ERIC H. WOOLERY, CPA

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Nov 8, 2017 - donation to the County, as the Taxpayer Watchdog, I believe the public interest outweighs the donor's requ
ERIC H. WOOLERY, CPA AUDITOR-CONTROLLER

To:

Michelle Steel, Chairwoman, Board of Supervisors Andrew Do, Vice Chairman, Board of Supervisors Todd Spitzer, Supervisor, Third District Shawn Nelson, Supervisor, Fourth District Lisa A. Bartlett, Supervisor, Fifth District

From: Eric H. Woolery, CPA, Auditor-Controller Date: November 8, 2017 RE:

Public Records Act Requests – Mile Square Park Archery “Anonymous” Donation

My office is in receipt of a number of Public Records Act requests relating to a recent “anonymous” donation made to the County of Orange for purposes of new equipment and repairs to existing equipment for the Mile Square Park Archery Range. No relevant exemptions to the California Public Records Act apply to the information requested. Consistent with State law, I have directed my staff to make documents related to this action, including but not limited to a copy of the donation check, be made available to those who have requested it. Additionally, I would take the opportunity to note that California law prohibits anonymous donations of $100 or more to candidates or committees, and California law also requires the disclosure of payments to government or charity of $5,000 or more made at the behest of an elected official. While the former certainly does not apply in this instance and the latter appears to not apply in this instance, they represent principles of good governance, transparency, and accountability to taxpayers, which the County indeed ought to espouse. While as an individual taxpayer, I appreciate the generosity of the individual(s) offering such a donation to the County, as the Taxpayer Watchdog, I believe the public interest outweighs the donor’s request for anonymity in this case, and further, that the California Public Records Act does not permit the County to honor this request for anonymity. Like certain candidate-controlled campaign accounts, legal defense funds, charitable organizations controlled by elected officials, and other funds without contribution limits, donations such as these have the potential to curry favor with officials while evading the spirit of various ethics rules and limits.

Enclosure (Check) cc:

Vacant, Campaign Finance and Ethics Commissioner, First District H. Josh Ji, Campaign Finance and Ethics Commissioner, Second District Tam Nomoto Schumann, Campaign Finance and Ethics Commissioner, Third District Peter Agarwal, Campaign Finance and Ethics Commissioner, Fourth District Vacant, Campaign Finance and Ethics Commissioner, Fifth District Denah Hoard, Executive Director, Campaign Finance and Ethics Commission Frank Kim, County Executive Officer

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