Former Santa Clara City Councilmember Dominic Caserta, who resigned in 2018 following claims of sexual misconduct, is facing a hefty fine from a state oversight body for allegedly misusing campaign funds while running for a spot on the Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors.
The California Fair Political Practices Commission is proposing a $65,000 fine against Caserta, though few details about the alleged violations were available ahead of the board’s Aug. 15 meeting. The agenda said that Caserta made “numerous expenditures using campaign funds” that had “no legislative, governmental, or political purpose and some provided a substantial personal benefit to the candidate.” Several of the payments were made to his spouse, according to the agenda.
In addition, the commission alleges that he failed to “timely and accurately report activity on a semi-annual campaign statement” and didn’t “maintain detailed campaign records” for contributions and expenditures.
Caserta, who was first elected to the council in 2002, suspended his 2018 supervisor bid when numerous sexual harassment allegations surfaced from campaign staffers and former students at Santa Clara High School where he taught. Prosecutors ultimately declined to file charges, citing “insufficient evidence.”
On the FPPC’s August meeting agenda, Caserta’s case is listed as a “pre-notice default.” FPPC spokesperson Jay Wierenga said most of the commission’s cases are settled, but those that aren’t fall into default. This is when the individual fails to respond or misses a certain deadline.
Wierenga said that default cases are made public one month before the commission officially votes on the matter in large part to try to “get them back to the table.” If Caserta’s default is eventually approved, which would happen at a later date, it would go to collections in an attempt for the state to get its money back.
Caserta hung up the phone in response to inquiries by this news organization about the proposed fine.
