San Diego City Councilman David Alvarez was fined $2,000 fine for campaign violations stemming from the November San Diego mayor special election, according to the Ethics Commission.
U-T San Diego reported Friday the Ethics Commission unanimously approved the penalty Thursday night because two mail pieces didn’t properly display the “paid for by” disclosure as required by city law.
According to U-T San Diego, one mailer to about 47,000 residents on Oct. 21 that had a “Paid for by David Alvarez for Mayor” disclosure in black letters against a dark blue background. A second campaign postcards distributed in mid-November had its “paid for by” disclosure in 8-point type.
The Ethics Commission web site states:
The “paid for by” disclosure must be in a typeface that is easily legible and contrasts with the background. For most forms of campaign literature, the disclosure must use a typeface at least 12 points in size.
San Diego Ethics Commission Executive Director Stacey Fulhorst called the fines a "fairly routine violation."
