Campaign Finance Complaint Filed With FPPC on Elk Grove City Council Member

February 24, 2014 | An Elk Grove citizen has filed a complaint with the California Fair Political Practices Commission (FPPC) alleg...



February 24, 2014 |

An Elk Grove citizen has filed a complaint with the California Fair Political Practices Commission (FPPC) alleging a current member of the Elk Grove City Council has illegally used campaign funds.

The FPPC complaint was filed by Linda Ford who alleges that Council Member Steve Detrick has used money from his campaign fund for personal uses. Specifically Ford alleges that Detrick has used in excess of $40,000 from his campaign fund to pay legal bills for his son, Brian Detrick.

The younger Detrick is suing Elk Grove resident Connie Conley, who along with Ford co-founded the Elk Grove Community Connection, for allegedly defaming his character.

The complaint says that Steve Detrick has paid the law firm of Boutin Jones over $40,000 and allege that these payments are for that firm's handling of Brian Detrick's suit against Conley. On Steve Detrick's Form 460 reports filed with the Elk Grove City Clerk's office, there are several payments made to Boutin Jones.

Reporting on his legal expenditures, The Elk Grove Citizen wrote "Detrick said everything that appears in newspapers, on online blogs, in email or text messages, or phone calls that could be considered “inflammatory” gets sent to his attorney for review. The council member also said that people make “false allegations” when they file multiple ethics-related complaints with city, county, state, and federal agencies, and his attorney reviews all of those documents."

The complaint asserts that Council Member Detrick is violating the California Political Reform Act Section 89514.The complaint also alleges that Brian Detrick's attorney, Daniel Strouder of Boutin Jones, has said that Brian is the only party to the defamation suit against Conley.

Steve Detrick, who is out of the country until March 14, could not be reached for comment.

 

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5 comments

Anonymous said...

On one hand where do these ladies get the energy and time to continue to pursue city officials? But on the other hand, isn't this allegation a similar allegation that was made against our city activist awhile back? Isn't there a learning curve here? Do neither one of them learn from other's mistakes? These allegations, whether true or false are becoming an embarrassment to Elk Grove as a regional player. Wishing everyone could just work together for a better Elk Grove.

Anonymous said...

On the contrary, if it's true that campaign funds were illegally used, then I want to know about it, and probably so do all the others who may have donated to Detrick. It's an important piece of in formation for voters.

Anonymous said...

I agree...this is getting somewhat old. If you win, you also lose, because you lost a former friend in the end. There are many other ways to seek validation than through the courts and we will all be better off in the end. Financially and with self respect, which is more important. End it now...please!

Anonymous said...

Yeah, what ever came of the FPPC complaint vs Conley filed last year? I believe she was charged with the same issue that Ms. Ford now claims Detrick is guilty of.
Anyone know what happened thete?

Anonymous said...

Destination City?

This is the type of stuff that you read about in New Jersey or Chicago.

At least, Jersey has the Sopranos and Chicago has the Miracle Mile, Sears Tower and Lake Michigan.

Elk Grove has a 1/4 completed "mall", strip centers and miles and miles of bland subdivisions and the only decent paying jobs are with the City.

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