Sweetwater school trustee being investigated
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 14, 2010 AT 6 A.M.
CHULA VISTA — State officials are investigating a complaint filed against Sweetwater school board President Arlie Ricasa that alleges she is using new campaign funds to retire old debts.
A former school board member Jaime Mercado filed the complaint with the California Fair Political Practices Commission last month. Mercado alleges Ricasa - who is seeking re-election to the Sweetwater Union High School District board - is violating state law by using funds for that campaign to pay off debts incurred from a previous run for the state Assembly.
Ricasa denied the allegation.
“I’m raising money right now for my school board campaign,” Ricasa said. “No monies are being intermingled with debt from my 2008 Assembly campaign.”
Ricasa referred further questions about her expenses to her campaign treasurer, Kinde Durkee, who did not return several calls for comment.
Violations can carry a maximum penalty of up to $5,000, Commission spokesperson Tara Stock said.
Mercado, who is running for a seat on the Southwestern Community College governing board, said he filed the complaint because he was angry about a Sweetwater school board decision that doubled the amount it costs to file a candidate's statement.
“The intent is to minimize competition for them because not everybody has $2,000 to pay for a statement,” Mercado said. “That infuriated me.”
Mercado, a former principal, lost a 2008 re-election bid to the school district board.
Andrew Valencia is running against Ricasa for Seat 5 on the school board.
wendy.fry@uniontrib.com • (619) 293-1743 • On Twitter @WendyFry
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