ELECTIONS / COUNTY SUPERVISORS : Montgomery’s Campaign Contributions Over Limit, Says D.A.’s Office

The Ventura County district attorney has found that supervisorial candidate Scott Montgomery received $8,350 in illegal campaign contributions, and the agency plans to refer the case to the state Fair Political Practices Commission, a prosecutor said Wednesday.

Montgomery received 11 contributions that exceed the county’s allowable limit on political donations, said Deputy Dist. Atty. Don Coleman, who handled the preliminary inquiry. The contributions were received between July 1 and Sept. 30.

Montgomery, a Moorpark councilman, also apparently failed to notify state elections officials of his intent to form a new campaign committee or to register a new committee identification number, Coleman said. Candidates are required to form such committees in order to establish a bank account to accept contributions.

Montgomery said he believes he has complied with the law in each instance. He is running for an open seat in the 4th Supervisorial District.

“We don’t see that we did anything wrong,” Montgomery said. “We just did what we were told we could do.”

Montgomery said he had contacted the secretary of state’s office about using his council campaign committee and registration number in the supervisor’s race and was told it would not be a problem.

“There wasn’t any money in the account, so they said it would be OK,” Montgomery said.

As for the campaign contributions, Montgomery said his political consultant had checked with county election officials about the law regarding donations and was under the impression that he was in full compliance.

“If it is determined that we need to return money, then we will,” Montgomery said.

Under county law, candidates can receive up to $750 from individuals and businesses in the June primary, and no more than $250 in the general election. Candidates can accept $1,800 from political action committees in the primary, and $600 in the general election.

Among the contributions Montgomery received in excess of the county’s allowable limit are: $1,800 from the county firefighters union; $1,000 from Santa Barbara Restaurants; $1,000 from investor Jerry Sims; $750 from Cal Mat Co.; $700 from C. A. Rasmussen Co.; $600 from the county employees union; and $500 from Jim Dantona, an aide to state Controller Gray Davis.

All of Montgomery’s contributions were listed in his last campaign-finance report filed on Sept. 30, so there is no evidence that he knowingly committed the violations, Coleman said.

Although there is no apparent criminal violation, Coleman said Montgomery could face civil penalties from the Fair Political Practices Commission that could include a fine or repayment of the contributions or both.

Last year, Supervisors Maggie Kildee and Susan K. Lacey agreed to forfeit $1,600 in illegal campaign contributions and pay $400 in civil penalties for similar violations. That was the first time the county’s ordinance limiting campaign contributions was enforced since it was passed in June, 1991.

Coleman said the district attorney’s office has decided to refer the Montgomery case to the political practices commission because it wants to avoid any possible conflict of interest. Dist. Atty. Michael Bradbury has endorsed Montgomery’s opponent, Judy Mikels.