OAKLAND, Calif. (CN) — California's Fair Political Practices Commission is investigating a political action committee organizing the campaign underway to recall Alameda County’s district attorney.
The commission announced late Friday that it is investigating complaints that the “Supporters to Recall Pamela Price” committee violated elections reporting law. Per the Political Reform Act, political action committees by law must report all financial contributions and clearly state the campaign they organize under in time for set deadlines,
"Protect the Win for Public Safety," a committee which supports Alameda County District Attorney Pamela Price, requested the investigation, claiming the committee did not disclose financial contributors or properly identify itself as designed to support removing Price from office.
"Protect the Win for Public Safety" filed the initial complaint with the state in December, and asked the commission to immediately compel the recall committee to publicly disclose its funders.
The committee said in a statement Friday that the Fair Political Practices Commission made the right decision to scrutinize the campaign’s attempts to remove Price from office. One out of every three dollars given to the removal efforts targeting Price came from the political action committee backers, the committee says.
“They are leading an undemocratic and unfair effort that lacks transparency,” the organization said. “Any effort to overturn the fair election should be assessed critically to ensure that it reflects the genuine will of the people rather than being influenced by the undue financial influence of a select few. Dark money provided by the wealthy few should not override the collective decision of the citizens of this county who have made their voice heard."
Neither “Supporters to Recall Pamela Price” or the district attorney’s office could be immediately reached for comment.
Price, the county's first Black lead prosecutor, dominated the June 2022 primary and beat the former district attorney’s expected successor by winning about 53% of the vote to become the first Black woman to hold the position in Alameda County.
The Alameda County Registrar of Voters announced earlier this month that the political action committee supporting the recall collected enough verified signatures to put the recall election on the ballot for voters to decide. The county’s Board of Supervisors may meet within 14 days to schedule a special election, which would be the first of an elected official in at least 30 years.
The registrar has said that if certified, the recall could cost local voters $15 to $20 million.
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