I started to write that pretty much the worst thing that I could imagine in Orange County Democratic politics, short of someone's death, has happened today. That isn't quite true, though. What has been reported today is worse than anything I have imagined about our party -- and I have imagined plenty.
One's first tendency may be to hide it. I think that one instead faces it.
I hate to give the conservative-libertarian Orange County Register any hits, but they are the ones with the story, so click away:
A prominent Democratic campaign treasurer who works for federal, state and O.C. lawmakers including U.S. Sen. Dianne Feinstein. Rep. Loretta Sanchez and state Assemblymen Lou Correa and Jose Solorio has been arrested by the FBI on suspicion of mail fraud, The Orange County Register has learned.
U.S. Attorney's Office spokesman Thom Mrozek confirmed Saturday afternoon that Kinde Durkee of Burbank-based Durkee and Associates, was arrested by the FBI on a criminal complaint filed by the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Sacramento. Special Agent Steve Dupre of the bureau’s Sacramento office said she was arrested in connection with her position as a campaign treasurer.
"Innocent until proven guilty," absolutely; I make no conclusions from this arrest. But this story is huge. Kinde Durkee was the one person always represented to me, since entering Orange County politics a little less than five years ago, as trustworthy and incorruptible. We will be reeling from this arrest alone, let alone the details, for a long time.
Federal Election Commission records show that Durkee is the treasurer for Feinstein and Sanchez, who could not be reached Saturday. California Secretary of State records show she currently serves as the treasurer for at least 115 state-level committees. Those committees include campaign accounts for Solorio, D-Santa Ana; Assemblymen Gilbert Cedillo, D-Los Angeles, and Roger Hernandez, D-Baldwin Park; State Sens. Ted Lieu, D-Torrance and Curren Price, D-Los Angeles; Los Angeles City Councilman Paul Krekorian; and former Orange County lawmaker Tom Umberg.
Durkee also oversaw the political-action committees of the Democratic Party of Orange County and the Democratic Foundation of Orange County, among others
.
Another day, I'll talk about what one expects from a committee Treasurer -- who is not the person you elect or appoint as Treasurer for your campaign or PAC but the professional with whom your Treasurer does business.
Today, the earthquake is still going on. We crouch, with the ground shaking, hoping that we survive with the least possible damage. "Terrible" barely begins to describe it. As a Democrat active in, among other things, the DPOC, I feel like I have been kicked in the teeth. I can only imagine how the officeholders listed above feel.
Mon Sep 05, 2011 at 9:51 AM PT: The Sacramento Bee has taken a look at all of the state filings done by Kinde Durkee's firm that were filed in 2011, to help give us a sense of the breadth of damage. I want to emphasize that, to the best of my knowledge, all of these groups would have hired Durkee in good faith.
