Assemblywoman Dawn Addis Fined For Accepting Donation From Lobbyist

Assemblywoman Dawn Addis (D-Morro Bay) was fined for taking a donation from a lobbyist during the weekend, with the Fair political Practices Commission (FPPC) ordering her to pay a $1,000 fine.

The illegal donation incident in question dates back to December 2019. That month, lobbyist Steve Black, who represented a firm trying to build wind turbines off the coast of Morro Bay, donated $250 for her 2020 Assembly campaign. Addis, who at the time was a City Councilwoman and Mayor pro tem of Morro Bay, accepted. However, the donation in questions was illegal. According to the Political Reform Act, lobbyists cannot donate to candidates running for office, and candidates are not allowed to accept.

Black, rather than report the donation, opted to not put it down in his quarterly lobbyist report with the state the next month. However, the FPPC soon caught wind of the omission, and the very next day after Black had filed his report with the missing donation information, Addis’ campaign refunded his contribution. Both Black and Addis also told the FPPC soon after that they didn’t know of the law.

“On Friday January 24, 2020, I learned that I inadvertently made a $250 campaign contribution to a candidate for the State Assembly in violation of Government Code Section 85702,” said Black in a letter to the FPPC. “Neither I nor the candidate who solicited the contribution was aware of the ban. I regret the error. The contribution has been returned.

“I am registered to lobby the State Legislature during this session on behalf of only one client and was unaware of the ban on contributions to candidates for state office covered by my registration. I am a resident of Colorado and typically have supported candidates for federal office or state office in Colorado, where I am not registered as a lobbyist.”

Addis soon gave more details, including that she had solicited Black and his company for financial support for her campaign, but also had no idea that he was a lobbyist. She also noted that he had met her in Morro Bay about getting financial support.

While the FPPC was mulling the incident over the next few years, Addis lost the 2020 35th district election to then-Assemblyman Jordan Cunningham (R) in a 55%-45% landslide. However, redistricting in 2021, Addis had a much more favorable 30th district to run for, and won over Vicki Nohrden in 2022.

Addis, Black fined

Finally, more than 3 1/2 years after the illegal donation incident took place, the FPPC gave their ruling over the weekend. In a 3-1 vote, the FPPC commissioners ordered Addis to pay $1,000 for accepting the illegal donation and Black $1,500 for both making the donation and not reporting it. According to Senior Commission Counsel Christopher Burton, the FPPC opted to give both candidates the lowest fine possible because they believed that neither candidate had intended to break the law, despite the law being well known to both lawmakers and lobbyists alike.

“There’s nothing here to show that this was some intentional scheme, or conspiracy,” said Commissioner Richard Miadich. “This is somebody who should’ve paid closer attention.”

However, many on Monday believed that the fine should have been higher, to send a message that this kind of donation is illegal and that there will be consequences for it.

“Both of them should have  absolutely known that that kind of donation is illegal,” said Dana, a Capitol staffer in Sacramento. “Any candidate and campaign worth their salt knows to check every donation before accepting. Some can be illegal donations, or donations coming from undesirable lobbyist groups, or what have you. It was only $250, but it was still illegal. You absolutely have to know that. And the same goes for the lobbyist. That’s lobbyist 101 right there. Bot the donation and reporting it. It’s like how the IRS can’t get you on being a criminal, but can get you on not paying your taxes.”

“On the off chance they didn’t know, the fine should have still been higher. Get the message out to people to check for this sort of thing. But they didn’t.”

All fines paid by both Black and Addis are to go to the state’s General Fund.