FPPC won’t investigate landlords’ allegations against council candidates

BY SARA TABIN
Daily Post Staff Writer

A state agency has decided it won’t pursue a complaint by a landlord group against a Mountain View activist and four council candidates over election fliers.

The California Apartment Association filed a complaint last month claiming that Mountain View attorney and activist Gary Wesley distributed a political flier that endorsed four City Council candidates, but lacked required disclosure information saying who was responsible for the literature.

Not only was Wesley named in the CAA complaint but the four candidates — Lenny Siegel, John Lashlee, Sally Lieber and Alex Nunez.

Joshua Howard, CCA executive vice president for local public affairs, filed the complaint with the state Fair Political Practices Commission.

FPPC Enforcement Chief Galena West announced yesterday (Oct. 6) that his agency found no grounds to investigate the complaint.

“This complaint was totally without merit,” Lashlee said. “I truly believe that the corporate landlords are trying to target the most pro-renter candidates in this Mountain View City Council race for defeat.”

Wesley previously told the Post that he didn’t work with any candidates on the fliers. He said he spent less than $100 to make the flyers.