ALL STUDENTS FIRST
AMERICANS FOR CIVIC PARTICIPATION
ARMENIAN NATIONAL COMMITTEE POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE 'ANCPAC'
BONITA DEMOCRATIC COUNCIL
CALIFORNIA ACE PAC (ASSOCIATION OF CLUB EXECUTIVES)
CALIFORNIA AIDS PAC - STATE
CALIFORNIA COLLEGE DEMOCRATS
CALIFORNIA LEGISLATIVE BLACK CAUCUS POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE
CALIFORNIA LIST, THE
CALIFORNIA MAJORITY RULE / CALIFORNIANS FOR DEMOCRACY
CALIFORNIA THOM O'SHAUGHNESSY POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE (CATOS P
CALIFORNIA YOUNG DEMOCRATS
CANADA CRESCENTA DEMOCRATIC CLUB
CEDILLO FOR ASSEMBLY 2010
CEDILLO OFFICEHOLDER COMMITTEE 2010, ASSEMBLYMANCEDILLO OFFICEHOLDER COMMITTEE, SENATOR
CHAVEZ FOR ASSEMBLY 2012
COALITION FOR RESPONSIBLE LEADERSHIP
COLE FOR STATE SENATE 2009, ROBERT
COOLEY FOR ATTORNEY GENERAL 2010, SPONSORED BY THE ASSOCIATION FO
CORREA FOR ATTORNEY GENERAL 2018, LOU
CORREA FOR STATE SENATE 2010, LOU
CORREA OFFICEHOLDER COMMITTEE 2010, SENATOR LOU
COUNCIL ON AMERICAN-ISLAMIC RELATIONS CALIFORNIA POLITICAL ACTION C
DEMOCRATIC CLUB OF PASADENA FOOTHILLS
DEMOCRATIC CLUB OF THE CONEJO VALLEY
DEMOCRATIC FOUNDATION OF ORANGE COUNTY
DEMOCRATIC HEADQUARTERS OF THE DESERT (DHQD)
DEMOCRATIC PARTY OF ORANGE COUNTY
DEMOCRATIC PARTY OF ORANGE COUNTY
DEMOCRATIC PARTY OF ORANGE COUNTY
DEMOCRATIC PARTY OF THE SAN FERNANDO VALLEY
DEMOCRATIC PARTY OF THE SAN FERNANDO VALLEY SLATE CARD
DEMOCRATIC PARTY OF THE SAN FERNANDO VALLEY SLATE CARD
DEMOCRATIC PARTY OF THE SAN FERNANDO VALLEY SLATE CARD
DEMOCRATIC WOMEN OF THE DESERT
DEMOCRATIC WOMEN OF THE SAN FERNANDO VALLEY
DEMOCRATS IN SUN CITY PALM DESERT
DEMOCRATS IN TRILOGY, LA QUINTA
DEMOCRATS OF THE DESERT
EL MONTE PAC
FIREFIGHTERS LEGISLATIVE ACTION GROUP 'FLAG' CALIFORNIA STATE FIREFIG
FOSTER FOR TREASURER 2014
FOX FOR CALIFORNIA ASSEMBLY 2010, MELISSA
FRIENDS OF COMMUNITY COLLEGES
HARRIS-FORSTER, FRIENDS OF LINDA
HEADQUARTERS COMMITTEE OF WEST HOLLYWOOD/BEVERLY HILLS & STONE
HERNANDEZ FOR ASSEMBLY 2010
HERNANDEZ FOR ASSEMBLY 2012
HERNANDEZ, FRIENDS OF ROGER
HERZOG CONTRACTING CORP./ HERZOG TRANSIT SERVICES/ TRANSIT AMERIC
HISPANAS ORGANIZED FOR POLITICAL EQUALITY POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTE
HOLDEN FOR ASSEMBLY 2012
HONOR PAC
INTERNATIONAL BROTHERHOOD OF ELECTRICAL WORKERS LOCAL 569 COMMI
IRVINE CITY EMPLOYEES ASSOCIATION PAC
JOBS AND ECONOMY VOTER GUIDE
KENNEDY DEMOCRATS OF THE SAN FERNANDO VALLEY
KREKORIAN 2010, CALIFORNIANS FOR PAUL
KREKORIAN 2010, CALIFORNIANS FOR PAUL
KREKORIAN 2010, CALIFORNIANS FOR PAUL
KREKORIAN 2010, CALIFORNIANS FOR PAUL
KREKORIAN FOR CITY COUNCIL 2009 - GENERAL
KREKORIAN FOR CITY COUNCIL 2009 - GENERAL
KREKORIAN FOR CITY COUNCIL 2009 - GENERAL
KREKORIAN FOR CITY COUNCIL 2009 - GENERAL
KREKORIAN FOR CITY COUNCIL 2009 OFFICEHOLDER
KREKORIAN FOR CITY COUNCIL 2009 OFFICEHOLDER
KREKORIAN FOR CITY COUNCIL 2009 OFFICEHOLDER
KREKORIAN FOR CITY COUNCIL 2009 OFFICEHOLDER
KREKORIAN FOR CITY COUNCIL 2009 OFFICEHOLDER
KREKORIAN FOR CITY COUNCIL 2011
KREKORIAN FOR CITY COUNCIL 2011
KREKORIAN FOR CITY COUNCIL 2011
KREKORIAN FOR CITY COUNCIL 2011
KREKORIAN, FRIENDS OF PAUL
