Tuesday, May 18, 2010
Perata Helps Finance Ex-Girlfriend’s Career
Politics / People Robert Gammon — Tue, May 18, 2010 at 11:37 AM
Oakland Mayoral candidate Don Perata has donated at least $75,000 this year from his cancer-research committee to East Bay nonprofits that have nothing to do with the cause for curing cancer — but are run by his former campaign treasurer and close confidante, Jill Cabeceiras. Sources also say that Cabeceiras is Perata’s former girlfriend.
Campaign finance records show that Perata’s committee, Hope 2010, which he established to support a statewide cancer-research initiative on the November ballot, donated $25,000 to the Oakland Parents Literacy Project and $50,000 to Avalon Village, a small Alameda organization that tries to keep seniors in their homes. Cabeceiras is the development director of the Oakland Parents Literacy Project and is the executive director of Avalon Village, according to the groups’ latest tax returns. The two groups paid Cabeceiras $86,167 in the 2008-09 fiscal year. Perata, himself, is the president of Avalon’s board of directors and sits on the Oakland Parents Literacy Project’s board. Perata mayoral campaign manager Larry Tramutola did not return a phone call for this story.
Ethics and political experts have previously questioned Perata’s use of his cancer-research committee to fund non-cancer research related issues. They have noted that the cancer-research ballot initiative will surely face deep-pocketed opposition from the tobacco industry because the measure would place an additional $1 tax on cigarettes.
Perata has loaned the cancer-ballot campaign $190,000 so far this year, but he also has spent large sums on expenses not associated with the proposition campaign, including expensive dinners and overnight stays at posh hotels. Perata calls these expenses “fund-raising,” but campaign finance records show that he has failed to raise any significant funds for the initiative.
The former state senator also has used his cancer-research committee to finance a group of well-paid political consultants who also work on his mayoral campaign, raising questions as to whether he has been using the committee to fund his mayoral bid in violation of campaign finance law. Recently disclosed campaign finance records also show that Perata appears to have spent $62,670 from his cancer-research committee on a glossy mailer he sent to Oakland voters earlier this year. The mailer talked about the cancer-research initiative, but it also served as a promotional piece for him and was sent from his mayoral campaign headquarters in Oakland.
Perata also continues to collect large sums from the state prison guard’s union. The union paid Perata $40,000 in the first two months of 2010 — the most recent data available. The powerful union says that Perata has been working as a “campaign consultant,” although it’s unclear exactly what he has been doing to earn that much money because the union has mounted no political campaigns. Perata has long been an ally of the prison guard’s union and as state Senate leader helped protect the union from budget cuts.
Last year, the prison guard’s union paid Perata $260,000 as a “campaign consultant.” The union also donated $50,000 to Avalon Village, the small nonprofit run by Cabeceiras. The donation represented about a third of the tiny group’s annual revenues. According to the state Fair Political Practices Commission records, Perata also solicited $55,000 for Avalon in 2008 when he was still a state senator.
It also should be noted that San Francisco Chronicle columnist Chip Johnson, a longtime supporter of Perata, wrote a glowing piece today about the Oakland Parents Literacy Project, soliciting donations for it, without mentioning that the ex-senator sits on the board of directors and has been one of its main financial backers over the years. According to FPPC records, Perata raised at least $398,000 for the literacy project from 1999 to 2006. According to the group’s tax returns, other board members of the nonprofit include Oakland Councilman Ignacio De La Fuente, a longtime close ally and friend of Perata’s, and Kerry Hamill, the senator’s former chief of staff.
Comments (10)
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To crispyfriedmybrainsmedic: You say Perata is a crook as Gasman has pointed out many times. Well I'm going to point out many times that YOU are a crook. Please note, I have no proof but that does not matter, I don't have to - that's how it works in Gasman's Little World.
Oakland is going up in flames. Kids are being shot. Old ladies are being raped. And you freaks are upset about a guy running for mayor who started not one, but two charities. That he has friends - or girlfriends - interested not in becoming the next big political name, but in running very unglamorous charities for seniors and literacy. By the way, that the salary for Cabaceras was only $80,000 for both jobs is by no means a fortune, that's small potatoes compared to salaries of heads of non-profits Bay Area wide. How many of YOU are taking care of seniors or reading to kids or giving dinners to poor families? SO EASY TO SLAM, SO HARD TO STEP UP.
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LadySmell, who cares, people ARE going to elect Perata Mayor anyway despite your defamatory statements.
But it is funny how everytime Gasman lies about Perata, people come on here and attack Perata with no evidence or proof, just Gasman's NYAH NYAH NYAH tactics.
As if attacking Perata will distract from the fact that Gasman is a biased non-reporter who is consistently wrong when it comes to Perata - anyone still got a copy of Gasman's "Perata indictment imminent" headline from 2006?
If Gasman wasn't so crooked, Gasman would admit he does NOT report, he makes up sh#t to justify his job. The fact that Perata actually HAD a girlfriend and Gasman can't get a girl isn't Perata's fault, it's Gasman's for being so repulsive. Note to EBE - grow a pair & print this comment, stop censoring anyone who doesn't agree with you. You gave LadySmell her say, I deserve MINE.
PS to Emperor'sGotNoBrains - What you're missing is: Perata's giving to charities run by people who DO NOT work for him, they work for the charity. Avalon Village is for seniors, it has NO POLITICAL affiliation. The seniors it serves LOVE IT - get your fat a$$ off the couch and just ask some of them. And by the way, the charities paying the salaries of the directors/employees has NOTHING to do with his campaign - what are you even talking about they don't have to "claim it"? GROW A BRAIN.
Gammon, you're such a ham. I salute the way you've taken up the fight on behalf of the tobacco industry and the gun lobby. Keep fighting for the Right, Bob! We'll soon be rid of these gun-hating cancer-curing liberals.
Perata is a hypocrite. He is against the 2nd Amendment but he carries.
Perata is gutless. He let himself get jacked without getting off a shot.
Perata is a criminal as Gammons has pointed out many times.
Perata supporters are retarded. Oops, I'm sorry if I offended any retarded people.
Who cares people aren't going to elect this crook Mayor anyway.
But it is funny how everytime Gammons points out what a crook Perata is people come on here and attack Gammons.
As if attacking Gammons will distract from the fact that Perata is a crook who pays off his cronies.
If Perata wasn't so crooked Gammons wouldn't be able to report it. The fact that Perata is a crook is Perata's fault.
Not Gammons'.
So now Robert Gammons is reduced to quoting unamed sources about Don Perata's girfriends? Pathetic! Robert, your motives are suspect. Dellums gets charged with tax evasion by the feds, and you defend him. Perata DOESN'T get charged with anything after a thorough investigation . . . and you pronounce him guilty anyway. I think it's time you follow the often-offered medical advice and contact your doctor immediately. The particular condition you have toward Don Perata has clearly lasted longer than 4 hours!!!
What you're missing is: He's giving to charities run by people who do work for him. The charities then pay their salaries, and then his campaign doesn't have to claim it. Got it?
If Perata gave money to stop clubbing baby seals, Gammon would find a problem with it. he's completely obsessed
You forgot to mention that donating to charities is generally considered a good thing.
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