San Jose Viet candidate fined $500

The San Jose Elections Commission on Wednesday night unanimously agreed to impose a $500 fine against City Council candidate Minh Duong for two violations of city campaign disclosure laws, reports the San Jose Mercury News here.

The fine is for failing to disclose an unpaid campaign debt and neglecting to accurately file campaign statements during Duong’s unsuccessful 2008 bid for the District 8 City Council seat.

That’s not the same seat as the one Duong is running for now. He’s currently in a runoff against incumbent City Councilwoman Madison Nguyen for the District 7 seat.

The unpaid campaign debt came to light from a lawsuit by Imprenta Communications Group, his then-campaign consultant, for some $18,000 due. According to an investigator for the commission, Duong, a 32-year-old furniture store owner, issued a check for the amount, then stopped payment on the check.

In assessing the fine, the commission also issued what the Mercury News calls “an added — and adamant — resolution from the commission expressing concern about the timing of the complaint relative to the 2010 campaign cycle in which Duong is competing.”

Well, duh. Aren’t the vast majority of campaign finance complaint arising out of supporters of the opposing camp? And usually timed to fit political purposes?

Duong, at the commission’s hearing, also said Imprenta’s lawsuit was timed to come in January on the heels of his announcement to run against Nguyen for the District 7 council seat.

Well, double duh. Aren’t all lawsuits timed to extract the most pain to the other side, hoping to draw the best settlement terms?