Thursday, August 19, 2010

Duvall disperses leftover campaign funds

Mike Duvall, who resigned his state Assembly seat due to what he called an incident of “inappropriate storytelling” midway through his second two-year term, has parceled out $60,000 of leftover campaign funds to charities, non-profits and political causes.

The two-time Yorba Linda mayor and Chamber of Commerce president wisely dispersed $33,600 to non-profit groups, but kept a foot in the political door by handing out $21,500 to 11 campaign committees for other candidates, including four who represent this city.

The latest report from the Mike Duvall for Assembly 2010 committee, covering the first six months of this year, was filed with California’s Secretary of State July 29. Duvall quit his legislative job last year after his talk of extramarital affairs reached the media.

In a column published two weeks after the resignation, I commented that Duvall “should offer to return cash contributed by constituents, with the rest going to a community-wide charity, such as the financially strapped Boys & Girls Club.”

While I doubt Duvall is taking guidance from newspaper writers, he did make one of his largest donations—$7,000 on April 30—to the Boys & Girls Club of Brea, Placentia and Yorba Linda. He gave the same amount on the same day to the county’s YMCA.

Other hefty donations: $6,000 to March of Dimes, $3,600 to Ahab/Patrick Smith Leukemia Fund, $3,500 each to Brea and Yorba Linda Masonic lodges, $2,000 to Cavalry Church of Santa Ana and $1,000 to Claremont Institute.

Local politicians benefiting from Duvall’s largess include Curt Hagman ($3,000), who holds the city’s eastside Assembly seat; Brett Barbre ($2,000), the city’s rep on the county Municipal Water District board; and Mike Beverage and Ric Collette (each $2,000), Yorba Linda Water District directors not on the ballot this year.

Duvall, who served on City Council 2000-06 before resigning to take his Assembly post, also gave cash to council candidates in other cities, including Scott Nelson ($2,500) in Placentia, Jim Gomez ($1,000) in La Habra and Michele Orrock ($2,000) in Elk Grove.

More money went to three sitting Assembly members (each $2,000), the San Bernardino Republican Party ($3,000), defeated Senate candidate Chuck Devore ($1,000) and David Bauer ($1,662 for legal and accounting services).

Interestingly, the California Republican Party returned a $15,000 contribution Duvall made April 20. Duvall’s state-required report listed the money’s return date as June 7.

And Jerry Amante, who lost the GOP nomination for Devore’s Assembly seat in June, lost no time in giving back $3,000. Duvall’s report stated the money was transmitted April 9 and refunded April 19. Amante listed April 15 as the receipt and return dates.

Duvall had $15,391 left June 30, but I’ll bet it’s gone when he files his report due Jan. 31, 2011, for the remainder of 2010. Advice for Duvall: think more good works, less politics.