D. A. Finds No Wrongdoing in Ventura Campaign

VENTURA —  Concluding a nine-month investigation, the Ventura County district attorney’s office has found no evidence that backers of a proposed baseball stadium laundered money or committed any other wrongdoing in the 1995 City Council election.

“We were looking for evidence of people making contributions in the name of others--campaign money laundering--and we found no evidence of that,” said Chief Deputy Dist. Atty. Jeff Bennett. “We finished our inquiry and closed it without finding any evidence that anyone violated the Campaign Reform Act.”

In October, county prosecutors requested campaign finance records of all seven City Council members as part of a review by the district attorney’s Political Corruption Unit.

The request immediately followed a series of contentious council meetings during which officials and public speakers debated the merits of the then-$18.7-million minor league baseball stadium. During the meetings, some speakers accused ballpark backers of exercising undue influence through campaign gifts to council members.

As part of the district attorney’s probe, investigators looked at campaign contributions from people associated with John Hofer, principal owner of the Ventura Auto Center property and promoter of the stadium project.

Investigators focused on campaign contributions under $100. Contributions of $99 and less are not made public, but the law requires that records of those contributions be kept on file.

Bennett said a letter will be sent to council members informing them of the findings.

Several council members said Wednesday that they were not surprised by the district attorney’s conclusions.

“I always knew there was nothing there,” said Mayor Jack Tingstrom, who strongly supported the idea of a baseball stadium until Hofer withdrew his plans in January. “And to think of all the hullabaloo one council member made when there was nothing even there. It’s a shame.”

Councilman Steve Bennett, a staunch opponent of the stadium project and a crusader for campaign finance reform, had raised questions last year about possible money laundering in local campaigns.

Bennett could not be reached for comment Wednesday.

Other council members said they were pleased with the investigation’s findings.

“I’m confident that we don’t have any massive misdeeds out there,” said Councilman Ray Di Guilio, another strong proponent of the stadium. “Do we have isolated circumstances going on? Probably. But I don’t think we have anything that warrants major, major reformation. Elections were clean this last time, and they will be this next one.”

Councilman Jim Friedman, who originally supported the stadium idea but whose support grew more lukewarm as negotiations continued last fall, said it was nice to have closure.

“I know the campaign I conducted,” he said. “I’m glad this closes up this chapter with some finality. I’m glad to know everyone played by the rules.”