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Don McGrath, a top deputy in the city attorney's office, says the Union-Tribune committed libel per se against him in its editorial Oct. 10. The editorial, already the laughingstock of campaign finance experts, claimed that City Attorney Mike Aguirre had violated a section of the charter by accepting piddling amounts ($1,640 from 6 people) for his campaigns. But that part of the charter does not apply to political campaigns. The Ethics Commission makes it clear that such contributions are fine if they are not solicited, as these were not, according to the donors. It has since come out that several local pols have received campaign funds from employees. The U-T editorial stressed that the employees who made the small donations had received raises. McGrath is writing Copley Press's lawyer, Hal Fuson, and the editorial's author, Bob Kittle, saying, "You are implying that I gave Aguirre a bribe in order to get a pay raise. Do a retraction or I will see you in court." McGrath said he didn't even know he had received a raise until Mayor Jerry Sanders published a list of salaries. Shortly after making his donation, McGrath told Aguirre about it. Aguirre said he should check with a lawyer. McGrath replied that he had already done so and had been told that such donations are not only legal, but common.
Don McGrath, a top deputy in the city attorney's office, says the Union-Tribune committed libel per se against him in its editorial Oct. 10. The editorial, already the laughingstock of campaign finance experts, claimed that City Attorney Mike Aguirre had violated a section of the charter by accepting piddling amounts ($1,640 from 6 people) for his campaigns. But that part of the charter does not apply to political campaigns. The Ethics Commission makes it clear that such contributions are fine if they are not solicited, as these were not, according to the donors. It has since come out that several local pols have received campaign funds from employees. The U-T editorial stressed that the employees who made the small donations had received raises. McGrath is writing Copley Press's lawyer, Hal Fuson, and the editorial's author, Bob Kittle, saying, "You are implying that I gave Aguirre a bribe in order to get a pay raise. Do a retraction or I will see you in court." McGrath said he didn't even know he had received a raise until Mayor Jerry Sanders published a list of salaries. Shortly after making his donation, McGrath told Aguirre about it. Aguirre said he should check with a lawyer. McGrath replied that he had already done so and had been told that such donations are not only legal, but common.