California's Oversight Watchdog Conducting Multi-Year Investigations of Sonoma County Elected & Appointed Officials
While complaints are often dismissed to protect those connected to Governor Newsom, the FPPC opens cases when sufficient evidence has been provided to warrant further investigation
California’s Fair Political Practices Commission (FPPC) is a five-member independent, non-partisan commission that has primary responsibility for the impartial and effective administration of the Political Reform Act.
The Act regulates campaign financing, conflicts of interest, lobbying, and governmental ethics. The Commission’s objectives are to ensure that public officials act in a fair and unbiased manner in the governmental decision-making process, to promote transparency in government, and to foster public trust in the political system.
If you suspect a violation of the Political Reform Act (the Act), you may submit an anonymous or sworn complaint. A sworn complaint entitles you to certain rights and processes, including notification of whether the matter will be investigated and the ultimate resolution.
The FPPC enforces violations of the Act and Government Code section 1090. Violations that do not fall under the Act may be pursued by a local district attorney, the state attorney general or other enforcement agencies.
Within 14 days of receiving the sworn complaint, the Enforcement Division will inform you how it intends to proceed. Please be advised that unless the Chief of Enforcement deems otherwise, within three business days of receiving your sworn complaint, we will send a copy of it to the person(s) you allege violated the law.
A sworn complaint found to have merit will be assigned to staff in the Enforcement Division for a full investigation. The division may obtain additional documents, issue subpoenas, and interview witnesses, including the person alleged to have violated the Act.
A sworn complaint must comply with certain requirements. All of the pertinent information must be included. At a minimum, you must do all of the following:
Submit your complaint in writing.
Identify the person(s) who allegedly violated the Act, list the specific provisions you believe the person(s) violated, and the dates on which the violation occurred.
Describe with particularity the facts constituting the alleged violation and provide any evidence to support the complaint.
State how you have personal knowledge of the violation.
Include names and addresses of witnesses, if known.
Check the box indicating that you are filing.
Violations of the Act include:
Financial conflicts of interest
Campaign money laundering
Over-the-limit gifts and contributions
Improper use of campaign funds, including personal use
Campaign mass mailings at public expense
False, inadequate, or inaccurate reporting on statements of economic interests, campaign statements and reports
Non-filing or late filing of such statements and reports
Anonymous or cash contributions of $100 or more
Violations do not include:
False or misleading campaign materials
Election fraud
Misuse of public funds unrelated to campaign mass mailings
Violations of the Elections Code, Penal Code or any laws other than the Political Reform Act
Issues related to federal campaigns
Open meeting law issues (Brown Act, Bagley-Keene)
Local ordinances
Vandalism of campaign signs
Residency requirements for running for or holding office
Once the Enforcement Division has fully investigated a complaint, the case may be resolved in several ways. If there is insufficient evidence to prosecute, the division may close the case with a letter finding no action or an advisory letter. If the seriousness of the offense and public harm are low, a warning letter may be issued identifying a violation of the Act but concluding a monetary fine is not warranted.
If the case merits an administrative penalty, the Enforcement Division may ask the Commissioners to approve a settlement agreement in which the subject of the investigation agrees to pay a fine or to take other remedial action. If an agreement cannot be reached, the case will be subject to a more formal administrative proceeding, including a probable cause conference and a hearing before an administrative law judge. In some cases, the FPPC may decide to prosecute a case by filing a civil lawsuit in court.
Government Code Section 1090 prohibits an officer, employee, or agency from participating in making government contracts in which the official or employee within the agency has a financial interest.
Section 1090 applies to virtually all state and local officers, employees, and multimember bodies, whether elected or appointed, at both the state and local level.
“Making” a contract includes final approval of the agreement, as well as involvement in preliminary discussion, planning, negotiation, and solicitation of bids.
A broad range of agreements are considered a contract under Section 1090. Generally, there is a contract when an offer is made and accepted and there is something of value bargained for and exchanged by each party. This includes written contracts, purchase of goods or services, employment agreements, leases, development agreements, etc.
An official can have a “financial interest” in a contract in a variety of ways and it is not limited by the amount of the interest or how closely connected the official’s interest is to the contract.
Several exceptions to Section 1090’s general prohibition also exist and, when applicable, officials may be considered to have no financial interest or a “remote” financial interest, so that a contract, or the official’s participation in the contracting process, is not prohibited under Section 1090.
