School Board Members Fined For Campaign Reporting Errors

REDONDO BEACH, CA – Three Redondo Beach school board members have been fined a total of $2000 by the California Fair Political Practices Commission for campaign reporting errors leading up to their re-election in March 2017. The trio improperly paid campaign expenses, Daily Breeze reported.

Board President Brad Waller paid for close to $3,000 in yard signs and other campaign materials with a credit card in seven transactions from July 2016 to February 2017, the newspaper reported. Waller served as treasurer for a joint campaign committee that included himself and school board members Brad Serkin and Michael Christensen; the violation occurred when he reimbursed himself through a joint bank account once it was created, according to Daily Breeze.

A committee controlled by candidates must deposit all contributions into a designated bank account, according to campaign finance law. This includes contributions personally made by a candidate. Waller said he used a credit card because setting up a joint bank account took longer than expected, but he reported the mistake to the FPPC as soon as he realized it in February.

“I contacted the FPPC and asked how we should report it properly,” Waller told Daily Breeze. “So, I amended the filings and did everything by their rules, just not in the right order.”

The trio's committee raised more than $10,000, which was largely funded from personal contributions, and spent almost $8,000 in their re-election bids. All three were re-elected to their second four-year terms in office, Daily Breeze reported.

The joint committee raised more than $10,000, largely from personal contributions, and spent close to $8,000 in their re-election bids. All three candidates were re-elected to their second four-year terms in office.

Read more at Daily Breeze; Image via Shutterstock