Embattled Central Basin Water Vice President James Roybal, target of a recall movement started last week, today has been charged by the Fair Political Practices Commission with 12 violations of the Political Reform Act.
The violations stem from a three-year-old complaint centering on a charge that Mr. Roybal did not report over $3,000 in small cash contributions.
The FPPC staff report stated that “probable cause was found” to indicate Mr. Roybal intentionally left off $3,000 in contributions from his statements. Each violation carries a maximum fine of $5,000.
The 12 violations included “Roybal and the Committee failing to disclose” a $200 contribution from Henrietta Correa Salazar, $250 from Marcy Gloria Grajeda, $500 from Edward Sarkissian Jr., $150 from Betsy Chang, $100 from Victor Caballero, $400 from James and/or Michele Ciampa, and $250 from Golden State Advocacy.
Robert Garcia, who had a large consulting contract with Central Basin, runs Golden State Advocacy.
Mr. Roybal and the Committee failed to disclose a $250 contribution from Romejan, Inc., $100 from Antonio Mendoza, $500 from Southwest Management Consultants, $250 from Davenport Management, Inc. and $400 from “Model City Democratic Club.”
An internet search of Model City Democratic Club shows that the Club, based out of Commerce, is a sub-page of a larger website called Democracy.com.
Democracy.com allows users to create campaign donation pages with relative ease, with no background checks.
We entered a phony name under a City Council race and were able to create a campaign webpage, complete with a donation page, within minutes.
According to a source familiar with the parties involved who did not want to be identified, “The FPPC’s findings are just the tip of the iceberg. Roybal’s campaign financing was all smoke-and-mirrors while being managed by convicted felon Rick Mayer. Roybal was a nobody with little resources and no contacts when he was handpicked to run by another water agency, the Water Replenishment District. His only qualifications as a candidate were his famous last name, of which he had no family connection, and that he would follows orders of those who put up the money to get him elected.
“That is just what he has done. In the meantime, his inept understanding of water and governments, and his desperation to line his pockets with any loose change he can steal, has left Central Basin in shambles.
“He is a pitiful bully with a Napoleon complex,” said the source. “He was also forced out of his job at the L.A. Unified School District because he felt entitled to have his way with children.
“It is my understanding that documents proving that will also be made public soon as well.”
Recall Launched
Hews Media Group-Community News exclusively learned last week that Mr. Roybal was served with a notice-of- intention to circulate a recall petition. The document was signed by 20 voters residing in Mr. Roybal’s District 1 and was served on Mr. Roybal at a morning committee meeting at Central Basin’s headquarters in Commerce.
This story originally appeared at loscerritosnews.net
