Diane Harkey Watch

Campaign finance reports detailing contributions made to candidates for public office were released yesterday. These reports show that Dana Point Mayor Diane Harkey has been using her elected position in Dana Point to aid fundraising for her State Assembly campaign.

Diane Harkey’s campaign finance report is available from the Secretary of State at http://cal-access.sos.ca.gov/PDFGen/pdfgen.prg?filingid=1284469&amendid=0

Harkey’s ethically challenged fundraising shows contributions from

· William Brough, husband of Michelle Brough, gave a $250 contribution within weeks of Mrs. Brough’s appointment to the Dana Point Planning Commission. Harkey replaced long-standing Commissioner April O’Connor with Mrs. Brough even though the Broughs do not own property in Dana Point.

· CR &R, a waste company with an exclusive Dana Point contract donated $2,500 after Harkey opposed a competitive bid contract.

· Devleloper Robert Theel, a developer with frequent projects in the Dana Point Town Center gave $1000.

· Foreign developer Barratt American gave the maximum, $3600. The company has expressed interest in developing city-owned open space.

· Richard Runge, a member of the South Coast Water District, contributed $250. Runge is paid $190 by SCWD for each Dana Point Council meeting he attends.

· Richard Dietmeier, another member of SCWD, also earns $190 for each council meeting he observes. He donated $250 to Harkey’s campaign.

· Lisa Bartlett was elected to the Dana Point City Council with Harkey’s support. She gave the maximum, $3,600.

· Joel Bishop was elected to the Dana Point City Council with Harkey’s support. Through his business, he gave the minimum reportable contribution, $100.

· A few weeks after April O’Conner was booted from the Planning Commission, Planning Commissioner Liz Fitzgerald gave the minimum reportable contribution of $100. Fitzgerald is still on the Planning Commission.

· Employees of Point Center Financial, a secondary marketing mortgage lending company gave $100s. The company is owned by the Harkey’s.

· Diane Harkey loaned her campaign exactly $100,000, the maximum refundable loan amount allowed under the Political Reform Act. Any additional funds loaned by Harkey are not refundable.

· Development firms Inland Group and Pacer Group each gave $2500. The Pacer Group is located in distant Bonsall.

Diane Harkey is being recalled from her position as a member of the Dana Point City Council. Further information about the Harkey recall can be obtained at www.dianeharkeyrecall.com.

News