Gaido Investigation: State Election Watchdog Opens Case After Complaint Filed

Gaido Investigation:
​State Election Watchdog Opens Case After Complaint Filed

A complaint against Irvine mayoral candidate Mary Ann Gaido, the Irvine Community News and Views and Liberal OC, a blog run by a Gaido supporter, has prompted the state’s Fair Political Practices Commission to open an investigation into the conduct and activities surrounding her campaign for the city’s top elected post in November.

​In its Sept. 7 letter, the commission said it has opened a case against Gaido after Gang Chen, an architect who is also running for mayor, filed a written complaint alleging that Gaido has received advertising in the Irvine-based and distributed Irvine Community News and Views monthly publication without paying for the promotion as required by state law.

​Chen’s complaint, as written, was not found by the FPPC to be actionable. However, the agency’s Enforcement Division opened a separate case into issues arising from the investigation.​ Irvine City News will continue to follow this story.