After receiving news that Assembly Candidate Steve Baric is planning to hold a kickoff campaign fundraiser, it has been brought to the Watchdog’s attention that Steve Baric, a Rancho Santa Margarita Councilman now campaigning for the California State Assembly seat in the 73rd District, has some explaining to do regarding his campaign’s financial affairs.
OC Political Watchdog has obtained a copy of Baric’s most recent campaign financing report Baric_460_123112 which confirms the following facts:
- Baric Has Significant Unpaid Debt from his 2010 City Council Campaign. Baric accumulated over $17,000 in debt in his barely successful campaign for his first and only term on that city’s council. As of today, Baric still has $14,760 in unpaid campaign debt.
- Baric “Dined & Ditched” Local RSM Restaurant. Carmelita’s is a small Mexican restaurant in RSM where Baric held a city council fundraiser in 2010 – an event headlined by Orange County District Attorney Tony Rackauckas. Despite the fact that Baric reports having $650 cash on hand, after more than two years in office, Steve Baric still hasn’t paid his $496 tab at Carmelita’s (see page 6).
- Baric Failed to Pay for 2010 Slate Mailers. Baric failed to pay political insider Jim Lacy’s Landslide Communications $1970 for political slate mailers (mailers listed individually on page 7).
- Baric Failed to Pay His Political Consultant. Baric still hasn’t paid $11,860 to his political consultant Brandon Powers of Powers Communications, Inc. (pages 6, 8).
- Baric Failed to File His Financing Report Before Legal Deadline. According to the City of Rancho Santa Margarita, Baric filed his report 25 days late on February 25, 2013 (see date stamp on page 1). Surprisingly, Baric’s campaign treasurer signed Baric’s report on January 9, 2013 (page 1), yet Baric failed to file this report for 47 days.
OC Political Watchdog has also reviewed Baric’s previous campaign finance disclosure reports and confirmed that of the five reports Baric was legally required to file since being elected, Baric failed to file four of those reports by the legal deadline.
Assembly Candidate Steve Baric needs to answer the following questions:
- Why Hasn’t Baric Paid His Tab at Carmelita’s? Baric promised voters in his 2010 campaign that if elected, he would be a fiscal conservative and a champion for local businesses. So, why is it that three years later, even though he has $650 cash on hand, he still hasn’t paid his $496 tab at Carmelita’s Restaurant? Is this what Steve Baric considers fiscal conservatism?
- Why Has Baric Repeatedly Filed His Financial Disclosure Reports After the Legal Deadline? One would expect that Steve Baric, an attorney, would have respect for the law and a keen understanding of the need to lead by example. So why has he ignored the law and filed his financial disclosure reports late four out of five times? Could it be that he was trying to hide something from members of the public and the press who seek to review these reports each filing period?
- Who is Financially Supporting Assembly Candidate Baric? Why would anyone support a candidate for higher office who for years has failed to pay for his previous campaign? Could it be that Baric is being propped up and supported by political consultants and insiders who hope to profit from their relationship with him?
- How Does Steve Baric Expect Voters to Take Him Seriously When He Promises to “Protect Taxpayers” and be a “Pro-Business Leader”?
OC Political Watchdog 