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Well yes and no. We think the money we donate goes for signs, fliers, mailers and filing fees, all directly related to getting the candidates name into the public arena. Legally, candidates are allowed to spend that money on quite a bit that is not so directly related to getting them elected and while not illegal, perhaps unethical use for personal gain. After all, it’s their code of ethics that help us estimate how a candidate might perform in office.

Let’s take some of Temecula’s Council Members for example. But remember these examples may be representative of any elected official or candidate running for public office. On Jeff Comerchero’s 460 financial reporting forms for the period of 7/1/10-9/30/10, there are some donations that may seem unethical.  Page numbers are included below for each of the contributions mentioned.

He accepted $125.00 from SW Healthcare Systems on 9/3/10 (pg. 9), the same company that has been promising to build a hospital in Temecula for the past several years. The City Council has granted it several extensions, and even new contracts, with nothing to show for it.  And yet, every election cycle we hear the incumbents brag about bringing not one but two hospitals. It’s odd that any money would be exchanged, regardless 0f the amount.

Any Company with a City contract should avoid the appearance of trying to buy influence, but CR&R, the Company that picks up your trash, contributed $1,000.00 on 7/2/10 (pg 16) and another $500.00 on 9/10/10 (pg. 9).  How about the $125.00 from RBF Consulting on 9/14/10 (pg. 10), who just  happens to be designing the 79S “Ultimate Interchange”?

Mr. Comerchero, the President of Rancon Group, accepted more than $3,625.00 from more than nine LLC’s in partnership with Rancon in the same period (pg 17, among others). Again, not illegal, but were I an investor in Europa Village in Temecula wine country, I would assume my investment was going towards construction of the project and not being used by the company President’s campaign fund.

Last year, Comerchero purchased a laptop computer for his campaign, at the cost of $1,320.98. He also spent $913.16 of campaign funds in 2007 on a digital camera for campaign photos. After the election, are these top of the line electronics being used for personal use, or campaign purposes? In 2007, he also paid his wife $1300.00 for web design, maintenance and hosting the campaign website as a “campaign consultant.” Still not illegal, but is it the height of good ethics?

Suppose you contributed to a candidate who in turn used those funds to contribute to the campaigns of politicians that you would not support?

• 4/02/09 Comerchero contributes $1,000.00 to Jeff Stone for State Senate.

• 3/06/08 Comerchero contributes $1,000.00 to Mike Naggar for Temecula City Council.

• 6/28/08 Comerchero contributes $1,000.00 to Chuck Washington for Temecula City Council.

Of course, scratching one back often comes around.  Take Mike Naggar’s contribution of $1,000.00 to Comerchero’s campaign on 7/28/09.  This is just one of many.

Odder still are the charitable donations of campaign money. If a candidate is so flush with cash that he donates it to charity, perhaps he should stop asking for money. And look at some of the recipients.

• Yearly donations between 2007 and 2010 to the Temecula Valley Theater Foundation in the amounts of $1,000.00, $1,250.00, $2,250.00, and $900.00. His boss, Dan Stephenson is the founder and president.

• $200.00 to Friends of The Temecula Children’s Museum in 2007. His wife is the president.

• $1,000.00 to Safe Alternatives For Everyone (S.A.F.E.) in 2008, and a reimbursement to Dan Stephenson of $650.00 for half of his $1,300.00 donation to S.A.F.E. in 2007.  Go to the website and check out Board of Directors and the the Advisory Board.  You might be surprised at the names you see.

A supporter of Mr. Comerchero, or any candidate for that matter, deserves to know how their money is being spent.