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SLO County supervisors violate campaign disclosure laws

March 28, 2014
Adam Hill

Adam Hill

By KAREN VELIE

Two members of the San Luis Obispo County Board of Supervisors violated the Political Reform Act this year, according to the Fair Political Practices Commission (FPPC).

Developer Gary Grossman donated $1,000 to Adam Hill  the same week the supervisor attended a groundbreaking for one of Grossman’s Pismo Beach developments. Even so, on Hill’s campaign disclosure form Grossman is listed as retired.

Because of the misstatement, Hill is required to return Grossman’s $1,000 donation.

On Tuesday, the FPPC sent warning letters to Hill and Supervisor Caren Ray. Ray violated campaign disclosure rules by failing to provide addresses for some of her donors, including Grossman who has donated more than $14,000 to Ray’s campaign.

During the last reporting period, Hill received $22,899 in donations, primarily from developers with projects in front of the county and business owners with contracts with the county. Contributors include Grossman — seeking to develop the former Dalidio Ranch, Postcard Properties — which is working to build a hotel in Avila Beach, developer Andy Mangano, Ryan Comerford – has the golf course management contract for several county courses and Frank Kelton who contracts for ambulance services.

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There’s no surprise here as to how connected a crony Ray is and how absolutely criminal Hill has been. Informed folks understand, but will the general public ever know how slimy Ray and Hill are? Nothing to see here – move along.


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Sounds like a mess of intentional deception. He should amend his filing ASAP. It’s not difficult to do the right thing, which is to transparently disclose your contributors.


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I am really sick and tired of this counties “pay to play” politics.


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I’m sure Supervisor Ray would have loved to have the money to buy big time Orange County campaign bookkeepers like Compton reported. But sadly, she is more conservative with her contributors funds and runs and actual grass roots campaign where work is done by actual volunteers that actually live in the district.


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You mean like the $21,632 Caren Ray spent on Chris Crotty Consulting and C&I Consulting? (The ones running the telephone push poll.) The notion that Caren Ray is too helpless to file accurate disclosure is complete nonsense. Very soon, the Dem Central Committee will be pumping thousands of dollars her way. Mark my words. The Dems received $34,000 from a construction trades union (big development again) this week.


And, by the way, it doesn’t take a big-time treasurer to read instructions for filling out a form correctly. We expect county supervisors to deal with a whole lot more detail than that. Caren Ray is not up to the job. In her own words, a “rookie”.


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No I was not not was I referring to the similar large expenses that Compton has for consultants. I was in fact speaking quite specifically to the $2850 that Copmton paid to an Orange County campaign form filing company that is listed in her 460 as doing this service. That is certainly different than a grass roots campaign with 4th district volunteers.


It was an error, no way around that. Since she began to correct the error as soon as you pointed it out and Hill has done nothing, I guess it is clear they don’t operate the same.


Here’s to hoping Ray gets a piece of that $34,000. I know Compton got $5k from the republicans. I didn’t see the Dem Party on Rays 460 so far.


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Small potatoes.


Check where and how much Compton is being greased. The fertilizer business evidently goes a long way.


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In reference to the Tribune article:


Caren says, “clerical errors”. Sloppy errors on tax forms are “clerical errors” too, right? Read the instructions and fill out your forms right. The rules do apply and it is overwhelmingly clear that P.O. Boxes are not acceptable.


Caren says, “rookie mistakes”. I agree. We don’t need a rookie. We need a candidate that takes disclosure seriously, and enlists a diligent and professional treasurer.


Caren says, “corrected before receiving the warning letter” — Yeah, and you stopped speeding before the officer wrote the citation. Nice spin. Caren corrected the errors AFTER getting caught, plain and simple. The warning letter comes after the investigation is over. Caren is disingenuous with this side-step remark.


Adam Hill, on the other hand, still hasn’t corrected his filings to properly disclose. A letter to the FPPC does not correct the “mistake”. Amending the public filings is necessary.


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And I’m sure you have thoroughly checked out the other two candidates filings for errors also?


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Absolutely, i did. I find no sloppiness or lack of disclosure. Lynn Compton actually over-reports. Night and day.


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Doesn’t “rookie” just underscore that Ray has never been elected to anything, not even Dog Catcher.


If she keeps her books this sloppy; than what does she see when it’s the People’s books? “Blah, blah, millions of dollars, blah.”


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I think rookie underscores that she uses volunteers in a real grass roots campaign and does not buy big time Orange County book keepers.


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You’re saying she will appoint a novice for important duties. Though, it doesn’t take a big-time treasurer to read instructions for filling out a form correctly. We expect county supervisors to deal with a whole lot more detail than that. We expect diligence, transparency, and professionalism. Caren Ray is, indeed, a rookie.


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Well I don’t think that’s what I said but you do have good point in there. If Compton were elected she would actually have to do her own work and not pay someone to do it for her.


