Katie Hobbs gave one of her early endorsers a massive 98 percent discount on his campaign finance violation fines. Was it a reward for his endorsement?
In a sweetheart settlement that stiffed taxpayers, Hobbs’ Secretary of State office reduced the fines owed by fellow Democrat Cesar Chavez from at least $62,000 owed to just $1,000, the Arizona Republic reported yesterday. Chavez was one of Hobbs’ earliest endorsers.
Another Democrat legislator who endorsed Hobbs’ opponent in the Democrat gubernatorial primary didn’t get such a sweet deal. Democrat Melody Hernandez, who said about Hobbs “we have lost faith in her ability to lead our state” and “we could no longer in good conscience support someone with her record,” had to pay her own fines in full.
Fines must be paid out of candidates’ personal funds, not their campaign accounts. That means people like Chavez have a significant personal financial interest at stake.
Worse still, Hobbs’ leniency seems to have only encouraged Chavez’s law-breaking behavior:
“The deal helped Chávez avoid a big financial hit, but he hasn't seemed to have learned a lesson,” the Republic wrote. “He’s running for state Senate this year and now owes another $1,225, which isn't covered by the settlement, because he filed a report that was due in December nearly three months late. He also still hasn't filed a report that was due April 15, which means more fines. Chávez appears to be the state’s biggest offender when it comes to blowing off report deadlines while actively campaigning.”
Chavez even admits in the article he lied on his latest filings by listing no income, but says he plans to amend them. Is there a protection racket going on at the Secretary of State’s office?
Responding to the Republic’s charges that the Secretary of State’s enforcement was “arbitrary and lax,” Hobbs’ spokesperson defended her actions, arguing “it's an imperfect system that lacks some clarity.”
Of course, Chavez thinks Hobbs is doing a great job at not holding him accountable. “I think that the SOS office does a great job at enforcement,” Chavez told the Republic.
“Democrat Katie Hobbs let her political ally Cesar Chavez off scott-free, reducing his fines 98 percent and turning a blind eye to his flagrant, repeated and intentional campaign finance violations. This is corruption, plain and simple.” – RNC Spokesperson Ben Petersen
