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Re: Excessive Political Contributions, Theft of City Files, <br /> Corporate Suspension and Derogatory Statements by Applicant and Ryan Ogulnick <br /> November 12, 2013 <br /> Page 2 <br /> I am therefore writing to you concerning the propriety of certain members of City <br /> Council voting on matters that come before them which have a material financial effect. I <br /> understand that Section 425 of the City of Santa Ana's Charter requires recusal by a <br /> Councilmember from participating in a decision that has a material financial effect on a "recent <br /> major campaign contributor." Section 425 of the Santa Ana Code of Ordinances defines "recent <br /> major campaign contributor" to be any person who has made campaign contributions of$250.00 <br /> or more to a councilmember or to any campaign committee controlled by the councilmember in <br /> the twelve month period immediately preceding the matter before the City Council. Id. As you <br /> know, the Act defines a person as "an individual, proprietorship, firm, partnership, joint <br /> venture, syndicate, business trust, company, corporation, limited liability company, <br /> association, committee, and any other organization or group of persons acting in concert." <br /> Gov. Code § 82047 (emphasis added). <br /> Excessive Contributions to Councilmember Martinez <br /> In April 2012, the Santa Ana City Council approved entitlements for the Met at South <br /> Coast. In April 2012, Mr. Ogulnick provided for Councilmember Michelle Martinez's benefit a <br /> $10,000.00 gift in the form of a gift certificate for the costs of Ms. Martinez's party at Geisha <br /> House. True and correct copies of (i) the check for the $10,000.00 gift certificate and (ii) <br /> Vineyards Development, Incorporated's spreadsheet attributing the gift to Ms. Martinez are <br /> attached hereto as Exhibits A and B, respectively. <br /> And on May 3, 2012, Mr. Ogulnick, through Vineyards Development, Inc., made a <br /> $10,000.00 contribution to Martinez for Assembly 2012, Protecting Families for Michele, a <br /> political action committee ("PAC") controlled by Councilmember Martinez. True and correct <br /> copies of(i) the Campaign Finance Report for Martinez for Assembly 2012, Protecting Families <br /> for Michele from the California Secretary of State's website and (ii) check for $10,000.00 from <br /> Vineyards Development Inc. payable to Councilmember Martinez's PAC are attached hereto as <br /> Exhibits C and D, respectively. This was also widely reported in local newspapers. This PAC <br /> contribution itself was in violation of Section 2-107, as it was made within 3-months after the <br /> Councilmember Martinez and the Santa Ana City Council voted at to approve the second reading <br /> for entitlements for the Met at South Coast, and when aggregated together with undisclosed <br /> $10,000.00 Geisha House Gift Certificate, is a pointed example of an egregious violation of both <br /> the spirit and letter of the Act. Not only is it evident that Councilmember Martinez's vote in <br /> favor of the Met at South Coast was reasonably foreseeable to have a material financial effect on <br /> Councilmember Martinez that was substantially distinguishable from the effect on the general <br /> public, but it is now beyond dispute and a certainty. <br /> Councilmember Martinez was certainly required to report the $10,000.00 Geisha House <br /> Gift Certificate provided to her by Mr. Ogulnick/Vineyards Development, Inc. pursuant to the <br /> See page 2, line 79 for Geisha House entry"Michele Martinez—GEISHA." <br />