KREKORIAN, FRIENDS OF PAUL
KREKORIAN, FRIENDS OF PAUL
KREKORIAN, FRIENDS OF PAUL
LIEU FOR ATTORNEY GENERAL 2010, TED
LIEU FOR ATTORNEY GENERAL 2010, TED
LIEU FOR STATE SENATE 2011, TED
LIEU FOR STATE SENATE 2011, TED
LIEU FOR STATE SENATE 2014, TED
LIEU FOR STATE SENATE 2014, TED
LIEU OFFICEHOLDER ACCOUNT, ASSEMBLYMEMBER TED
LIEU OFFICEHOLDER ACCOUNT, ASSEMBLYMEMBER TED
LONG BEACH DEMOCRATIC CLUB
LONG BEACH YOUNG DEMOCRATS
LOO FOR JUDGE 2008
LOS ANGELES COUNTY DEMOCRATIC PARTY - STATE CANDIDATE COMMITTEE
LOS ANGELES COUNTY DEMOCRATIC PARTY - STATE CANDIDATE COMMITTEE
LOS ANGELES COUNTY DEMOCRATIC PARTY - STATE CANDIDATE COMMITTEE
LOS ANGELES COUNTY DEMOCRATIC PARTY - STATE CANDIDATE COMMITTEE
LOS ANGELES COUNTY DEMOCRATIC PARTY - STATE CANDIDATE COMMITTEE
LOS ANGELES COUNTY DEMOCRATIC PARTY-ISSUES AND ADVOCACY COMMITT
LOS ANGELES COUNTY DEMOCRATIC PARTY-ISSUES AND ADVOCACY COMMITT
LOS ANGELES COUNTY DEMOCRATIC PARTY-ISSUES AND ADVOCACY COMMITT
MANATT, PHELPS & PHILLIPS
MANATT, PHELPS & PHILLIPS
MEXICAN AMERICAN POLITICAL ASSOCIATION PAC (MAPA PAC)
MURRIETA FIREFIGHTERS ASSOCIATION PAC
NAHABEDIAN FOR ASSEMBLY 2010, NAYIRI
NAHABEDIAN FOR ASSEMBLY 2010-SPECIAL NAYIRI
NATIONAL ORGANIZATION OF REPUBLICAN ARMENIANS
NATIVE AMERICAN ALLIANCENEIGHBORHOODS FIRST
NEW LEADERSHIP CALIFORNIA
NO ON MEASURE A - WEST HOLLYWOOD CITIZENS FOR RESPONSIBLE GROWTH
ORANGE COUNTY LABOR FEDERATION AFL-CIO COMMITTEE ON POLITICAL EDUORANGE COUNTY VICTORY FUND
ORANGE COUNTY YOUNG DEMOCRATS
PACIFIC FEDERAL INSURANCE CORP
PACIFIC PALISADES DEMOCRATIC CLUB
PALM SPRINGS DEMOCRATIC CLUB
PARRISH FOR ORANGE COUNTY ASSESSOR 2010, CLAUDE
PARRISH STATE TREASURER COMMITTEE, CLAUDE
PASADENA UNITED DEMOCRATIC HEADQUARTERS STEERING COMMITTEE
PRICE FOR SENATE 2010
PRICE FOR SENATE 2014
PROGRESS FOR A NEW GENERATION
PROSPERITY FOR CALIFORNIA, A BALLOT MEASURE COMMITTEE SPONSORED B
RICASA 2008, ARLIE
RIVERSIDE COUNTY DEMOCRATIC CENTRAL COMMITTEE
RIVERSIDE COUNTY DEMOCRATIC CENTRAL COMMITTEE
SAN FERNANDO VALLEY LEADERSHIP PAC, SPONSORED BY THE VALLEY INDUS
SAN FERNANDO VALLEY LEADERSHIP PAC, SPONSORED BY THE VALLEY INDUS
SANCHEZ FOR GOVERNOR 2014, PEOPLE FOR LORETTA
SANTA BARBARA COUNTY DEMOCRATIC CENTRAL COMMITTEE
SANTA BARBARA COUNTY DEMOCRATIC CENTRAL COMMITTEE
SANTA BARBARA COUNTY DEMOCRATIC CENTRAL COMMITTEE
SANTA BARBARA COUNTY DEMOCRATIC CENTRAL COMMITTEE
SHAW FOR 38TH ASSEMBLY 2010, DIANA
SOLORIO ASSEMBLY OFFICEHOLDER COMMITTEE 2010, JOSE
SOLORIO FOR ASSEMBLY 2010
SOLORIO FOR SENATE 2014
SOUTH COUNTY DEMOCRATS UNITED
STONEWALL DEMOCRATIC CLUB-ISSUES AND ADVOCACY COMMITTEE
STONEWALL YOUNG DEMOCRATS
TEAM USA COMMUNITY COLLEGE COALITION
TEAM USA COMMUNITY COLLEGE COALITION
TECHNOLOGY LEADERSHIP PAC, INC.
TURKISH COALITION CALIFORNIA PAC (TC-CAL PAC)
UMBERG, CONSUMERS FOR TOM
VIETNAMESE AMERICAN DEMOCRATIC POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE
VOTER EDUCATION GROUP
WALDMAN, FRIENDS OF STUART
WESLEY TO THE SUPERIOR COURT 2010, COMMITTEE TO RE-ELECT DAVID
WEST HOLLYWOOD CITIZENS FOR RESPONSIBLE GROWTH WITH MAJOR FUNDI
WEST HOLLYWOOD DEMOCRATIC CLUB / BEVERLY HILLS DEMOCRATIC CLUB
WEST HOLLYWOOD UNITED
