Fair Political Practices Commission Enforcement Division Chief Gary Winuk said Wednesday a case would not be opened based on a complaint filed with the FPPC Friday. The complaint, filed by Robert Langdon, Jr., alleged that Councilwoman Sandy Sheedy violated the Political Reform Act with a recent public opinion poll authorized by her office and paid for with campaign funds. Winuk sent a letter to Langdon Wednesday stating that “after review of the complaint, the information you provided is insufficient to establish a violation of the act.” Langdon, a court liaison for Sacramento County Family Court and a Sacramento Kings fan, confirmed Monday evening that he sent the complaint because he

A complaint filed Friday with the Fair Political Practices Commission against Councilwoman Sandy Sheedy alleges election law violations stemming from a recent poll authorized through her office. The Oct. 24 poll was conducted by a polling firm hired by Sheedy to determine public opinion on potential financing plans for the proposed entertainment and sports complex. According to the complaint filed by Sacramento resident Robert Langdon, Jr., Sheedy may have violated sections of the Political Reform Act of 1974 related to telephone advocacy and misuse of a public figure’s official position. “(Langdon’s) allegations are completely without merit,” Joann Cummins, Sheedy’s district director,

The state’s Fair Political Practices Commission will decide later this month whether to fine Dan Waters, a former city employee and son of former City Councilman Robbie Waters, $2,500 for his role in altering a permit for a business he co-owned. FPPC staff argue that Waters, the former customer services supervisor at the city’s development department, disregarded the Political Reform Act by improperly interfering with the permit process for Oshima Sushi in Natomas. Waters co-owned LEWA Inc., a cigar business located at a patio at Oshima Sushi. An FPPC report claims that Waters intervened in a permit process in order to improve the business environment for the cigar shop. While staff is

Allegations accusing school board member Darrel Woo of violating the Political Reform Act were dismissed by the Fair Political Practices Commission last week. Shane Singh, who ran against Woo for board member of the Sacramento City Unified School District in the Nov. 2 election, accused Woo’s campaign of making improper payments to Woo’s daughter, among other allegations. Gary Winuk, FPPC’s enforcement division chief, wrote a Jan. 26 letter to Singh about the state’s investigation. The commission “conducted an investigation and has found insufficient evidence to establish a violation of the Political Reform Act,” Winuk wrote. “As such, we are closing this case without further action.” S

A Sacramento school board member’s recent political campaign is being investigated by the state’s Fair Political Practices Commission, a spokeswoman for the commission confirmed Monday. The FPPC is investigating allegations against Darrel Woo’s campaign for a seat on Sacramento City Unified School District’s board, according to FPPC spokeswoman Tara Stock. Shane Singh, who unsuccessfully ran against Woo for the school board seat, complained to the FPPC about Woo’s campaign. Woo won his race for a school board seat in November. In a Dec. 22 letter to Singh, the FPPC said it would investigate his claims about Woo’s campaign. The letter also pointed out that it has not yet “made any deter

Special interest groups for and against Sacramento City Council candidate Angelique Ashby have spent large sums on mailers blasting or lauding her campaign. While business interests poured about $36,000 into campaign mailers backing Ashby, a major local union paid $23,577 on mailers attacking her.  The Sacramento Building Trades Council Political Action Committee spent $23,577 on anti-Ashby mailers, according to statements filed with the California Secretary of State’s Office and the Sacramento city clerk’s office.    Mailers from the committee depicted Mayor Kevin Johnson as a king with a crown and Ashby as a puppet. In response to questions about the attack mailers, Matt Kelly, an of

City Councilman Ray Tretheway has claimed that opponents of his re-election campaign have stolen his online identity. In a May 21 letter addressed to several local agencies, including the Sacramento County District Attorney’s office, Tretheway alleged that the Sacramento Police Officers Association illegally registered the website domain name raytretheway.com. The police officers’ union acknowledged that it has registered raytretheway.com but said it has not violated any laws. Campaign statements show that SPOA provides financial support to Angelique Ashby, one of Tretheway’s competitors in the District 1 City Council race.  “It’s identity theft, clear and simple,” Tretheway said in an

As the “strong mayor” issue rages on, the Sacramento City Council is also examining a significant proposal from voters to set up an independent budget analyst's office. The council asked city staffers Tuesday to prepare a workshop to explain how an office for the independent budget analyst could possibly be consolidated with the city’s internal auditor office. City Treasurer Russ Fehr wrote in an Aug. 25 report that the independent budget analyst would report to the City Council and offer suggestions for changes separate from the city’s budget office. The city is looking at an office of three full-time employees. About $500,000 would pay for the employees‘ salaries, equipment, supplies a