Hoa Tran campaign: Nothing illegal, wrong or inappropriate happened

Countering allegations of hinkiness targeted at Hoa Van Tran, the only Democrat running for OC Supervisor, District 1, his campaign consultant Edgardo Reynoso today asserted that “there was nothing illegal, wrong or inappropriate.”

Reynoso addressed specifically the conversation related by Chris Prevatt on TheLiberalOC.com. According to Prevatt here, the Tran campaign used Santa Ana Councilman Sal Tinajero‘s photo in its mailer without asking Sal first, and only sought permission the night before the mailers were to go out. Sal Tinajero, it should be noted, has not endorsed Hoa’s candidacy.

But Reynoso rejected that version. “That’s hearsay. You can’t base a story on hearsay.” According to Reynoso, “We told Sal the day the picture was taken.”

“You told Sal you’d use the picture in a mailer?”

“Yes. We did.”

“On the day the picture was taken?”

“Yes.”

The interview took place on the balcony outside of Hoa Van Tran’s second-story campaign office. The Bolsavik had made an appointment with Hoa, to come by and ask a few questions.

The minute the Bolsavik got there, however, Reynoso (pictured left) started playing blocker. First, the conversation moved outside, away from the campaign staff. Then, Reynoso wouldn’t let Hoa answer any questions. Phu Do Nguyen was there, and Reynoso attempted to stop Phu as well, but Phu answered anyway.

So the Bolsavik began with, “Let me ask some questions.” Then he said, “I have some questions about the financial disclosures.” Before the Bolsavik could go on, Reynoso cut him off, saying “That’s not a question. That’s a statement.” Pretty much the entire interview went like that, and there was no answers from Hoa at all.

Much later, just when the Bolsavik was getting ready to leave, he found out the reason for the blockade. Apparently, Reynoso didn’t know there was an appointment. He had thought the Bolsavik was there to ambush the candidate. So he put himself out to protect the candidate and for “message control” (his words). Because “every campaign needs message control,” he said.

“I’m sorry I didn’t know you had an appointment,” Reynoso said. That’s cool. Apology accepted.

Anyway, back to the questions.

On the financial disclosures for the period ending March 17, Reynoso said, “We’re having our treasurer go through everything. If,” and he emphasized if, “if there was any mistake, there would be an amended report.”

“There was nothing illegal, wrong or inappropriate,” Reynoso said.

What about payments for the printing costs? “There was nothing illegal, wrong or inappropriate,” Reynoso repeated. “If there was anything that required an amended statement, we’ll file an amended statement.”

At first, Reynoso mentioned that any amendment would be filed at about the same time as the next statement, due May 22. However, when the Bolsavik came back to that issue, Reynoso refused to confirm whether the campaign had given the treasurer any deadline on reviewing the transactions before March 17. “There was nothing illegal, wrong or inappropriate,” Reynoso said again.

Then there was the question about the contributions by Phu Do Nguyen, Esq. and by the law firm of Do Phu & Anh Tuan. Phu is Hoa’s boss at the law firm; he was also the person signing Hoa’s initial financial disclosure, that contains the two contributions in question. See it here. Both Phu and the firm donated $1,600 each, the maximum amount. California’s election finance laws (“TIN CUP”), however, require that if an individual either owns a majority share in an entity, or makes the decision on who the entity donates to, then the individual and the entity are considered one and their combined contribution cannot exceed $1,600.

Phu, however, didn’t think he and his firm should be aggregated. He doesn’t own the majority of the firm, and “a committee in the partnership decides on who to donate to,” he said. However, Phu refuses to disclose the membership of that committee. “That’s internal information for the law firm,” Phu said.

Both Phu Do Nguyen and Edgardo Reynoso asserted that the attacks on the campaign was “a sign that we’re viable,” said Reynoso while Hoa nodded. That was before the whole thing with the appointment/no appointment came to light and when Hoa was still not allowed to answer the Bolsavik.

When the confusion cleared up, Hoa was asked, “You heard all the answers, was there anything you’d like to add?” He said, “No, no. Everything’s good. If you have other questions, I can answer them.”