Run, Ed, Run: Rose Pak Accused of Illegal Campaigning
Categories: Politics
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| Caroline Chen |
| How could you say 'no' to this face? |
As the Chron reports today, Lee's dining buddy and Chinatown guru, Rose Pak, has sent the Run, Ed, Run campaign further down an ethics hole with her questionable antics and what some feel is unsavory politicking. According to the Chron, Recology employees have been helping Pak pressure Lee into running for a full four-year term. Specifically, employees helped gather signatures and circulated a petition in the company's workplace, collecting 86 signatures.
What's problematic about this is that Recology recently scored a $112 million garbage contract with the city -- which means it's banned from giving to campaigns.
While Recology officials acknowledge their "error," Pak denied ever discussing anything with Recology, and said she had no clue that the company had a new city contract.
Although the Run, Ed, Run campaign will say no laws were technically broken since Lee is not yet a candidate, it has fueled the frontrunners, who are already freaked out by Lee entering the race.Five candidates -- Supervisor David Chiu, City Attorney Dennis Herrera, state Senator Leland Yee, Joanna Reese, and former Supervisor Michela-Alioto Pier -- have called for an investigation into the Progress for All group, which is behind the Run, Ed, Run campaign.
"These specific revelations show that Progress for All has been engaged in an unethical and possibly illegal coordinated shakedown," Chiu told the Chron.
Lee is expected to announce his candidacy when he returns from vacation in Washington state.
And as Ricky Ricardo would say, he'll have some 'splainin to do.
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