Ex-Congressman's Children Face State Suit Over Campaign Money

SACRAMENTO, Jan. 14 (AP) - California's political watchdog announced a $2.5 million lawsuit on Friday against the son and daughter of former Representative Gary Condit, accusing them of illegally pocketing $226,000 in campaign money.

The watchdog, the Fair Political Practices Commission, said Chad and Cadee Condit took money that was originally raised by their father to explore a run for state office and illegally spent it for personal purposes.

Gary Condit, a Democrat, served 13 years in Congress before losing a re-election campaign in 2002 after he became caught up in news coverage of the disappearance and death of one of his interns, Chandra Levy.

Mr. Condit denied he had anything to do with Ms. Levy's disappearance, but the police said he had acknowledged having an affair with her, something he later denied in a lawsuit deposition.

more…
http://www.nytimes.com/2006/01/15/national/15condit.html

It's about time he reared his ugly head. :puke:

against Hillary, and James Carville & George Stephanopoulos.

http://www.fppc.ca.gov/

http://www.fppc.ca.gov/index.html?id=58

Commission

The Fair Political Practices Commission (FPPC) was created by the Political Reform Act of 1974, a ballot initiative passed by California voters as Proposition 9.

The FPPC educates the public and public officials on the requirements of the Act. It provides written and oral advice to public agencies and officials; conducts seminars and training sessions; develops forms, manuals and instructions; and receives and files statements of economic interests from many state and local officials.

The FPPC investigates alleged violations of the Political Reform Act, imposes penalties when appropriate, and assists state and local agencies in developing and enforcing conflict-of-interest codes.

The FPPC regulates:

* campaign financing and spending;
* financial conflicts of interest;
* lobbyist registration and reporting;
* post-governmental employment;
* mass mailings at public expense; and
* gifts and honoraria given to public officials and candidates.

Commission Chair Liane M. Randolph was appointed chair of the Fair Political Practices Commission in March of 2003. Prior to her appointment, she advised the City of San Leandro as City Attorney since 2000 and as Assistant City Attorney from 1997-2000. She also served as City Attorney for Suisun City and advised several cities, including Petaluma, Healdsburg and Suisun City, on redevelopment matters. She was a staff attorney in the Legal Division of the FPPC from 1995-97, providing advice on conflict-of-interest issues to public officials and representing the Commission in litigation on matters of campaign finance. She was a Principal in the Oakland law firm of Meyers, Nave, Riback, Silver and Wilson from 2000 until her appointment, serving as the firm’s expert on ethics and conflicts of interest. She joined the firm in 1997 as an associate. From 1994-95, she practiced election and campaign finance law with the San Leandro firm of Remcho, Johansen and Purcell, and practiced commercial litigation from 1993-94 with the Los Angeles firm of Manatt, Phelps and Phillips. Randolph received her Bachelor’s degree in history from the University of California, Los Angeles, in 1990. She received her Juris Doctorate from UCLA Law School in 1993. A Democrat, she was appointed by Gov. Gray Davis. Her term expires January 31, 2007.

Commissioner Philip Blair is president and chief executive officer of the Manpower Temporary Services franchise in San Diego, a leading local employer. He serves on the boards of directors of numerous civic and arts organizations, including the Naval Training Center Foundation for the Arts and Culture, the San Diego County Convention and Visitor’s Bureau, the San Diego Lincoln Club, the Greater San Diego Chamber of Commerce, the Red Cross and the College of Business Advisory Board for San Diego State University. He is a past board member of the Children’s Hospital and YMCA of San Diego County, and past chairman of the San Diego Workforce Partnership, the regional School-to-Career Task Force, the San Diego Community Foundation and Planned Parenthood for San Diego and Riverside Counties. He is the author of numerous columns and articles in San Diego-area publications and has hosted career- and advice-related radio programs. He was appointed to the San Diego City Council in 2000 to complete a vacated term. He received a Bachelor’s degree in business administration from Oklahoma State University. A Republican, he was appointed by Gov. Gray Davis. His term expires January 31, 2007.

Commissioner Sheridan Downey III is a former bankruptcy attorney in Oakland and was a law professor at the University of Santa Clara School of Law, teaching courses in debtor/creditor relations, real property, commercial law and legal research and writing. He was a partner in the Oakland firm of Caldecott, Peck and Phillips and of counsel to the firm of Bell, Rosenberg and Hughes. He served three terms on the Alameda County Democratic Central Committee and was a member of the California State Bar Committee on Debtor-Creditor Relations, lecturing frequently to legal aid societies in Northern California. Since 1990, he has been a full time numismatist, dealing in early United States coins, and is a member of the Professional Numismatists Guild. Educated in the Oakland public schools, he received a B.A. in psychology from Stanford University and a law degree from the University of California, Boalt Hall School of Law, where he was a member of the Law Review. He is the grandson of former United States Senator Sheridan Downey (D-Calif., 1938-1950). A Democrat, he was appointed by Attorney General Bill Lockyer. Commissioner Downey's term expires January 31, 2005.

Commissioner A. Eugene Huguenin, Jr. is a Sacramento-area attorney who practices labor, employment and education law in Elk Grove, Calif. Prior to relocating to Sacramento in 2000 from the Bay Area, he practiced labor and education law in Los Angeles and Burlingame, advising and representing the California Teachers Association and its locals throughout the state for 27 years. He continues to advise and represent public employees and their organizations in judicial and administrative proceedings, as well as provide consultation on educational policy and procedures. He is a member of the California Association of Political Attorneys, the Sacramento and Los Angeles County Bar Associations, the State Bar of California and the American Bar Association. He received his Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration in 1966, and his Juris Doctorate in 1969, from the University of Washington. Prior to joining CTA, Huguenin worked in the Seattle area with a local teachers association and a national accounting firm. A Democrat, he was appointed by Secretary of State Kevin Shelley. His term expires January 31, 2009.

Commissioner Ray Remy is president of RR Consulting of South Pasadena. He previously served as director of the state Employment Development Department and was the longtime president of the Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce. He also served as Deputy Mayor and Chief of Staff under former Los Angeles Mayor Tom Bradley, is a former Executive Director of the Southern California Association of Governments and former Assistant Director of the League of California Cities. He is a member of the American Society for Public Administration and previously served as that group's national president. He currently is a member of the Board of Trustees and the Executive Committee of Claremont McKenna College, and also is a member of the Executive Committee of the Association of Independent Colleges of California. He is a former president of the Institute for Local Self Government. He received a Master's degree in Public Administration from the University of California, Berkeley, and received his undergraduate degree from Claremont McKenna. A Republican, he was appointed by state Controller Steve Westly. Commissioner Remy's term expires January 31, 2009.

They claim to have lost 226 thousand, but are suing for ten times that amount.

talk about timing!

Where are the right wing groups suing Cunningham's family?

This is obviously part of an attempt by the right wing to make Democrats look corrupt.

The problem is that the Democratic Party is so bad at strategy and organization that by the time the 2008 election comes around most voters will be convinced that Democrats are the corrupt ones, even if half of the current Republicans are in jail.