Willits Weekly
May 5, 2016
By: Mike A’Dair
The state Fair Political Practices Commission has rejected a complaint by Citizens for Fire Safe Forests treasurer Allen Cooperrider alleging wrongdoing by Mendocino Redwood Company.
On April 12, Cooperrider charged MRC had failed to provide information to the Mendocino County Office of Elections concerning spending on the part of the company between July 1 and December 30, 2015. MRC spent $52,768 on a publicity campaign opposing what later became Measure V, the dead and standing trees initiative. Citizens for Fire Safe Forests led the petition drive to place Measure V on the ballot in November.
The company did report its spending during that period to the California Secretary of State’s Office.
“The Fair Political Practices Commission has found no evidence to establish a violation of the Political Reform Act. As such, we are closing this case without further action,” the FPPC wrote in a letter to Cooperrider.
