Campaign Staffers for Alatorre Face Criminal Charges

A 16-count criminal complaint charging that Los Angeles City Councilman Richard Alatorre’s political committees accepted nearly $85,000 in illegal contributions before his election last year was filed in Municipal Court on Thursday by the city attorney’s office.

Alatorre, who took office Dec. 10 after a special election to fill the seat of retired Councilman Arthur K. Snyder, was not named in the complaint, which followed a four-month investigation by the city clerk’s and city attorney’s offices.

City Atty. James K. Hahn said there was insufficient evidence to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that Alatorre knew of, or directed, the illegal contributions.

“There are no signatures by Mr. Alatorre on any checks,” he said. “There are no contracts he signed that we were able to discover. There’s no indication he endorsed any contribution checks.”

2 Groups Named

Rather, the complaint alleged that violations were committed by Alatorre’s two campaign committees--Friends of Alatorre and Citizens for Alatorre--and two campaign treasurers, Ernest Camacho of Citizens for Alatorre, and Cecilia Alatorre Kunkel, the councilman’s sister and treasurer of the other group.

Also named in the complaint was Mary E. Brooks, who Hahn said disbursed funds from both committees.

The three campaign workers face arraignment Aug. 7 in Municipal Court. If convicted, each could be sentenced up to six months in jail and fined $1,000 for each count. Kunkel was named in all 16 counts, while Camacho was named in nine and Brooks in six.

Hahn said none of the principals agreed to talk to investigators, and that the city attorney’s office did not have the power to compel them to testify.

The case is the first to fall under the city’s campaign contribution law, passed by voters in 1985 and put into effect July 1. Meant to curb the political influence of wealthy contributors and to put well-heeled candidates on a more equal footing with modestly funded competitors, the law limits contributions to $500 for City Council races.

“This law appeared to have been ignored on many instances by the two separate committees and the people who were responsible for disbursing funds,” Hahn said at an afternoon press conference in his City Hall East suite.

None of the Alatorre campaign workers could be reached for comment, but Johnnie L. Cochran Jr., an attorney representing the councilman, his committees and the workers, said his clients may have been confused by the new law.

“To the extent that there have been and are any errors committed by the campaign committee, we want to address those as quickly as possible,” Cochran said, adding that the campaign would want to “put that behind us.”

Cochran said he intends to talk to the city attorney to determine whether the matter can be settled before it reaches trial. “Obviously no final discussion has been made,” Cochran said. “Clearly we should have those discussions.”

Hopes Echoed

Alatorre, in a statement released by his City Hall staff, echoed Cochran’s hopes that the matter could be speedily resolved.

“Obviously I am pleased by the city attorney’s findings with regard to my conduct during the recent campaign,” Alatorre said. “Just as obvious, if errors were committed by my campaign committee, those involved were and are my longtime friends and close supporters.

“No candidate can know everything that happens in the day-to-day activities of a fast-paced campaign. But I and those who work with me have always endeavored to follow the law. Now I am interested in putting this matter behind us.”

Overall, the misdemeanor complaint charges that Alatorre’s campaign committees and workers violated the contribution reform law by using his well-stocked state committee--the “Citizens” group--to bankroll his city financial committee--the “Friends” group--in amounts exceeding the $500 limit. Alatorre served in the state Assembly representing the Eastside before seeking the 14th District council seat.

Details of Allegations

In addition, five of the counts charge that the Alatorre campaign accepted more than $1,000 in small contributions before his committee filed the necessary solicitation papers with the city clerk’s office.

The allegations rest on transactions that include the following:

- More than $21,000 was paid by the state committee to the political consulting firm of Winner, Taylor & Associates of Los Angeles for services in the municipal campaign, including post cards, badges and other supplies.

- More than $28,000 was paid by the state committee to Crown Gibraltar of Alhambra for printing costs.

- The state committee also paid Clay Lawson Productions of Sacramento $15,000 to produce a promotional videotape of Alatorre.

- More than $5,000 was paid by the state committee to Briggs Sign Co. of Sacramento for campaign placards.

- The U.S. Postal Service received $7,000 from the state committee for bulk mailings in connection with Alatorre’s council election.