The state Fair Political Practices Commission will fine Santa Ana Mayor Miguel Pulido $1,366 for failing to report $14,750 in campaign expenses for his 2014 mayoral race.
Pulido’s campaign committee, Pulido for Mayor 2014, failed to report expenses on four consecutive campaign statements between July 2013 and October 2014, according to an enforcement order on the FPPC website.
The fines are the result of an ongoing investigation into Pulido’s campaign finances after Voice of OC reported in October 2014 that $15,750 in debt had disappeared from Pulido’s campaign forms with no record of whether the debt was paid off or forgiven.
The mayor filed an amendment in April 2016 disclosing expenses to pay off that debt for $1,500 in print ads to Rumores News, $6,000 for campaign consulting to DeSnoo and DeSnoo, and another $5,000 in phone banking to John P. Vega.
Pulido has a history of failing to make campaign disclosures required of elected officials by state law. In May 2015, the FPPC fined Pulido $13,000 for several violations of state law related to real estate deal he conducted with a city contractor.
In the current case, the agency found no evidence that Pulido intended to conceal the campaign expenses.
The agency’s board still needs to approve the penalty on July 21.
Contact Thy Vo at tvo@voiceofoc.org or follow her on Twitter @thyanhvo.