Audit Says 2024 Mark Farrell Campaign Complied With Law Despite Violations, Probe Ongoing

"In about 12% of sampled cases, which totaled $698,476, the campaign failed to report expenses such as office supplies and campaign flyers. Auditors also found that the campaign lacked any records for roughly 9% of sampled expenses, totaling $6,898 for items like dinners, coffee, and consulting costs, and recorded 8.3% of expenses in the wrong reporting period."

"The campaign filings also contained incomplete information for 215 donors—about 7.6% of contributors—including missing names or addresses. Additionally, the campaign paid $556,310 to advertising firm Canal Partners Media, but it failed to disclose information about the agencies and subcontractors hired by the firm for the campaign's ads."

"These findings represent instances of noncompliance that Auditors determined to be significant, stated the audit, based on the frequency and significance of the dollar amount of the transactions in question."

The San Francisco Ethics Commission audited Mark Farrell's 2024 mayoral campaign and identified multiple compliance lapses. The campaign failed to report approximately 12% of sampled expenses totaling $698,476, including office supplies and campaign flyers. Auditors found no records for roughly 9% of sampled expenses worth $6,898 for items like dinners and consulting costs. Additionally, 8.3% of expenses were recorded in incorrect reporting periods. The campaign also had incomplete donor information for 215 contributors, representing 7.6% of all donors, with missing names or addresses. The campaign paid $556,310 to advertising firm Canal Partners Media but failed to disclose information about subcontractors. Despite these violations, the commission determined the campaign substantially complied with campaign finance law. Similar audits of Aaron Peskin and London Breed campaigns also found violations, though Farrell's had the most material issues.

Read at sfist.com