HEADLINE: “Desmond Accused Of Violating San Marcos Campaign Finance Laws” [Coast News Group, 5/31/18]
2018: A Complaint Alleged Donors With Connections To A Development In San Marcos Contributed Nearly $2,000 To Desmond’s 2018 Supervisorial Campaign In Potential Violation Of San Marcos Municipal Code. According to the Escondido Grapevine, "Twin Oaks Valley Community Sponsor Group member Ana Rosvall filed notice with the San Marcos City Clerk Phillip Scollick and City Attorney Helen Holmes Peak alleging that developers with San Marcos connections had contributed nearly $2,000 to Desmond’s 2018 supervisorial campaign despite having dealings with the city of San Marcos. Those contributions violated Chapter 2.16 of the city of San Marcos Municipal Code that prohibited ‘participating in making, or attempt to influence any government decision or action within 12 months of receiving those funds,’ Rosvall said." [Escondido Grapevine, 5/30/18]
San Marcos Campaign Finance Rules Prohibited City Council Members From Voting On An Issue That Financially Affected Someone Who Gave Them A Campaign Contribution Of $100 Or More During The Previous 12 Months. According to the Escondido Grapevine, "Campaign finance rules in San Marcos say City Council members can’t vote on an issue that financially affects someone who gave them a campaign contribution of $100 or more during the previous 12 months. Council members also can’t receive contributions of $100 or more in the 12 months after casting a vote that affects that donor. The mayor is part of the council." [Escondido Grapevine, 5/30/18]
San Marcos Campaign Finance Rules Prohibited City Council Members From Accepted Campaign Contributions Of $100 Or More In The 12 Months After Casting A Vote That Affected A Donor Either. According to the Escondido Grapevine, "Campaign finance rules in San Marcos say City Council members can’t vote on an issue that financially affects someone who gave them a campaign contribution of $100 or more during the previous 12 months. Council members also can’t receive contributions of $100 or more in the 12 months after casting a vote that affects that donor. The mayor is part of the council." [Escondido Grapevine, 5/30/18]
A Spokesman For Desmond Said The Campaign Did Not Believe The San Marcos Campaign Finance Rules Applied To A County-Wide Race, And Claimed The Campaign Was Adhering To The Letter Of The Law As They Applied To The County Supervisor Race. According to the Escondido Grapevine, "A spokesman for Desmond, told Escondido Grapevine partner inewsource he didn’t believe San Marcos’ campaign finance rules applied to a county race. ‘The rules that govern our campaign are the county of San Diego rules,’ spokesman John Hoy said. ‘We’re quite certain that we adhere to both the spirit and the letter of the law as they apply to the county supervisor race.’" [Escondido Grapevine, 5/30/18]
HEADLINE: "Complaint Against County Supervisor Candidate Jim Desmond Won’t Move Forward" [San Diego Tribune, 6/3/18]
Lawyers Hired To Review A Campaign Finance Complaint Against Desmond Determined There Wasn’t A Cause To Continue Investigating. According to the San Diego Tribune, "A campaign finance complaint against county supervisorial candidate Jim Desmond is being shelved after the attorneys hired to review it determined there wasn’t cause for investigation. Desmond, now mayor of San Marcos, is running for the 5th District seat that will become open when county Supervisor Bill Horn terms out this year." [San Diego Tribune, 6/3/18]
An Outside Attorney Who Specialized In Municipal Law Was Assigned To Investigate The Complaint Against Desmond. According to to inewsource, "San Marcos City Attorney Helen Holmes Peak told inewsource Shawn Hagerty, an attorney with Best Best & Krieger, has been hired to investigate Rosvall’s complaint. Hagerty specializes in municipal and water law and is Santee’s city attorney, according to his law firm’s website." [inewsource, 5/31/18]