The Daily Breeze delivered a bomb-shell in the headlines yesterday (March 8, 2016):
Torrance Mayor Pat Furey’s successful 2014 mayoral campaign
was fined $35,000 Monday by the state’s political ethics watchdog for
“intentional coordination and concealment” of improper campaign contributions,
something critics had long suspected.
was fined $35,000 Monday by the state’s political ethics watchdog for
“intentional coordination and concealment” of improper campaign contributions,
something critics had long suspected.
The illegal contributions were connected to a supposedly
independent political action committee funded by McCormick Ambulance and the
Torrance Firefighters PAC that spent about $35,000 for a controversial Crenshaw
Boulevard billboard and other campaign expenses.
independent political action committee funded by McCormick Ambulance and the
Torrance Firefighters PAC that spent about $35,000 for a controversial Crenshaw
Boulevard billboard and other campaign expenses.
So, pay for play has become the real deal in Torrance?
I gave the mayor the benefit of the doubt at the time. Despite the cry of major voices in the community who told me not to trust the mayor, I pushed all of that noise aside.
When the FPPC falls on you, however, and has documented the frauds and errors which took place, there is no denying the unethical activities which Mayor Furey and his son engaged in.
Particularly his son:
Orchestrating the collusion between the PAC and Furey’s
campaigns were the mayor’s son and campaign consultant, Patrick Furey Jr., and
his business partner, Hasan Roberson, the FPPC investigation found.
campaigns were the mayor’s son and campaign consultant, Patrick Furey Jr., and
his business partner, Hasan Roberson, the FPPC investigation found.
and then
The mayor and his son are on the hook for half the $35,000
administrative penalty. Responsible for the other half are the PAC itself,
Richard Roesch, who headed the PAC and also was president of McCormick
Ambulance, and PAC treasurer Tina McKinnor.
administrative penalty. Responsible for the other half are the PAC itself,
Richard Roesch, who headed the PAC and also was president of McCormick
Ambulance, and PAC treasurer Tina McKinnor.
and also
The lengthy investigation uncovered email evidence that
found Furey Jr. and Roberson had illegally coordinated their campaign
activities to finance the billboard using the so-called independent
expenditures.
found Furey Jr. and Roberson had illegally coordinated their campaign
activities to finance the billboard using the so-called independent
expenditures.
The evidence included Furey Jr’s use of an “alternate email
account to remain anonymous when he coordinated with the PAC and Roberson.” The
agency said Furey Jr. was “uncooperative” when questioned about the issue.
account to remain anonymous when he coordinated with the PAC and Roberson.” The
agency said Furey Jr. was “uncooperative” when questioned about the issue.
Furey needed to cooperate, and yet he refused to. Why would he? He was engaged in criminal activity.
![]("https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-yDcbdOzQeU8/VuDsq8a3aSI/AAAAAAAACbQ/XcX4k1pTZXw/s1600/patrick%2Bfurey%2Bjr.jpg") |
| Pat Furey Jr. |
Check out this rundown on "Little Furey's" actions, too:
It’s not the first time that Furey Jr. — a member of the
Traffic Commission in Torrance — has run afoul of the FPPC.
Traffic Commission in Torrance — has run afoul of the FPPC.
He was fined $1,750 in April 2014 for his role in creating a
slate mailer called the P.T.A. Voter Guide that caused an uproar in the local
education community because it made it appear as though the influential group
had endorsed the current mayor and other political candidates who paid to
appear in the mailer.
slate mailer called the P.T.A. Voter Guide that caused an uproar in the local
education community because it made it appear as though the influential group
had endorsed the current mayor and other political candidates who paid to
appear in the mailer.
I remember that mailer. It caught my attention then precisely because of the PTA slogan, with dots indicating an abbreviation. Mayor Pat Furey was prominently featured on one of the pages along with two school board candidates.
It is only fitting at this point that Patrick Furey Jr. be removed from the Traffic Commission.
Contact the Torrance City Councilmembers and demand that they follow through on Councilwoman Ashcraft's motion of concurrence.
Mayor Pat Furey (the father of the son!):
pfurey@torranceca.gov
Heidi Ashcraft (Thank her for her bold action):
hashcraft@torranceca.gov
Geoff Rizzo:
grizzo@torranceca.gov
Kurt Weideman:
kweideman@torranceca.gov
Gene Barnett:
gbarnett@torranceca.gov
Mike Griffiths
mgriffiths@torranceca.gov
Tim Goodrich
tgoodrich@torranceca.gov