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Someone like you, who will need a after campaign appointment for your diligent, constant and anonymous defence of your candidate.


So where is your name on the disclosure list’s, how much was the donation?

Or is it listed as an expense?


Astroturfing in SLO County, no surprise there.


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Haven’t donated a dime, in fact not of her political party. I am though a long time AG resident and started posting because unsubstantiated statements were being made and the best anyone could come up with was try to attach Ray to Hill. That seemed like a week and partisan way to look at an election and it’s candidates. Over time the bias on these boards has become overwhelming clear such that a poster with an opposing view that has merit is not playing under the same rules as others. So be it. No one claimed this was not a slanted forum or website.

If I wanted to I could get an appointment to discuss my concerns with the supervisor as could anyone here. He has had a policy of hearing all sides and has met with many people including some here who are not supporters.

I’m just a simple country boy who can see when someone is getting wronged.


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He has had a policy of “hearing all sides”! Yeah, and then doing just what he wants and using what he learned by “hearing all sides” to have things his way. You sound a lot like the supervisor…..


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Sorry that should have said she not he. The problems of typing on a mobile device.

In any case , he and she are far apart on how they handle their position and this situation.


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Exactly. Sloppy and lack of attention to detail at the least. Potentially purposeful deception.


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Clarify the gain to be had from indicating a persons PO box instead of street address on error. Or not in error if that is what you want to think. In any case what is the gain if this is deception?


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The PO Box issue is a side issue, but one the FPPC takes seriously and issued a warning for. The main issue is the $13,686 contributed by megabucks developer Gary Grossman (Dalidio Ranch). Grossman failed to filed a Form 461 as a “Major Donor Committee”. He finally filed seven weeks late (the same time Caren Ray amended) after being contacted by the FPPC. Caren Ray had a legal duty to notify Grossman of his Form 461 filing obligations. Apparently her committee failed to do so. The FPPC’s action fixed that failing as well.


Furthermore, Caren Ray’s disclosure includes more than one contributor listed as “self-employed” or “retired” who own business entities. Caren Ray needs to amend and disclose the company or partnership owned or employing all contributors. Not doing so hides whatever interest a contributor has in county business–such as the public golf courses managed by FAIRWAY MGMT. (Ryan Comerford, “Entrepaneur/Self-Employed”). That’s the deception.


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I know many of those people. I’m not convinced your information is accurate but the concept is valid.


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Check the 460s for yourself. A campaign treasurer has a very solemn obligation to ensure disclosure is accurate, especially for large amounts. Caren Ray should fix all of the “self employed” entries. “Self-employed” isn’t an employer. Put the individual’s name if they truly pay themselves from their personal bank account. Companies and partnerships are separate legal entities and must be disclosed.


And a pet peeve: “retired” and “home maker” are not occupations. The correct entry is “none”.


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I Agee, self employed still implies a business and based on your previous reasoning it should be clarified. Yes, while it’s splitting hairs, I too think retired and homemaker means none.


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You see? We can all agree!


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Ms. Ray is probably using Mr. Hill’s treasurer. Campaign treasurers are normally educated and these minor issues. Anyone donating can see and read the simple instructions. Very elementary!


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Getting caught. Hmm that’s a spin. I guess accurate but implies someone trying to deceive. Putting a PO box as an address instead of a street is an error with no gain to be had. Even the FPPC dismissed it. I sure she started to get it corrected when she was made aware of it.


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It implies Caren Ray’s team can’t perform according to simple published rules. The FPPC publishes lots of resources to make candidates “aware”, which Caren Ray apparently didn’t bother studying (or asking an experienced person to look over her filing). How can we expect Ray to read hundreds of pages of staff reports and not miss crucial details? The FPPC didn’t “dismiss” it, and wrote, “The information in this matter will be retained and may be considered should an enforcement action become necessary based on newly discovered information or future conduct.”


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Well I have to admit your personal onslaught against Ray for reasons unknown did catch a filing error.

But, if one were to actually look at job performance, which of course no one wants too, you would observe one of the most prepared on the board.

But I know that’s not relevant when focus can be distracted by clerical errors that the FPPC closed the case on because she did provide PO boxes and apparently did not request an amended filing which Ray did anyway.

Yea, crazy deception there.


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Looks like Adam Hill and Caren Ray have bonded. Where will this leave Dee Torres?


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WHY is anybody surprised , there a bunch of SLIMEBALL crooks , get a clue and get rid of there worthless asses , cm on SLO town did you not get a lesson from paso


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Can’t wait to read Adam Hill’s rationalization how their reporting violations were the fault of CCN, its posters, whomever.


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It will go something like this….”Dem (we) Jersey boys don’t have to report nuttin’!”

And I ain’t appologizn’ for nuttin’ neither.


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