Ever since Bernie Parks began running for office in ‘03, he has been getting nicked, in print, every campaign for ethical violations.
No blockbusters. Just a steady beat that so far has been more annoying than damaging. A few thousand here and a couple thousand over there, not nearly enough to be pivotal in his race du jour.
For that reason and perhaps others, the case is a head-scratcher. Why? It is mindful of a bank robber being charged with filching a rubber band?
In the closing days of the present Los Angeles City Council election campaign — Tuesday is Vote Day — Mr. Parks’s second-time opponent, Forescee Hogan-Rowles, acknowledged as formidable and worthy even by the incumbent’s backers, is rolling out the cannons for another swing at ethics violations.
Says Ms. Hogan-Rowles’s camp: “Mr. Parks has a perfect record going. He has gone 4-for-4, which would make a baseball player happy but not a politician. His record is a refection of his persistently unethical behavior.
“Before this year, he ran for office four times, and each year he was cited for serious campaign ethics violations, ranging from illegal contributions to failing to report why he was putting campaign funds in his personal bank account. He has accepted $20,000 from liquor stores, including several that had their licenses revoked for selling to minors.
“Mr. Parks continues to operate as if he is above the law. Now that his latest campaign is winding down, it has been reported in the press (Los Angeles Times) that he accepted contributions from the producers of the dangerous drug parties known as ‘raves.’ He also has supported their efforts to obtain permits to hold more concerts at public venues operated by the Coliseum. Mr. Parks sits on their board.”
Here is the year-by-year Parks record, according to the Hogan-Rowles campaign.
• 2003: He pleaded guilty to 8 “serious” violations committed during his first City Council campaign. Fine: $4,000.
• 2005: He pleaded guilty to 7 “serious” violations committed during his unsuccessful Mayoralty run. Fine: $1,050.
• 2007: He pleaded guilty to 16 “serious” violations committed during his second straight successful Council campaign. Fine: $7,000.
• 2008: During his losing race for the County Board of Supervisors, the city’s Ethics office determined that he accepted thousands of dollars in illegal campaign contributions from contractors for whom he voted as a member of the MTA Board. Fine: Undeclared, so far. (See the LA Weekly issue of Feb. 3 in a story headlined “MTA Hid Report on Councilman Bernard Parks’ Illegal Contributions.”)
For eight years, Mr. Parks’s foibles do not appear to have made any meaningful difference at the polls. In his losing races, he was whacked. In his victories, his margin was substantive.
Will Tuesday be the night that unusual trend changes?
