Glazer files complaint against group hiding union donations, says it’s no April Fool’s joke

State Senate candidate Steve Glazer today announced the filing of a formal complaint with the Fair Political Practices Commission (FPPC) against a special interest group for illegally hiding their major union donors on a campaign mailing to voters, which can be viewed, here: FPPC Complaint-Glazer v. WFOG-March 31, 2015

The so-called “Working Families Opposing Glazer for Senate” received hundreds of thousands of dollars from union committees, but failed to list on the mailer the names of the top two union donors who had contributed $50,000 or more.

The disclosure rules are in effect to give voters full knowledge of the special interests who are funding these communications,” said Glazer. “These groups are sophisticated political players who circumvented disclosure laws for the sole purpose of misleading voters.”

According to a press release from Glazer’s campaign, “this is the second time these union groups have maneuvered around the transparency mandates. In the primary election, these same unions funded a committee called the “Asian American Small Business PAC.”  That group, financed by neither Asian Americans nor small businesses, sent out five separate mailers attacking Glazer. These activities were condemned as smear tactics by the Contra Costa TimesSan Francisco Chronicle and Sacramento Bee.”

Based on filings with the Secretary of State, the two largest funders of the mailing were the State Council of Service Employees ($185,000) and the California School Employees Association ($75,000).

Special interest groups are fearful of my candidacy because I won’t do their bidding. They need to come out of the shadows and play by the rules. I have asked the Fair Political Practices Commission to hold them accountable,” Glazer concluded.

6:35 p.m. UPDATE: In an email response to the complaint, Steven Maviglio of Forza Communications, the spokesman for the Working Families Against Steve Glazer for Senate, of which both unions listed in the complaint are part, wrote, “This is nothing more than a meritless publicity stunt cooked up by Big Tobacco political consultant Steve Glazer to deflect from the fact that his campaign is being bankrolled [by] big insurance and drug companies, out-of-state corporations, and other special interests. We look forward to the FPPC quickly dismissing this smear.”

The run-off election between Glazer and State Assemblywoman Susan Bonilla will be held Tuesday, May 19. Whichever candidate wins will serve through the end of 2016 and for a full, four-year term, will have to run, again, next year.



the attachments to this post:

FPPC Complaint-Glazer v. WFOG-March 31, 2015
FPPC Complaint-Glazer v. WFOG-March 31, 2015


One Comment to “Glazer files complaint against group hiding union donations, says it’s no April Fool’s joke”

  1. Marty Fernandez says:

    The Friday Morning Breakfast Club hosted Steve Glazer this morning. He volunteered to visit Antioch and we had a long discussion. My wife and I are proud to say we will be voting for Steve Glazer.

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