Violations of Section 1090 can result in the voiding of contracts, criminal, civil, and administrative penalties, as well as a ban on holding public office.
Every elected official and public employee who makes or influences governmental decisions is required to submit a Statement of Economic Interest (SEI), also known as the Form 700. The Form 700 provides transparency and ensures accountability in two ways:
It provides necessary information to the public about an official’s personal financial interests to ensure that officials are making decisions in the best interest of the public and not enhancing their personal finances.
It serves as a reminder to the public official of potential conflicts of interest so the official can abstain from making or participating in governmental decisions that are deemed conflicts of interest.
Designated filers must submit an SEI upon assuming office, annually and upon leaving office.
Sonoma County Supervisor James Gore failed to disclose income from his spouse, Elizabeth Gore’s position as an investing limited partner with Portfolia Fund. He has been under investigation with the FPPC since May 12, 2022.
Portfolia is a community of women investing in the companies they want in the world. Their collective investments include women's health, active aging & longevity, sustainability, education, ‘backing people of color’, and the overall venture capital landscape.
Portfolia’s returns are among the top in their fields in venture capital and their 150 investments range from new start-ups to fast-growing brand names like Madison Reed, Everly Health, Willow Breast Pumps, GrubHub, and Maven Clinic.
Supervisor Gore was previously fined $400 by the FPPC for failing to disclose his wife’s income from Hello Alice for a 4-year period.
Per The Press Democrat:
The omissions were on mandatory economic interest forms filed by Gore from 2017 to 2020. The state charged him $100 per year for the violations.
Gore’s wife, Elizabeth Gore, is the company’s president and co-founder.
The commission’s decision lists the violation as failure to “timely report a source of income” on annual statements of economic interests.
Gore’s filings, which the supervisor provided to The Press Democrat, show he listed his wife’s income as over $100,000 but did not specify its source, Hello Alice. Additionally, Gore’s economic interest form, known as a Form 700, for 2019 was missing the entire page used to list income.
Gore, the Board of Supervisors chair, called the omissions a “clerical error.”
“Form 700s are documents that you try to improve upon every year,” Gore said…
“He wouldn’t have to disclose a sister’s income, for example, or an adult child’s income because he doesn’t have any interest in that,” said Bob Stern, the principal co-author of the Political Reform Act, which governs California campaign finance and government ethics.
“Most people comply with the law, most people are not fined, so it’s not common but it’s not egregious,” Stern said. “It’s not something that people should be overly concerned about. Obviously he should have listed it, there’s no question about that.”
In his filings for 2016 through 2020, Gore listed his other interests as his family’s wine business, Gore Family Vineyards, from which he consistently reported receiving $0 to $499 in gross income.
In his filing for 2016, Gore also listed Thomas A. Gore Vineyard Trust as a business interest, for which he reported a $10,001 to $100,000 income, and a $50,000 single source income payment.
This is the second time in eight years that Gore has been fined for a campaign finance violation.
During his first bid for supervisor in 2014, Gore failed to timely report unpaid campaign bills, totaling $30,000, for work performed by his chief campaign strategist, Rob Muelrath of Santa Rosa. Gore formally accepted responsibility for those violations and agreed to pay a $2,000 fine to the state.
Gore, in an interview, acknowledged that after two terms as supervisor he has years of experience filling out form 700s.
“Yes, but you make mistakes, you get busy, you’re in the middle of the pandemic,” Gore said. “Take a look at it. It’s like a tax document, it’s not a simple damn document.”
Mr. Jake McKee was appointed by his own brother-in-law, Sonoma County Supervisor James Gore to the County’s Fish & Wildlife Commission in 2017. Mr. McKee did not complete any statements of economic interest for all years served on the Commission. He has been under investigation with the FPPC since January 18, 2023.
Mr. McKee publicly failed to disclose that he owns Wayfinder LLC, a land use consulting and permitting firm which specializes in the cannabis sector. Major projects include: cannabis cultivation, manufacturing, and retail applications. Mr. Mckee’s firm, Wayfinder LLC, is a consultant for his sister-in-law, Erin Gore’s cannabis corporation, Old River Road dba Garden Society.
Supervisor Gore proceeded to appoint his sister-in-law, Ms. Erin Johnson Gore to the North Sonoma County Healthcare District Board. She has been under investigation with the FPPC since July 16, 2024.
