The state Fair Political Practices Commission voted to approve the filing of civil judgments in the cases of two Encinitas political committees active during 2012 and 2013 campaigns, according to a commission news release.
In closed session, according to the Feb. 20 announcement, the commission approved the filing of civil judgments against “EncinitasElections.com” and The Coast News Publisher Jim Kydd, and Encinitas Project — Committee for Proposition A, naming former officers Susan Turney and Olivier Canler (named as Oliver Canler in the news release).
While the FPPC news release and related lawsuit name Kydd and “EncinitasElections.com,” the actual website and committee were known as EncinitasElection.com, according to city records and published materials at the time of the 2012 election.
The FPPC defined EncinitasElections.com as “an independent expenditure committee that opposed 2012 Encinitas City Council candidates Mark Muir and Jerome Stocks,” the news release stated. During the 2012 election, news reports identified Kydd as the organizer of the website. Advertisements in The Coast News were also linked to the website. A subsequent lawsuit filed by the FPPC also identified Kydd as the responsible officer of the committee.
The commission defined Encinitas Project — Committee for Proposition A as “a ballot measure committee that supported the 2013 Encinitas City Ballot Measure Proposition A — Encinitas Right to Vote Amendment.”
The FPPC’s actions stem from complaints made against the groups alleging violations of California’s Political Reform Act, which requires clear filing and disclosure of fundraising and expenditures made by political committees.
According to the commission’s news release, the civil judgment requires EncinitasElections.com and Kydd to admit to six Political Reform Act violations and agree to pay a $1,000 fine.
In the case of the Prop. A group, the committee, Turney and Canler are required to admit to 13 Political Reform Act violations and agree to pay a $1,000 fine, according to the FPPC announcement.