City Council Member Detrick's Filing Shows Big Drop in Campaign Funds

January 21, 2014 | For the six months ending December 31, 2013, Elk Grove City Council Member Steve Detrick's campaign finance st...

January 21, 2014 |

For the six months ending December 31, 2013, Elk Grove City Council Member Steve Detrick's campaign finance statements showed a precipitous drop in funds.

The so-called Form 460 filings, which were recorded with the Elk Grove City Clerks' office on Janaury 17, showed Detrick had $33,405 on hand. This represents a drop of $47,669 from filings for the first six months of 2013.

The drop was partially offset by contributions of $500 for the period. Detrick, who ran unopposed for reelection in 2012, started 2013 with $93,677.

The bulk of the expenditures were classified as professional services. The top two professional expenditures were $35,983 and $5,270 to the law firms of Boutin Jones and Churchwell White respectively, both of which are considered Sacramento White Shoe law firms.

Detrick also made contributions of $1,790 to a variety of service clubs and charities including the Elk Grove Food Bank and the Elk Grove Teen Center. 





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9 comments

Detrick's Legal Woes said...

Boutin Jones for over $35K? Isn't that the law firm representing the son in his lawsuit as previously reported here on EGN and in the Elk Grove Citizen? Is Detrick using campaign finds to finance his son's lawsuit? Is that legal? Or is Detrick in some other legal trouble that we don't know about that hasn't been reported in the press? $35K in a lot of money in one reporting period to pay one law firm.

Churchwell White boats on their website that they mitigate matters before the FPPC; having attorneys on staff that used to work for that watchdog agency. Detrick is under FPPC investigation. So over $8K to mitigate the fine, perhaps?

I guess it is time to ask Gil Moore for another $10K or so! After all, the rezone is up for city council vote tomorrow.

Timing is everything!

Anonymous said...

Perhaps Detrick's rude comments are coming back to haunt him. For several years now, he has forgotten his "integrity" slogan and embraced a "in your face" attitude with citizens. Money tends to change people and this is seen in Detrick. Now, with less money and a seemingly large attorney fee to manage, will Detrick try to turn on the charm again? This time, I will not be fooled. It is very interesting his largest expense is for legal representation which it seems to me to have nothing to do with representing your district or your city. Can campaign money be used for this personal use? Something to watch for sure.

Anonymous said...

The City of Elk Grove is becoming the Shi--y of Elk Grove.

What a big JOKE!

Wall to wall housing projects and a full on amusement park in the middle of a residential neighborhood.

Anonymous said...

Guess we should carefully watch all the other council members 460's now that Gil Moore has his project all approved. Let's see what the "payoff" will be to Detrick and Hume for pushing this idiotic project through to the end.

Deeply Concerned said...

Firstly, did EGN contact Mr. Detrick and ask him why so much money to the two separate law firms? And was Mr. Detrick asked what the law firms were retained for? I would think that since these 460 forms have to be filed and are available to the public that Mr. Detrick would have to tell the public exactly what the money was being spent for.

Since it wasn't spelled out in the article I did my own research. The Boutin law firm is representing Mr. Detrick's son in a lawsuit against another person. Can Mr. Detrick use his campaign money to do that? I thought it was for campaigning only. If it's not legal then why is he doing that? That seems like reckless behavior. Is that someone we want on the counsel?

If the money is not to pay for his son's lawyer, then what is it being used for? I know Mr. Detrick is not up for reelection this year. (Didn't he get reelected last year?)

Something is not right.

Mr. Detrick please explain why you are paying so much money to lawyers. Are you in trouble?


Anonymous said...

You have a very good point. Using campaign money for personal use is a no-no...so, how exactly does paying your son's legal bill NOT qualify as "personal use?"
Mr. Detrick...please come clean.
Why all the lawyers? I don't recall seeing other council members paying lawyer fees.
Please Mr. Detrick...explain these actions before it's too late and the horse is long out of the barn. You are a public figure. These are public documents. The public deserves to know how you spend your campaign money. If we didn't have a right to know, these 460 forms would not be required. So since they are required, that means the public was meant to know how you spend your politically gained funds.
Mr. Detrick, it’s time to put your catch phases (integrity, honesty) to the test. Where is your integrity? Where is your honesty? An explanation is in order for all these legal bills.

History Lesson said...

Cooper and Leary used their campaign funds to pay for their legal fees when they went before the Grand Jury. They were being investigated relative to their activities as council members. Therefore, using campaign funds was/is permitted. However, paying for personal legal fees is not permitted. If memory serves, Cooper and Leary paid about $20K for their legal representation.

Gweneth said...

These questions are all very interesting. I also would like to know what these campaign funds are being used for by an elected official.

Mr. Detrick, please come forward and be honest and show some integrity and explain what is going on. I'm hopeful that you can explain away these concerns.

I look forward to your reply.

Sincerely,

Gweneth

Anonymous said...

I would imagine that most of us here in the city that keep up with the goings-on know what all those legal expenses are about and are most likely legit...but unfortunate IMO. While lately I seldom agree with Mr. Detricks comments on the dias...more like rattling on and on until he loses me in the process and even becomes problematic in me supporting him any longer. But that's just my opinion.....to each his own!

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