Because of Ms. Erin Gore’s position on the Healthcare District Board, she is a designated filer, and must submit a Form 700 to the FPPC. She claimed that Gore May Bites, LLC is a ‘management & payroll’ company. However, this entity appears to be the edibles division of her cannabis corporation.
Additionally, she described Old River Road Inc. as a ‘benefit corporation for women’s products and education’. This was an odd description for a cannabis corporation.
She failed to disclose entirely that she is the co-owner of Healdsburg cannabis dispensary Garden Parc LLC dba SPARC. The FPPC has opened a case to investigate these omissions further.
Sonoma Valley Superintendent Socorro Shiels was abruptly fired upon the closure of year 2020, but failed to complete annual and leaving office SEIs throughout her employment as Superintendent. She has been under investigation with the FPPC since April 19, 2023.
The Sonoma Valley Unified School District responded: ‘we do not keep form 700's here on file, ever’. As the former Executive Assistant to the Board & Superintendent of Santa Rosa City Schools, I found this to be an odd response. Districts are legally required to store copies of these records in house.
The County confirmed that they held no SEIs for Ms. Shiels whatsoever.
Upon leaving office at Sonoma Valley Unified School District, Ms. Shiels failed to disclose her income as the Lead Associate, Equity First Consulting.
After leaving the district, she was hired as the inaugural diversity, inclusion, and equal employment officer for the City of Santa Rosa. Ms. Shiels presumably utilized her position with the City of Santa Rosa to direct funding to the First 5 Commission which paid her as a consultant.
The City informed me that they did not consider her as a designated filer within their conflict of interest code.
The City of Pismo Beach, CA requires the following locally designated filers to complete a Form 700: Advisory Body Members, Department Heads, certain management staff, certain consultants. This is standard practice for most local agencies throughout the State of California.
Per City of Santa Rosa Council Meeting Minutes dated November 30, 2021:
At the October 26, 2021 study session, the Council received a presentation on potential programs using $34.4 million of American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds and the remaining $7 million of PG&E settlement funds. The Council provided feedback to staff to either return with more information, or to find ways to redirect funding to projects initially not receiving funding. Ms. Shiels was amongst the staff recruited to develop a revised spending plan.
To move forward with a spending plan, the staff working group reviewing these programs assembled lists of programs that seemed to have Council support to move forward, which are shown below. The program costs shown below reflect their total cost including third-party administration of the program. At $24,990,000 in proposed program expenditures, $9,287,436 would be available for additional programming.
The Council requested additional information on several programs, relative to who would be served and how the program would be administered. Ms. Shiels specific focus regarded the allocation of children and childcare support programs.
Staff’s presentation at the November 30, 2021 Santa Rosa City Council Meeting requested $1,575,000 ($1.5M of program funds; $75k Admin cost) to establish a children’s savings account (initially proposed as “Baby Bonds” Program).
The City would partner with First 5 Sonoma County to expand existing state programs.
Ms. Shiels served as a First 5 Commissioner while developing the Strategic Plan 2021-2025. While developing the Plan, she was a part of the Strategic Planning Design & Strategic Planning Advisory teams.
Ms. Ana Lugo, Equity First Consulting was selected as the strategic planning consultant by the First 5 Commission.
The Sonoma Climate Mobilization Strategy Final Draft (March 2021) cited the following in the footnotes:
“Lugo, A. & Shiels, S. (2021). Diversity, Equity, and Belonging (DEB) Brief: Analysis of the Sonoma Climate Mobilization Strategy, Equity First Consulting”
Sonoma County Supervisor Lynda Hopkins has been under investigation with the FPPC since February 16, 2022.
Over the years, she has approved funding for LandPaths through her positions on local agencies.
Her spouse, Emmett Hopkins, was employed as Community Stewardship Manager for LandPaths from February 2018 to March 2020. He managed budgets, staff and programs for the Community Care Initiative.
California State Assemblyman Damon Connolly has been under investigation with the FPPC since July 9, 2024.
He failed to disclose names of customers who paid over $10k to his firm, Law Offices of Damon Connolly during each fiscal year.
Rohnert Park Councilwoman Samantha Rodriguez has been under investigation with the FPPC since April 17, 2024.
She reported zero sources of income on her Form 700s.
She omitted her position as Executive Director of Graton Day Labor Center.
