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East County supervisor candidate makes campaign finance error By Lisa Vorderbrueggen Contra Costa Times Article Launched: 05/28/2008 05:24:14 PM PDT

Contra Costa County supervisor candidate Erik Nunn of Oakley and his relatives have contributed or loaned his campaign more than $25,000 and triggered an increase in his opponents' contribution limits.

Incumbent Supervisor Federal Glover of Pittsburg and challengers Gary Agopian, Mary Rocha and Don Parscal are now permitted under the county's election law to receive as much as $5,000 per person rather than $1,675 for the June 3 election.

Nunn called it a mistake and said he has refunded the money that pushed him over the limit.

"My family did not know the rules, or how much I had already lent the campaign," said Nunn, a chief financial officer for a general contracting company. "It definitely was something that my treasurer and I missed. ... I have already sent the contributions back to my family members and the correction will be made on my next campaign report."

But it's too late for Nunn to reverse course.

Once a candidate triggers the self-funded provision, the other candidates are free to take advantage of the higher limits, said deputy district attorney Steve Bolen. A self-funded candidate also is prohibited under the ordinance from repaying personal loans made to the campaign.

Glover's campaign argued that it was unfair to allow candidates to flip-flop back and forth and put his opponents in fundraising limbo.

Glover also has filed a complaint with the state Fair Political Practices Commission and the county district attorney's office, contending that Nunn violated campaign finance laws related to contributions he received from his mother.

"How can a CFO who says he 'turned around a million dollar company' not know he self-funded or violated campaign finance laws?" said Glover campaign manager Mary Jo Rossi.

Nunn received contributions on May 10, 2008, and June 27, 2007, of $1,675 each from Sheila Nunn of Mountain Ranch. Election law limits contributions to $1,675 per person per election cycle.

The District 5 campaign cycle began July 1, 2004, the month after the district's last supervisor election where Nunn, in his first campaign, lost to Glover.

Intended to help candidates who face wealthy opponents, Contra Costa election law states that candidates running for county supervisor are considered self-funded if they loan or give their campaigns more than $25,000 in an election cycle and spend at least $25,000. The contribution and loan total includes money from immediate family by blood or marriage, including spouses, children, parents and siblings.

The law is silent on whether a candidate may void the self-funded trigger if he returns the money.

Nunn had received $30,050 in loans or contributions, including $25,000 from himself and $5,050 from his brother, sister-in-law and mother as of May 17, the end of the most recent campaign reporting period. Nunn had spent $75,769 on his campaign.

Nunn had collected $69,365 in contributions in addition to loans from himself in the same time period. He had $17,187 in the bank and listed no debts.

Glover netted $44,093 in contributions in the same time period but reported no loans. He had $86,079 cash on hand and no debts. The other three challengers reported:

Agopian of Antioch: $14,519 in contributions, no loans, $1,178 cash on hand and $3,000 in unpaid bills.

Parscal of Brentwood: $2,575 in contributions, no loans, $505 cash on hand and $2,615 in debts.

Rocha of Antioch: $5,486 in contributions, $2,792 in loans, $783 cash on hand and no unpaid bills.

The county's Election Division provides all candidates with copies of the county election law, a candidate guide and a "Frequently Asked Questions" document that specify the rules, including those related to self-funding. The materials also are posted online at www.cocovote.us.