State agency clears Costa Mesa Councilwoman Foley after complaint about charity event and political fundraising

The California Fair Political Practices Commission has cleared Costa Mesa City Councilwoman Katrina Foley of wrongdoing following a complaint alleging that an annual event she organizes improperly linked charitable giving with her political fundraising.

Galena West, chief of the FPPC’s enforcement division, outlined the decision Friday in a message to Colin McCarthy, a former planning commissioner and council candidate who filed the complaint against Foley last week.

“After review of the complaint and the evidence obtained, we found no evidence of a violation of the [Political Reform] Act by Ms. Foley,” the letter states, referring to the state law the agency enforces.

In an interview Friday, Foley said filing the complaint was a waste of time and taxpayer resources and an example of “trying to utilize the system for political gain.”

“Hopefully we can all find some way to get through the holidays and spread some good cheer and make people’s lives better instead of focusing on all this political nonsense,” she said.

McCarthy could not be immediately reached for comment Friday evening.

The complaint centered on Foley’s annual Holiday Soiree & Charity Drive, a campaign fundraiser that also includes a silent auction benefiting the Costa Mesa Firefighters Assn. charity fund.

McCarthy alleged that the soiree — now in its ninth year and scheduled for Dec. 14 at the Holiday bar and lounge on West 19th Street — was “political fundraising under the deceptive guise of charity.”

He also took issue with the fact that city fire stations and Costa Mesa High School are included as drop-off locations for a toy and coat drive Foley organizes ahead of the soiree, saying he believes she is using public resources to aid her political fundraising.

Foley dismissed those complaints as political gamesmanship.

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