Raizes Collective Executive Director & Human Rights Commissioner Isabel Lopez paid herself a $2,500 Commission grant to lead a march while apparently on DUI probation. She has been under investigation with the FPPC since December 13, 2023.
On August 4, 2023, Ms. Lopez sent a $2,500 invoice to the attention of the Human Rights Commission on behalf of Raizes Collective. She requested a sponsorship payment for supporting a 40-mile March on August 5-7 from Petaluma to the Federal Building in San Francisco. The project was sponsored by the Northern California Coalition for a Just Immigration Reform March to Push for HR1511.
On Tuesday, March 28, 2023, the Sonoma County Human Rights Commission Meeting Minutes stated:
AD HOC COMMITTEE AND PROJECT COMMITTEE UPDATES
Immigrants' Rights Ad Hoc reported on The Registry Bill that would allow immigrants to apply for green cards if they lived in the U.S. for 7 years and are in good standing. Mujeres from ALMAS organized conferences and the next step in this campaign is a march on August 8th, 2023, from Sonoma County to San Francisco then followed by a National Boycott on August 9th. Commissioner Lopez is attending and will represent the Commission in the Coalition.
On August 12, 2020, a “Maria Lopez” (Isabel Lopez) was arrested for drunk driving after her car plowed into a parked police car. CBS News Bay Area reported:
“The crash happened Wednesday at around 9 p.m. in the area of Cleveland Ave. and Ridgeway Ave. where police were assisting with traffic control during a fire, according to Santa Rosa police.
An officer had arrived at the scene and parked his marked vehicle with the patrol lights on. Moments later, a white Hyundai Accent smashed into the patrol car’s rear driver’s side quarter panel.
The officer was slightly injured and taken to a local hospital where he was treated and released.
The Hyundai’s driver was identified as 39-year-old Maria Lopez of Santa Rosa. Police said Lopez exhibited objective signs of intoxication and was determined to be driving under the influence of alcohol.
Lopez was arrested and booked into Sonoma County Jail DUI causing injury. She was not injured.”
Ms. Lopez appeared to be sentenced with a felony and placed on formal probation through November 10, 2024. She missed many consecutive meetings while incarcerated. It is unclear as to why she has been continually appointed to serve on the Commission while simultaneously serving her probation period.
Santa Rosa Community Advisory Board Member David Chen has been under investigation with the FPPC since September 19, 2024.
While CAB Member David Chen was absent on June 24, 2024, the Board approved a $2,500 mini grant for the Skyhawk Neighborhood Day project under the group Skyhawk United.
According to the filings submitted to the CA Secretary of State, Mr. Chen is the CEO for Skyhawk United. He did not appear to include this source of income on his Form 700.
On March 27, 2024, Mr. Chen voted in favor of approving a $2,500 grant for a Skyhawk Community Bulletin Board at the request of Skyhawk United. He failed completely to abstain from the discussion and vote.
Mr. Chen reported zero sources of income to the FPPC.
Petaluma Climate Action Commission Vice Chair Panama Bartholomy failed to disclose any reportable financial interests while serving on the Commission.
He is the Founder and Executive Director of Building Decarbonization Coalition, launched in August, 2018.
Sonoma County Agricultural Preservation & Open Space District Commissioner Todd Mendoza failed to file SEIs. He has been under investigation with the FPPC since April 15, 2022.
The Fiscal Oversight Commission provides independent fiscal oversight for Ag + Open Space operations. It serves as an audit committee and is responsible for reviewing each proposed acquisition or conveyance of interest in real property, previewing any borrowing transaction for compliance, and reviewing the annual audit. It can also review internal financial records of the Open Space Special Tax Account, operations and maintenance, and procurement practices. It makes an annual report to the Ag + Open Space Board of Directors.
Mr. Mendoza did not report income and clients as a Professional Realtor for Coldwell Banker Realty.
While serving as a Board Member to the Sonoma County Workforce Investment Board (WIB), Ms. Lisa Fatu reported zero financial interests on her Form 700.
Ms. Fatu is the former director of youth crisis services at Social Advocates for Youth, or SAY. She was convicted in April 2023 after pleading no contest to one count of grand theft. She is accused of embezzling more than $50,000 over several years.
As of July 2022, she was hired with Reach for Home as Director of Programs for homeless services.
