SACRAMENTO -- California's campaign finance watchdog on Friday recommended the largest combined fine in the agency's history -- more than $40,000 -- against Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa for failing to report free tickets to dozens of sporting and entertainment events, ranging from the finals of "American Idol" to Los Angeles Lakers games.
The action was published on Friday by the California Fair Political Practices Commission, which will consider the matter at its April 11 board meeting.
The recommendation is a result of a joint investigation by the state agency and the Los Angeles Ethics Commission. Each agency is recommending fines of roughly an equal amount -- $21,000 by the Fair Political Practices Commission for 21 counts for ethics violations, and $20,849 for the remaining 12 counts by the Los Angeles Ethics Commission.
"If approved, the proposed joint stipulation entered into by Mayor Villaraigosa and the Fair Political Practices Commission and the LA Ethics Commission would be the largest ethics fine in the history of the FPPC," said Roman Porter, the state agency's executive director.
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