Former Santa Clara City Councilman Dominic Caserta, who resigned in 2018 after allegations of sexual harassment, is facing a hefty fine from a state regulator for allegedly misusing campaign funds while running for a seat on the Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors.
The California Fair Political Practices Commission is proposing a $65,000 fine against Caserta, although few details about the alleged violations were available before the board’s Aug. 15 meeting. The agenda said Caserta made “numerous expenditures using campaign funds” that had “no legislative, governmental or political purpose and some provided a significant personal benefit to the candidate.” Several of the payments were made to his spouse, according to the agenda.
Additionally, the commission alleges that he failed to “timely and accurately report activity on a semi-annual campaign statement” and that he did not “maintain detailed campaign records” of contributions and expenditures.
Caserta, who was first elected to the council in 2002, suspended his bid for supervisor in 2018 when numerous sexual-harassment allegations surfaced from campaign staffers and former students at Santa Clara High School where he taught. Prosecutors ultimately declined to press charges, citing “insufficient evidence”.
On the FPPC’s August meeting agenda, Caserta’s case is listed as a “default default.” FPPC spokesman Jay Wierenga said most of the commission’s cases are settled, but those that are not fall into default. It is when the individual does not respond or misses a certain deadline.
Wierenga said defaults are made public a month before the commission officially votes on the issue, largely to try to “bring them back to the table.” If Caserta’s bankruptcy is eventually approved, which would happen at a later date, it would go into collections in an effort for the state to get its money back.
Caserta hung up the phone in response to inquiries from this news organization about the proposed fine.
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