Tuesday, May 31, 2016

BREAKING NEWS: Complaint Filed to Disqualify State Senate Candidate Scott Wilk, Assemblyman-Lobbyist


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 31, 2016
Contact – Briana Hernandez
Phone – (661) 945-6121

Proud Mrs. Star Moffatt and proud Republican California State Senate candidate to represent citizens of California and citizens of SD21

Today, California State Senate Candidate Republican Star Moffatt of Palmdale, who is running in District 21, filed a complaint to disqualify one of her opponents in the race, Scott Wilk, because he is ineligible to run for the position. Wilk was a California Assemblyman representing the 38th District until recently. He resigned from that office on March 15, 2016, ostensibly to run for the state senate.

However, Wilks is a registered lobbyist with Anchor Consulting. California state law states that when an elected official who leaves office is also a lobbyist, there shall be a "cooling period" of one year before the lobbyist can return to office, lobby the legislature, etc. 

Lobbyist Scott Wilk
If Wilk is not disqualified, what type of influence can we expect next from him should he be elected to the Senate? The Santa Clarita Valley Signal reported about his lobbyist influence on the legislature in 2012:

His work for the Washington lobbyist firm Anchor Consulting helped the Castaic Lake Water Agency pursue federal grants year after year. He was also instrumental in getting the Henry Mayo Newhall Memorial Hospital’s 15-Year master plan approved. Wilk was also involved in developing Westfield Valencia Town Center mall’s Patios area and the city of Santa Clarita’s Open Space District.


OpenSecrets.org, the website that tracks political candidates and contributions, even refers to Wilk as a "revolving door" due to his cozy relationship between serving in the legislature and lobbying for clients as a lobbyist in the legislature. (https://www.opensecrets.org/revolving/rev_summary.php?id=74294)

Anchor Consulting coincidentally has a long list of clients in District 21, in addition to the three listed in the Santa Clarita Valley Signal article. Which one of these clients listed will we see given favorable treatment next year if Wilks is permitted to run for office and wins? Note the amounts of money some of these organizations paid for the lobbying - and this may just be the tip of the iceberg. 

Boys & Girls Club/Santa Clarita Valley
California Baptist University $7,500
Castaic Lake Water Agency $120,000
Exquadrum Inc - Defense Aerospace
Glendale Community College $55,000
Grace College $80,000
Henry Mayo Newhall Memorial Hospital
Indiana Women's Oncology
International Assn of Fire Fighters, Palmdale, CA local I-25
Myrtle Beach Performing Arts Center
Santa Clarita Valley Committee on Aging


The election takes place on June 7. District 21 encompasses northern Los Angeles County, parts of the High Desert, Antelope Valley, Victor Valley, and most of the Santa Clarita Valley. The court needs to do the right thing and disqualify Wilk due to the obvious violation of law. Otherwise his undue influence will hurt the taxpayers for the benefit of his own pockets.

The Milton Marks Postgovernment Employment Restrictions Act of 1990 can be found at http://codes.findlaw.com/ca/government-code/gov-sect-87406.html, and the complaint is case no. #16K06818.

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