Pat Turturici in his campaign for sheriff held two raffle events
that are prohibited under a state law regulating lottery activity,
according to the undersheriff’s own campaign disclosure statements
and confirmed by residents at the recent fundraisers.
Pat Turturici in his campaign for sheriff held two raffle events that are prohibited under a state law regulating lottery activity, according to the undersheriff’s own campaign disclosure statements and confirmed by residents at the recent fundraisers.
It is a misdemeanor under state law to hold a raffle, with some exceptions. Certain nonprofit organizations are exempt from the law, such as religious or business groups, but political candidates are prohibited from conducting them, according to provisions laid out by the California Attorney General’s Office.
Turturici, who denied holding any raffles, is facing Watsonville police Lt. Darren Thompson in the race for sheriff on the Nov. 2 ballot. Thompson responded by noting how a supporter of his campaign at a recent dinner event began conducting a raffle, but he said he had interpreted the law to prohibit the activity for political candidates and “put a stop to it.”
On Turturici’s campaign disclosure statement covering the July 1 through Sept. 30 filing period, the undersheriff listed eight donated items – under his “non-monetary” contributions – with a description that started “Raffle Prize.” The total estimated value of the items came to $1,350 as reported in Turturici’s disclosure statement, or Form 460.
Those items were listed with the “Raffle Prize” header followed by the donation’s description, according to the disclosure statement. They included a tire alignment and rotation from San Benito Tire, auto detail from Hollister Collision, a two-some of golf at Bolado Golf Course, a weekend car rental from Hertz, auto detail from The Car Lot, three-room carpet cleaning from Tri-Star Carpet Care, golf lessons from a San Juan Oaks Golf Club professional, and seven bottles of wine from Bob and Tina Enz.
Dates included with the itemized donations range from Sept. 15 to Sept. 18, the same day Turturici held a fundraiser called “Tacos with Turturici” at the Cantina in Tres Pinos.
On Monday, Turturici submitted an amended form for the July through September period. In it, he changed the wording of “Raffle Prize” to “Fundraiser” for each one.
An array of items were raffled off at that Tacos with Turturici fundraiser and a follow-up event called “Pizza with Pat” that took place at Leal Vineyards on Oct. 8, according to fundraiser attendees. Photos from the Turturici campaign’s Facebook page show items lined up on a table at the first of the two events with cards referring to them as a “Raffle Prize” or “Gift Certificate.” One picture shows a gift basket with a card saying “Raffle Prize” in bold with “Youth & Adult Fishing Pass” at McAlpine Lake under it. That same gift basket includes a card noting a $50 gift card to the Sports Authority.
Turturici’s campaign consultant Rick Rivas initially responded to an interview request made by e-mail this past weekend by denying Turturici held any raffles.
“They are amending the report,” Rivas wrote. “They never actually held a raffle. But you should know that every candidate and campaign has used some sort of raffle to raise money, including non profits.”
When asked what happened to the donations, and why the forms said “Raffle Prize,” Rivas said he no longer wanted to comment in regard to the race for sheriff.
Turturici, when asked over the phone about the raffle prizes, said he would call back later and subsequently sent this statement on e-mail:
“The Committee to Elect Pat Turturici for Sheriff campaign has amended the latest financial report to reflect several in-kind donations made to the campaign committee. Like many other political campaigns in California, the gifts were given to individuals who attended recent fundraisers. The intention of the campaign committee was to profile local businesses and support our local economy.”
Head elections official Joe Paul Gonzalez responded to Rivas’ claim that other candidates hold raffles by noting he was unaware of such activity about campaigns in the past.
“I don’t have any sort of direct knowledge of other campaigns doing that,” Gonzalez said.
As for knowing that raffles are prohibited by state law, Gonzalez said candidates can always turn to the Fair Political Practices Commission for advice.
“It should be pretty clear to the candidate what is permissible and what isn’t,” he said, adding how silent auctions are allowed.
According to the state law from the state attorney general’s website: “This exception to the general constitutional prohibition against lotteries requires that at least 90 percent of the gross receipts from these raffles go directly to beneficial or charitable purposes in California.”
A spokeswoman with the attorney general’s office referred questions over the Turturici filing to the California Fair Political Practices Commission, and a representative from that agency did not return phone calls before publication. The role of the department of justice, within the attorney general’s office, is to register eligible organizations to conduct raffles, the spokeswoman said. Violations would be prosecuted by local district attorneys.
San Benito County District Attorney Candice Hooper noted how the office has never had a case submitted for those charges.
According to the attorney general:
Eligible organizations are charities and religious or other organizations that have been exempted from state taxation by the Franchise Tax Board under the following Revenue and Taxation Code sections: 23701a (labor, agricultural, or horticultural organizations other than cooperative organizations); 23701b (fraternal orders); 23701d (corporations, community chests, or trusts operating exclusively for religious, charitable, or educational purposes); 23701e (business leagues, chambers of commerce); 23701f (civic leagues, social welfare organizations, or local employee organizations); 23701g (social organizations); 23701k (religious or apostolic corporations); 23701l (domestic fraternal societies); 23701t (homeowners’ associations); and 23701w (veterans’ organizations).
Source: California Attorney General’s Office
Items listed as “Raffle Prize”:
$100: Front alignment/tire rotation, San Benito Tire
$250: Auto detail, Hollister Collision
$100: Two-some of golf at Bolado
$150: Weekend car rental, Hertz Rental Car
$250: Auto detail, The Car Lot
$150: Three-room carpet cleaning, Tri-Star Carpet Care
$200: Four golf lessons, San Juan Oaks golf pro
$150: Seven bottles of wine, Bob and Tina Enz
Source: Turturici’s campaign statement
