BACKGROUND:  Gil Cedillo just received a check from the City of LA for $136,153 even though he has continued to refuse to debate his opponent. Both LA Municipal Code Sec 49.7.23(C)(6) & LA Administrative Code Sec 24.32(a)(3)(B) explicitly require candidates to participate in at least one debate w/ their opponent before qualifying for public matching funds.  If, and only if, their opponent refuses to debate the candidate may participate in a town hall instead.  Under penalty of perjury Gil Cedillo blatantly misled the ethics commission in a successful effort to circumvent the debate requirement.  

Over 2018 & 2019 Ethics commission & LA City Council went through an extensive effort to tighten the debate requirement and prevent candidates from circumventing it (see below for full text of the 2019 changes).  These reforms came at the demand of organizations like the League of Women Voters of LA, CA Clean Money Campaign, Money Out Voters In, & Unrig LA.

Demand the immediate cancellation of this check. If the check has been cashed the Ethics Commission must use its authority to demand the immediate return of the funds under Administrative Code Section 24.36.  The Commission should also consider disqualifying Cedillo from the matching funds program under LA Administrative Code Sec 24.38.

CALL TO ACTION:

• Call the LA City Ethics Commission at (213) 978-1960 and demand they immediately cancel Gil Cedillo’s check

• “I’m calling to ask the ethics commission to immediately cancel the check given to Councilmember Cedillo’s re-election campaign.  The law is clear, he cannot qualify for public money unless he debates his opponent.  He has violated the public’s trust and should be barred from participation in the matching funds program.”

• E-mail the LA City Ethics Commission at ethics.commission@lacity.org (cc the City Attorney as well mike.n.feuer@lacity.org) and demand they immediately cancel Gil Cedillo’s check

• “I’m writing to ask the ethics commission to immediately cancel the check given to Councilmember Cedillo’s re-election campaign.  The ethics commission should also refer this matter to the City Attorney for an investigation.  The law is clear, he cannot qualify for public money unless he debates his opponent.  He has violated the public’s trust and should be barred from participation in the matching funds program”

• CALL INTO the Wednesday 9am 5/18 Meeting of the Ethics Commission

• Agenda
• Call 669-254-5252

• Enter Meeting ID 161 788 4780 followed by #
• Press # again when prompted for participant ID
• Once admitted press *9 to request to speak.
• Press *6 when they request you speak (or read off the last 4 digits of your number), state your name and begin speaking.

• Deliver public comment and demand Ethics cancel the check and disqualify Gil Cedillo from participating in the matching funds program.