CHICK REPAYS EIDC CONTRIBUTION.Byline: Beth Barrett Staff Writer Los Angeles City Controller The Los Angeles City Controller is an official in the government of the city of Los Angeles, California. The City Controller is the auditor and chief accounting officer of the city. Laura Chick wrote a personal check Monday for $1,000 to repay a campaign contribution from the controversial Entertainment Industry Development Corp. Her action followed a city Ethics Commission In the United States, an Ethics Commission is a commission established by State law to discourage dishonest practices by their public employees and elected officials. Almost all American states have such a commission. ruling that says officeholder of·fice·hold·er n. One who holds public office. Noun 1. officeholder - someone who is appointed or elected to an office and who holds a position of trust; "he is an officer of the court"; "the club elected its officers for account funds can't be used for such purposes. Chick's reimbursement brings to $28,500 the amount of political donations returned by elected officials to the EIDC, which is under criminal investigation by District Attorney Steve Cooley Stephen Lawrence ("Steve") Cooley (born May 1, 1947 in Los Angeles, California) is a veteran prosecutor who was elected as Los Angeles County's 36th District Attorney on November 7, 2000. He was sworn in for his second term on December 6, 2004. in connection with its campaign contributions and lavish spending. Chick criticized the Ethics Commission for so far failing to provide guidelines regarding the EIDC, including whether elected officials serving as board members have a conflict in taking EIDC political contributions. ``There's been no commentary. ... I've operated in total silence on this,'' Chick said, who plans to meet today with ethics officials, including Executive Director LeeAnn Pelham Noun 1. Pelham - a bit with a bar mouthpiece that is designed to combine a curb and snaffle bit - piece of metal held in horse's mouth by reins and used to control the horse while riding; "the horse was not accustomed to a bit" . ``I want to get an opinion (whether) elected officials on the board can accept contributions, (and) whether (EIDC) is public or private,'' she said. Pelham could not be reached for comment, Chick, who was an EIDC board member when she was on the City Council, said that she reimbursed the EIDC in an effort to restore public trust. ``I wanted to correct the perception, and the only way is to repay it with personal money.'' Mayor James Hahn For the Iowa politician, see . James Kenneth "Jim" Hahn (born July 3, 1950) is an American politician from the Democratic Party. He was the Deputy City Attorney (1975-1979), City Controller (1981-1985), City Attorney (1985-2001) and Mayor of Los Angeles, California , an EIDC executive board member, has returned $25,000 he had solicited from the corporation to fight secession movements in the San Fernando Valley San Fernando Valley Valley, southern California, U.S. Northwest of central Los Angeles, the valley is bounded by the San Gabriel, Santa Susana, and Santa Monica mountains and the Simi Hills. and Hollywood. Councilwoman Cindy Miscikowski Cindy Miscikowski represented the 11th District on the Los Angeles City Council for two full terms from 1997 through 2005. Previously, she was an aide to Councilman Marvin Braude and the Executive Director of the Skitball Cultural Center in its beginning stages. , an EIDC board member, wrote a $500 personal check to return her contribution from the corporation, according to EIDC Vice President Morrie Goldman. Los Angeles County Supervisor Yvonne Brathwaite Burke sent back two checks, each for $1,000. The EIDC's executive board voted Sept. 30 to end all political contributions. In the past three years, EIDC has contributed over $100,000 to political campaigns, with its president, Cody Cluff - who also is under investigation - deciding their distribution, according to EIDC officials. The letter from Pelham to Chick states that once campaign accounts are closed and funds moved to officeholder accounts, they cannot be used for campaign purposes, including the return of a campaign contribution. Funds from contributors in officeholder accounts are to serve, assist or communicate with constituents. It notes, however, ``that nothing in city law prevents you from making a payment with personal funds to the donor in the amount of the contribution the committee received.'' |
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