Did anyone else notice this gem today regarding Democrat Councilwoman Marti Emerald’s ongoing ethics issues? Here is what I find most amusing: why does Emerald think the anonymous ‘complaint’ placed up on the previous center-right website Red County was actually the real one submitted?
Emerald lashes out at ethics panel (Union Tribune)
San Diego City Councilwoman Marti Emerald, who has been under investigation by the Ethics Commission for the past 10 months for alleged violations from her 2008 campaign, blasted the watchdog panel ahead of a Monday afternoon hearing.
Emerald lashed out at the commission before she recused herself from voting on a matter related to the panel. She said she plans to show up at the Sept. 10 commission meeting to demand the investigation be dropped or charges be filed.
“It’s my hope the Ethics Commission will bring this fishing expedition to an end,” she said. Emerald noted that she has cooperated fully with the investigation.
The ongoing investigation into Emerald’s campaign finances started when an anonymous complaint was filed with the Ethics Commission shortly before the Nov. 4 election. Emerald described the complaint as a calculated political attack intended to hurt her candidacy.
The complaint, which was published by Red County blog in October, alleges that Emerald had failed to report a $3,500 bill from political consultant Larry Remer on her March campaign finance statement and paid the debt late. Emerald allegedly added the information to a later statement but did not update her original filing, a potential violation. She submitted seven amended campaign filings on July 13, eight months after she was elected. The changes involve disclosures of “unpaid bills.”
Last month, Emerald drew criticism for nominating one of her former campaign workers to serve on the Ethics Commission. She ultimately withdrew her pick after a reporter with The San Diego Union-Tribune questioned the appropriateness of Emerald nominating someone to the panel investigating her.
Posted by Helen Gao
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