In December 2022, my ex-fiancé, SRCS District Parent Deanna Olivarez and I reported Santa Rosa City Schools Board President Omar Medina for failing to disclose any sources of income, investments, or other reportable financial interests on his statement of economic interest. He has been under investigation by the Fair Political Practices Commission since December 6, 2022.
A second case was opened with the FPPC on 8/21/2024 for violating campaign disclosure requirements during Mr. Medina’s 2024 run for the Sonoma County Board of Supervisors.
Mr. Medina was the former Program Coordinator for Gamaliel of California from Oct 2017 - Dec 2018 and President of North Bay Organizing Project from July 2015 - July 2017.
Following the 2017 Tubbs Fire, NBOP launched Undocufund, a fiscally sponsored endeavor in conjunction with North Bay Jobs with Justice and Graton Day Labor Center. Supposedly, UndocuFund is a mutual aid project for Sonoma County’s undocumented community members.
Per their website, Mr. Medina served as the Undocufund Coordinator.
On December 27, 2020 the Federal Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021 passed by the U.S. Congress established the Emergency Rental Assistance Program (ERAP) making available $25 billion nationwide. California received $2.6 billion; $1.5 billion directly allocated to the State and $1.1 billion allocated by the U.S. Treasury to counties and cities with populations over 200,000.
To implement the Emergency Rental Assistance Program (ERAP) in California, the Governor signed SB 91 for COVID-19 Rental Assistance on January 29, 2021 extending the State’s eviction moratorium until July 1, 2021, which was previously set to expire on February 1, 2021 provided previously in AB 3088. SB 91 provides new protections for tenants impacted by COVID-19, including debt treatment and civil procedures. It appropriates $1.5 billion for the State Rental Assistance Program.
Based on feedback from the Board of Supervisors, on February 12, 2021, the Sonoma County Community Development Commission (CDC) notified the California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) of its intention to self-administer the COVID-19 Rental Assistance program, in lieu of a State-administered option
An agreement with the County of Sonoma and NBOP/Undocufund stated the following:
"WHEREAS, the County of Sonoma FY 2020-21 Adopted Budget includes $10,000,000 in State of California Block Grant Award funds for use by SUBRECIPIENT in fiscal year 2020-21 and fiscal year 2021-22 for NBOP/UndocuFund Emergency Rental Assistance Program".
A LegalAid flyer for ERAP indicated that (707) 318-6631 was the point of contact to apply for rental assistance through North Bay Organizing Project/Undocufund.
When I reverse searched the phone number (707) 318-6631 which was provided by LegalAid for NBOP/Undocfund, it appeared to be registered to Mr. Omar Medina. He has been employed as the Program Manager for Elsie Allen High School Foundation since October 2023 and appears to handle donations.
ERAP applicants in the community expressed their frustration regarding denial for program eligibility. As the recipient list is not considered public information, it is unclear as to how the funds were allocated. Therefore, I questioned if the ERAP monies were properly distributed as expressed in the summary agreement.
As the former Executive Assistant to the Board and Superintendent of Santa Rosa City Schools, I was illegally forced out as a protected whistleblower. I have been in settlement meditation with the district since June 2023. During this time, Mr. Medina offered to meet with me to further discuss my concerns. During our meeting, he seem to only be interested in how I knew about the ERAP monies he received.
The lack of physical presence at Board Meetings by Director Medina, a childless individual, has concerned the community regarding his desire to hold a Board position. Over the past few years, Director Medina has been traveling around the world to exotic locations with his new bride while attending Board Meetings virtually via Zoom. Members of the public have been curious as to how Director Medina has been able to fund his travels being that his financial disclosures have been non-transparent. His travels coincided with the receipt of the ERAP funds.
These are just some of the folks currently under investigation with the FPPC due to my sworn complaints submitted over the past several years. Rather than researching these matters in further detail, The Press Democrat and associated publications under the umbrella of Sonoma Media Investments have continually labeled me as a ‘stalker’, ‘gadfly’ and ‘conspiracy theorist’ for bringing transparency to the community. Meanwhile, they have praised and endorsed the folks who are being investigated. Lies do not wish to be questioned…
“The media's the most powerful entity on earth. They have the power to make the innocent guilty and to make the guilty innocent, and that's power. Because they control the minds of the masses.” -Malcolm X
Wow! It your fight for truth and transparency keeps getting better and better. Why aren’t these publicly elected officials following the law? That’s not a trick question. Hey from Atlanta.