April 5, 2010 --The California Fair Political Practices Commission (FPPC) recently sent a notice to Mayor Pro Tem Pam O’Connor with a warning regarding her late filing of the semiannual campaign finance statement. Next time she misses a deadline, O’Connor could face a fine of up to $5,000 per violation.

O’Connor’s statement covering the second half of 2009 was due to the City Clerk’s Office on Feb. 1. She did not submit it until mid-March. O’Connor cited her recent knee surgery and increased obligations as acting mayor and with her day job as a historic resources analyst for her lateness.

“I would have preferred to have been on time,” O’Connor told The Lookout News on Sunday. “But I, like lots of other people in the world, juggle multiple responsibilities. And sometimes something gets on the backburner. That happened to be the one.”

O’Connor said her attempt to learn the City’s electronic filing system was also a factor in “slowing her down.” She said she had difficulty figuring out the system, and eventually filed through the paper version.

She added, “I don’t see what the big deal is … Should I be late? No, of course not. I try not to be late on my taxes. I try not to be late on my credit card bill. I try not to be late on reports for work. I try not to get incompletes in college. Guess what? All of those things have happened to me at some point in my life.”

Pro Se, a frequent critic of O’Connor and other City officials, alerted the FPPC of O’Connor’s late filing last month when he submitted a formal complaint. Se said he did this in the interest of fairness.

“When I ran for City Council in 2002, I was told by the city clerk that I was to file in a timely manner and that I would be held accountable,” Se said. “I met my deadlines. Pam O’Connor should have to meet deadlines too.”

Se called O’Connor’s excuses “bogus.” He added, “I have problems with O’Connor.”

O’Connor’s financial statement showed she raised a little under $7,000 during the second half of 2009. A council member since 1994, she declared last fall she will run for a fifth term.

The council election this fall could be one of the most significant in Santa Monica’s history. Five of the seven seats on the dais are up for renewal. There will be two separate competitions.

In one race, Council members Terry O’Day and Gleam Davis, who were appointed to fill the seats made vacant by the deaths of Herb Katz and Ken Genser, will run to defend their seats. The top two vote-getters in that competition will serve two more years to finish the terms of Katz and Genser.

In the other race, incumbents O’Connor, Robert Holbrook and Kevin McKeown must run to keep their seats for a regular four-year term.
Challengers can only enter one race.