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Adam Hill fined $2,500 for campaign violations

February 21, 2015
Adam Hill

Supervisor Adam Hill

By KAREN VELIE

San Luis Obispo County Supervisor Adam Hill was fined $2,500 on Thursday for failing to properly maintain campaign records during his 2012 bid for the District 3 seat, according to the California Fair Political Practices Commission (FPPC).

A random audit conducted by the California Franchise Tax Board on all 2012 San Luis Obispo County Supervisor candidates last year revealed that Hill failed to timely report fifteen payments of $500 or more, totaling $68,058.73. The audit also determined that the campaigns of Frank Meacham, Ed Waage, Debbie Arnold and Jim Patterson prepared financial statements that were substantially accurate and complete.

In May 2012, Hill reported making payments totaling $60,220 to an advertising and public relations firm to use for television and radio advertising. He did not disclose, though, what advertising the firm purchased on his behalf as required by California election disclosure laws.

In addition, Hill’s campaign (respondents) had a prior enforcement action.

“On March 25, 2014, the enforcement division sent respondents a warning letter for failing to state the correct employer of the source of a contribution of $100 or more on a semiannual statement, in violation of Section 84211,” the stipulated order says.

Last year, developer Gary Grossman donated $1,000 to Hill in the same week that the supervisor attended a groundbreaking for one of Grossman’s Pismo Beach developments. But, Hill listed Grossman, the president of Coastal Community Builders, as retired on a campaign financial statement.

In March 2014, the FPPC sent a warning letter to Hill. Because of the misstatement, Hill was required to return Grossman’s $1,000 donation.

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Can’t wait till the headlines say “Adam Hill sentenced to ten years at Lompoc”


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Normally, when a random audit discovers an issue, the scope of the inspection is expanded to look for more issues. Scope expansion? I’d like to see all of his records inspected.


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To quote some tart:

¯\_(ツ)_/¯ Ooops, I did it again! ¯\_(ツ)_/¯


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To the Brown Administration: Here you have democrat Adam Hill, who at the direction of democrat Bruce Gibson, travelled to Sacramento, to plead w/ the likes of appointments secretary Mona Pasquil to install/appoint democrat Caren Ray to the district 4 Supervisor’s seat vacated with the death of Paul Teixeira. Never mind that district 4 leans right of center politically, and–no surprise–elected republicans, such as Mr. Teixeira and Katcho Achadjian before him, to the post. Unfortunately, you listened to Mr. Hill and appointed Caren Ray. You were then handed a predictable embarrassment when republican Lynn Compton unseated Ms. Ray last November.


You have listened to Mr. Hill, and you have received Mr. Gibson at various times, allowing him to flirt with Resources Secretary John Laird and the Coastal Commission head Charles Lester. In Gibson’s case, it always regards things outside his own dry district, such as his back door attempts to get pounds of flesh from Oceano Dunes State Park or pushing through defacto adjudication of Paso groundwater. Now you have this fine given to Hill, which really is only a scoop of ice cream alongside a very tall pie of political gaffs. Please don’t forget how he has missed out on chairmanships last year for SLOCOG and the APCD Board because of his bullying and rants at those he represents (one delightful sampling: http://www.newtimesslo.com/letters-to-the-editor/10485/who-is-susceptible-to-conspiracytheory-thinking/ ).


And don’t forget the many times Mr. Gibson has been caught violating the Brown Act–caught, that is. Who knows how many times he has willfully worked behind the scenes in an illegal manner? Let’s just say his visits to Sacramento regarding issues outside his district are one indication that it is a lot.


Brown administration, please take all of this in and please recognize a need to disassociate from Hill and Gibson. They are not good for this county in general, and for the democratic party they are an embarrassment.


Thank you. By the way, I am a registered democrat.


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All politicians are an embarrassment.


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Not Bernie Sanders.


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While I think most of Bernie’s ideas are short-sighted, he is definitely not embarrassing. One of the few honest, “this is who I am” guys I’ve seen. Joe Liberman was similar for me.


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Oh Bernie isn’t embarassing….he’s just wrong.


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Please tell me you did indeed, send this to Brown’s office.


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I would suggest adding to your great letter Hill’s years-long conflicts-of-interest behavior in voting for the then CAPSLO Homeless Services Director, with whom he was also involved in an illicit affair…and with whom he subsequently became engaged to be married. During this time Hill was living with Torres.


And Torres isn’t just any illicit affair, either. She has been linked with allowing her children to use donated cash cards (intended for the homeless at Christmas time) for their own purchases, and siphoning off, for her own use, contributed clothing and other CAPSLO supplies for the homeless.


Through all of this, Adam Hill was by her side, aiding and abetting her theft of monies and goods which were intended for SLO’s homeless population. He used his influence to protect her and to convince other board members to vote for lavish funding of CAPSLO.


In my mind, this is something that could come back to haunt ANY politician who supports Adam Hill’s dreams of state power.


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Darn, the cost of securing a building permit, variance, new ag well permit just went up or maybe the inept supervisors will just give themselves another raise. He gets caught, gets a little fine and we all pay.


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I wonder if the California Fair Political Practices Commission will take gift cards to pay off the fine?, I understand Mr. Hill’s wife still has a few from her days at CAPSLO


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wife still has a few…. she stole from the homeless….from her days at CAPSLO


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