007, 2008 or in 2009.

Rosa Diaz is on the council now, was never elected but appointed, and didn’t even open a campaign committee. She is spending money on her campaign (signs, t-shirts, flyers) and may be guilty of more than failing to report.

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“Receipts and expenditures in election campaigns should be fully and truthfully disclosed in order that the voters may be fully informed and improper practices may be inhibited.”
California Gov. Code section 81002(a)

California's Political Reform Act requires disclosure of campaign contributions and expenditures in connection with state and local elections, including ballot measure elections.

THE IRONY: CHALLENGERS HAVE LONG RECORD OF HARRASSMENT ACCORDING TO POLICE RECORDS

According to records, Luis Garcia and Daniel Cota (who always make claims they're harassed) have been doing some harassing themselves:

10/3/08 Maywood-Cudahy Incident Report No. 08-903173

Threats with intent to commit assault alleged against Garcia

11/19/08 Maywood-Cudahy Crime Report No. 08-903714 Penal Code245(A)(1)

Assault with moving vehicle (deadly instrument) alleged against Garcia

7/23/08 Cudahy City Incident Report No. 08-87328

Disruption of public event; failure to follow lawful instructions from city code officer alleged against Garcia

1/28/09 Cudahy City Incident Report No. 09-78965

Disruption of public event; failure to follow lawful instructions from city code officer alleged against Cota

1/26/09 Maywood-Cudahy Crime Report No. 09-900414 Penal Code 653m(a) multiple telephonic threats alleged against Garcia & Cota Campaign