FPPC: Mann made illegal use of campaign funds 147 times

A spokesperson for the state agency that imposed a $60,000 penalty against former Menifee Mayor Scott Mann said Monday he could not commen...

A spokesperson for the state agency that imposed a $60,000 penalty against former Menifee Mayor Scott Mann said Monday he could not comment on whether Mann paid the penalty by Dec. 1, as required. However, an order scheduled for approval at a Dec. 15 meeting indicates the terms of the agreement have been met.

Jay Wierenga, communications director for the California Fair Political Practices Commission, said he can't comment on any pending settlement before the Commission. He did say, however, that items aren’t placed on the FPPC agenda "unless and until all items in it are agreed to and fines are paid."

The agenda for the Dec. 15 meeting was posted on Monday and includes an enforcement item regarding Mann, who was imposed the penalty on Oct. 14 after the FPPC ruled he had taken more than $44,000 from his campaign funds account for personal use. According to the Oct. 14 press release from the FPPC, Mann used campaign funds for items including vacation, travel, dining expenses, personal tax relief expenses, personal vehicle repair and registration, and personal expenses related to a family wedding in Malibu.

Monday's FPPC agenda includes a legal stipulation, decision and order that states that "on approximately 147 occasions from December 2009 through June 2014, Mann used campaign funds totaling approximately $44,894 for personal purposes were which unrelated to any political, legislative or governmental purpose." According to the document, that amounts to 11 counts in violation of Government Code Section 84104.

According to the FPPC document, Mann's personal use involved ATM cash withdrawals, bank transfers and other expenditures, including committee checks he wrote to himself.  In addition, Mann is charged with one count in violation of California Code of Regulations Title 2, Section 18401 regarding failure to keep required committee records.

Each count was designated as a $5,000 penalty -- the maximum penalty allowed, according to the FPPC document. It is illegal to pay fines from remaining campaign funds.

Mann issued a public statement admitting to the violations in October, then apologized to the public and continued to run for re-election. After results of the Nov. 8 election showed that he lost to Neil Winter, Mann resigned via email to city staff on Nov. 17.

In 2014, Mann was fined $1,500 by the FPPC for failure to disclose non-monetary contributions during his 2012 campaign for office. Mann also was accused by resident Anne Pica of paying for the printing of fliers with crude negative statements and delivering them to her home for distribution as part of a smear campaign against his mayoral opponent, Darcy Kuenzi, and District 1 council candidate Sue Kristjansson prior to the 2012 city elections.

Fliers were distributed anonymously to many residents and Mann went on to defeat Kuenzi in the mayoral race. Kristjansson lost to Greg August in the District 1 race. Mann has never confirmed or denied the allegations. When he was questioned about the allegations during a 2014 candidates forum, his response was, "That was 2012, and I'm focusing on 2014."

Winter is scheduled to be sworn in as mayor at the Dec. 7 City Council meeting.











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