For the full story detailing Supervisor Jaime De La Cruz's support from Lombardo & Gilles, the law firm representing DMB-El Rancho San Benito, click here.
HOLLISTER
Following revelations about a fellow board member, two supervisors have confirmed to the Free Lance they also received some campaign donation support from Lombardo & Gilles, which represents DMB- El Rancho San Benito.
Supervisor Anthony Botelho, for one, acknowledged he accepted "a few $99 checks" from that same law firm during his recent reelection campaign. Supervisor Reb Monaco also acknowledged receiving some donation support - he last ran in 2006 - but emphasized the firm's ties to the agriculture community and its "very reputable" image in the community in doing so.
Botelho, Monaco and other supervisors, meanwhile, reacted to details surrounding Supervisor Jaime De La Cruz's fundraising support from Lombardo & Gilles and a firm partner offering to pay for one of his election parties, as confirmed by the Free Lance.
Lombardo & Gilles organized two fundraisers for De La Cruz, in May 2007 and March 2008, and set up and offered to fund his victory party on election night in June 2008.
Asked if they garnered support from the firm, other supervisors had the following to say:
Botelho acknowledged that he also had received those "few" $99 donations. Pat Loe said she had not gained any help. Margie Barrios said she would have to go back and examine if she received any of the non-reportable donations from Lombardo & Gilles. And Monaco said he's "sure they have" contributed at some point.
Regarding De La Cruz, Monaco said he "can't envision" he did "anything wrong" in this matter.
"I can't believe, as big of a law firm as they are," Monaco said of Lombardo & Gilles, "that they would try to hide anything."
He could not recall specifically how much support he has received from Lombardo & Gilles, but Monaco did say: "I've always said - whoever contributes, you're not buying a vote from me."
Botelho, meanwhile, acknowledged accepting the $99 donations - the contributors of which candidates are not required to disclose - while also calling De La Cruz's matter a "bad mistake" but an "honest oversight."
Botelho addressed his donations from Lombardo & Gilles and said he had not sought "that level of support" seen in De La Cruz's campaign because he did not believe he needed it.
"No, they never did approach me - other than, here is some contributions," Botelho said.
Botelho said he did not think De La Cruz acted inappropriately, other than "being a bit sloppy with his campaign disclosures." He did say citizens running for office all have an "obligation" to be open about supporters and campaign financing.
Loe, when asked about De La Cruz, noted that she believes in "strong campaign finance" requirements. Supervisors approved rules in September 2004 and, under a new board, rescinded them the next year. She referred to inquiries on whether she received support from Lombardo & Gilles - she said she did not - as a "fair question for everybody."
"I really believe the only way to handle a lot of these issues is to minimize the amount of money," Loe said.
Barrios declined to comment on De La Cruz's campaign because, she said, "I really don't have all the information."
Asked if she received support from the firm, Barrios said she "did receive a lot of $99 checks" but that she would need to look back to her records regarding Lombardo & Gilles.
Kollin Kosmicki Kollin Kosmicki is editor of the Free Lance and Pinnacle. Reach him at 831-637-5566 ext. 337 or editor@freelancenews.com.
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