In November the voters of California’s 17th Congressional District will be choosing between Democratic Congressman Mike Honda and two-time challenger Ro Khanna. As we look at their history of fiscal management, the contrast between the two couldn’t be any clearer. The story shared with me by Bill Ferguson, Ro Khanna’s 2004 Constituency Outreach Director, points to a failure of not only campaign financial management but also personal responsibility.
Rep. Honda’s experience as a child in the Japanese-American internment camps during World War II, and volunteer work in El Salvador with the Peace Corp not only shapes his position on social issues, it is also reflected in his fiscal policies. Rep. Honda is well known for his social progressiveness, consistently on the leading edge of Civil Rights for all. But lesser known is his history doing the less glamorous work of making sure the bills get paid.
Rep. Honda has a long history working in administrative offices such as school boards and county planning commissions. In the last few years he has secured well-deserved funding for the BART (Bay Area Rapid Transit) extension, overpass upgrades and a new patent office, improvements for both his constituents and the high-tech businesses that reside in Silicon Valley. Acquiring funds to process the backlogged rape kits shows a commitment to solving the issues and problems ignored by a majority in Congress, and sends a clear message to the value of women in society.
As leader of the minority party on a powerful House Appropriation Committee, his recent maneuvering is the work of an experienced statesman balancing public safety with civil rights. Congress sets the budgetary guidelines, but leaves it to the appropriation committees to work out the details. Even while working with a Republican majority he was recently able to direct extra funding to the Dept. of Homeland Security and the Transportation Security Administration that not only made travel safer, but also better assures our rights are not violated.
In contrast, Ro Khanna has yet to complete a campaign without going over budget, or yielding losses and resignations. It could be written off as youthful indiscretion - if his resignation after attempting to cover-up overspending during his run for Class President at University of Chicago were the only example. But overspending has occurred in every race through 2014 when, despite outraising Rep. Honda, he still ran out of money in the final weeks of the election. Walton money funneled through a pro-charter school PAC helped to replenish his coffers on Election Day 2014.
According to Khanna’s emails, he ended the 2004 campaign $60,000 in debt and left some staff unpaid for work they completed; Bill Ferguson was one. Admitting in emails, “i [Khanna] personally owe you money, and will repay you.” Khanna claimed hardship as he was in “DC” working for the Democratic National Committee raising money for the John Kerry campaign. In emails, he described hobnobbing with President Clinton, Nancy Pelosi and Steve Westly. He spoke of forging “a close relationship with Honda” and his hope of Honda receiving a Cabinet position. But his question to Bill, “Who do you think would be a strong contender for his [Honda’s] seat (who is worth supporting) if that happens?” might indicate he was already eyeing another run for Congress.
FEC records show Khanna had paid Bill and other staff at levels that give credence to Bill’s claim of $5000 in wages and approximately $1000 in reimbursable spending. Khanna never contested the wages and the Campaign Manager approved the receipts. A paid staffer of Khanna’s 2004 campaign who wishes to remain anonymous confirmed Bill’s account.
This person also stated that despite Khanna being well funded by right-wing donors who appeared only interested in getting an Indo-American into congress, many of whom also supported Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal, he still failed and overspent. He hired paid canvassers while staff members were left unpaid. This individual was eventually paid only after threatening to go to the California Labor Relations Board.
Promised by Khanna that after completing his stint in DC he would “go to a law firm to work it off,” Bill was frustrated and perturbed to learn Khanna raised millions to run against Honda in the 2014 elections. In what Ferguson called a “compromise” he agreed to do limited work for which Khanna would overpay to clear the debt of the 2004 campaign.
Records show Khanna did make two payments of $1500 (6/24/14 and 10/22/14) to Ferguson but as his campaign ran out of money the payments stopped. Frustrated, Ferguson took his story public. In an article by East Bay Citizen, Khanna claims “Bill lost that idealism to stand up to the war in Iraq and the Patriot Act.” Because apparently asking to be paid as “personally” promised makes him pro-war. Ferguson was beyond frustrated and felt twice cheated. Yet in January 2016 Khanna, sent three emails asking to meet with Ferguson for coffee to “earn your support if you are willing.” Ferguson never replied.
Bill expressed disappointment in Khanna after these experiences, comparing it to “wage theft” and wondered if Khanna could be trusted to stand up as a Congressman to companies committing such crimes. Well, we need look no further than maxed-out donor, Guy Gecht CEO of Electronics For Imaging. During the 2014 election Gecht was a donor ($2600) and endorser of Khanna. When EFI was fined and forced to repay $40,000 in wages to employees from India, having paid them as little as $1.21 an hour, Khanna removed Gecht from his endorsement list but refused to return the money. Gecht is a maxed-out funder ($5400) for Khanna’s 2016 campaign. If only Khanna could have redirected Gecht’s money to repay his own unpaid debts. If only…
Please sign and leave a comment at our MoveOn petition
“Residents of Silicon Valley have had their privacy invaded and been harassed by the Ro Khanna campaign. As the paper of record for Silicon Valley, your endorsement betrays the community’s trust in you. We ask you to withdraw your endorsement of Ro Khanna.”
Learn more about the CA17 race at these links:
High-Tech Watergate in Silicon Valley Congressional Race
Evidence Points to Campaign Finance Fraud by Ro Khanna’s Campaign Vice-Chair
Rep. Mike Honda’s Opponent is Dancing with the Kochs
Outing Ro Khanna’s (stupid) Sock Puppet Campaign ~ kos
