By Terrance Thornton | Independent Newsmedia
Scottsdale City Attorney Bruce Washburn has assessed a total penalty of $26,445.92 for campaign violations committed by a political action committee supporting the pending municipal bond election.
Two campaign finance violations were committed by the PAC Scottsdale Quality of Life Matters in Support of Questions 1, 2, 3 & 4, according to a Nov. 4 penalty letter penned by Mr. Washburn.
According to Arizona election law, the PAC could have been assessed penalties totaling more than $250,000, but Mr. Washburn says they can pay only $12,000 in fines if done within 10 days of the Nov. 4 letter.
One Scottsdale councilman feels the fine assessed by the city amounts to nothing more than a slap on the wrist.
“I can’t believe you are serious — these ‘penalties’ are so grossly inadequate relative to the magnitude of the violations involved that they amount to a joke,” said Scottsdale Councilman Bob Littlefield in a Nov. 4 e-mail.
