In a surprising turn of events, Shasta County Supervisor Patrick Jones and his campaign finance manager, Lynda Kent, have been slapped with a hefty fine by the California Fair Political Practices Commission (FPPC) for violations related to their 2019 state assembly campaign. The investigation, which was opened in January 2022, uncovered a series of missteps that have now landed the duo in hot water.

Uncovering the Discrepancies: A Closer Look at the Campaign Finance Violations

Unaccounted Donations and Questionable Practices

The FPPC's investigation revealed that Jones and Kent failed to properly record and account for thousands of dollars in campaign donations. According to the investigators, they purposefully left the source of these funds unidentified, a clear violation of state election laws. The law requires detailed records of any contribution of $25 or more, including the donor's name, address, the total amount they've given, and the date of the donation. For donations of $100 or more, additional information such as the donor's employer or business is also required, and cash donations of $100 or more are strictly prohibited.

Intentional Efforts to Circumvent the Law

The FPPC's findings go even further, indicating that Kent admitted to intentionally giving $1 in change to approximately 25 donors who had contributed $100, with the aim of keeping their donations under the limit and allowing them to remain anonymous. Jones claimed that he believed this practice was allowed under election laws, citing concerns about potential backlash from "vicious" individuals who may have lost business due to his campaign.

Significant Unaccounted Cash Donations

The investigation revealed that of the $94,456 raised by Jones' campaign, a staggering $21,262 was in cash. However, the FPPC found that only 18% of these cash transactions were accurately recorded, with the remaining $17,000 lacking crucial information such as the amounts donated, dates, names, and businesses of the contributors.

Maximum Fines Imposed

Due to the "purposeful nature" of the violations, the FPPC imposed the maximum possible fines on Jones and Kent, totaling $10,000. Jones has stated that he paid the full amount himself, although he believes the penalty was excessive.

Allegations of Political Motivation

Jones has expressed his belief that the timing and severity of the FPPC's actions were politically motivated, pointing to the fact that the investigation began around the same time he led a recall effort against another Shasta County Supervisor, Leonard Moty. He claims that the "large amount" of the fines is unusual, and suggests that the FPPC's decision was influenced by political factors.

Lessons Learned and Moving Forward

Despite the setback, Jones and Kent have acknowledged their mistakes and accepted the FPPC's findings. Jones has stated that the experience has been a "miscommunication" on his part and that they "probably won't do it again." The case serves as a cautionary tale for political candidates and their campaign teams, underscoring the importance of strict compliance with campaign finance laws and the consequences of even unintentional violations.