Please ensure Javascript is enabled for purposes of website accessibility

West Bank Town Becomes ‘Big Prison’ as Israel Fences It In

2 days ago

Trump Says He’s Willing to Let Migrant Farm Laborers Stay in US

2 days ago

US Electric Vehicle Tax Breaks Will Expire on Sept. 30

3 days ago

Eyeing Arctic Dominance, Trump Bill Earmarks $8.6 Billion for US Coast Guard Icebreakers

3 days ago

Trump’s Sweeping Tax-Cut and Spending Bill Wins Congressional Approval

3 days ago

Americans Celebrate Their Independence With Record-Breaking Travel Numbers

3 days ago

US Supreme Court to Decide Legality of Transgender School Sports Bans

3 days ago

Nvidia Set to Become the World’s Most Valuable Company in History

3 days ago

Poll: 41% in US ‘Extremely Proud’ to Be American, Near Historic Low

3 days ago
Do Contributions to Fresno Councilmen Conflict With New Law? Maxwell Says No.
By admin
Published 2 years ago on
September 15, 2023

Share

Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

Did two Fresno city councilmembers violate a new anti-pay-to-play law?

Thus far, smart people are coming to different conclusions about SB 1439, which took effect this year.

Thursday, the city council approved an amendment to a trash hauling contract with Mid Valley Disposal, with Council President Tyler Maxwell and Councilmember Garry Bredefeld part of the 6-0 vote.

Basically, the law says that an elected leader cannot vote on an item if he or she accepts more than $250 in campaign funds from a company that has business before a public board or council.

Members of the family that operate Mid Valley Disposal contributed money this year to the campaigns of Maxwell — running for re-election in 2024; and Bredefeld, running for county supervisor in 2024.

So, does the scenario Maxwell and Bredefeld face break the law?

“It depends,” said Jay Wierenga, spokesman for the state Fair Political Practices Commission, answered without specifically addressing the councilmen’s legal status. The FPPC oversees and enforces campaign finance violations. The watchdog group does not comment on whether specific actions are a violation.

Digging Through the Law

There are several factors at play. The type of contract that would fall under SB 1439 does not seem to be in dispute. What is in question is whether multiple members of an ownership family contributing to a campaign count toward the limit. There are regulations defining “agent” and “participant.”

In his campaign filings through June 30, 2023, Maxwell reported $250 contributions each on June 30 from CEO Joseph Kalpakoff; Jonathan Kalpakoff, Joseph’s brother, listed as “owner”; and mother Natalie Kalpakoff, also listed as “owner;” and sister Tatiana Kalpakoff.

On June 19, Bredefeld received $250 each from the company itself, Mid Valley Disposal; Wendy Kalpakoff, wife of Joseph; and Natalie Kalpakoff and Tatiana Kalpakoff.

Joseph Kalpakoff spoke at Thursday’s city council meeting. The law also requires the contributor to disclose contributions, which apparently did not happen at the meeting.

California Common Cause, a good government advocacy group that helped pass the law, believes that Maxwell and Bredefeld violated the law.

“If the contributors are owners or operators in some capacity or have a stake in the company in some capacity, then it is my opinion that they are ‘parties’ who have disclosure requirements, and their contributions would be accumulated,” Sean McMorris, California Common Cause’s transparency and ethics manager, told Politics 101.

However, Maxwell told Politics 101 his vote did not violate SB 1439 without elaborating further.

Messages to Bredefeld and Mid Valley Disposal were not returned.

A check of campaign finance documents from the other five councilmembers does not show any contributions from Mid Valley Disposal or the ownership family.

If FPPC finds a violation — it can investigate on its own or if it receives a complaint — the exact consequences can vary, spokesman Wierenga said.

California Common Cause’s McMorris also questions the timing of the contributions.

“If these contributions all came in around the same time (and especially after contract negotiations began) and are all at or just under $250, then that could be an indication that the applicant was aware of the law and was potentially trying to find a workaround by having multiple people contribute the max amount, perhaps thinking that the contributions would not be accrued under the law,” McMorris said.

“These laws exist for a reason. They need to be followed, even if it creates what officeholders and applicants may view as a headache or burden. Can you put a price on the public’s trust in their government? If public officials and applicants were benevolent, then we would not need ethics laws. That is not the case. We need these laws and they need to be followed,” McMorris said.

Recent campaign disclosure documents showing contributions from Mid Valley Disposal and the Kalpakoff family for Tyler Maxwell (above) and Garry Bredefeld (below).

 

SB 1439 Opposition Not Pursuing Lawsuit

A coalition of businesses that sued to block SB 1439 says it will not pursue an appeal after losing in Sacramento County Superior Court.

“After careful consideration of the time and expense necessary to pursue a constitutional challenge to SB 1439 up to the Supreme Court, our coalition of business nonprofit associations and local elected officials has decided not to appeal the most recent ruling in this case. We remain confident that the courts would have ultimately agreed that SB 1439 violates the First Amendment right to free speech,” a coalition spokeswoman said.

Members of the coalition included the California Restaurant Association, California Retailers Association, and California Business Roundtable.

“We continue to support campaign finance transparency and openness. We note the irony that sustaining this law will likely lead to increased activity in independent expenditure campaigns – a far less transparent process than publicly accountable small, direct contributions to local election campaigns,” the coalition said.

RELATED TOPICS:

DON'T MISS

What Are Fresno Real Estate Experts Predicting for 2025 and Beyond?

DON'T MISS

First California EV Mandates Hit Automakers This Year. Most Are Not Even Close

DON'T MISS

How Trump’s ‘Big, Beautiful Bill’ Will Make China Great Again

DON'T MISS

What’s Caitlin Clark Worth to the WNBA? A Lot More Than Her $78,066 Salary.

DON'T MISS

Trump to Sign Tax-Cut and Spending Bill in July 4 Ceremony

DON'T MISS

Madre Fire Spurs Evacuations Across 3 Counties, Grows to More Than 70,000 Acres

DON'T MISS

Clovis, Sanger, Madera, and Bass Lake Will Light the Sky With Fireworks Shows Tonight

DON'T MISS

Oil Dips Ahead of Expected OPEC+ Output Increase

DON'T MISS

613 Killed at Gaza Aid Distribution Sites, Near Humanitarian Covoys, Says UN

DON'T MISS

Fresno County Authorities Investigating Suspicious Death of Transient Man

DON'T MISS

West Bank Town Becomes ‘Big Prison’ as Israel Fences It In

DON'T MISS

Israeli Military Kills 20 in Gaza as Trump Awaits Hamas Reply to Truce Proposal

UP NEXT

What’s Caitlin Clark Worth to the WNBA? A Lot More Than Her $78,066 Salary.

UP NEXT

Trump to Sign Tax-Cut and Spending Bill in July 4 Ceremony

UP NEXT

Madre Fire Spurs Evacuations Across 3 Counties, Grows to More Than 70,000 Acres

UP NEXT

Clovis, Sanger, Madera, and Bass Lake Will Light the Sky With Fireworks Shows Tonight

UP NEXT

Oil Dips Ahead of Expected OPEC+ Output Increase

UP NEXT

613 Killed at Gaza Aid Distribution Sites, Near Humanitarian Covoys, Says UN

UP NEXT

Fresno County Authorities Investigating Suspicious Death of Transient Man

UP NEXT

West Bank Town Becomes ‘Big Prison’ as Israel Fences It In

UP NEXT

Israeli Military Kills 20 in Gaza as Trump Awaits Hamas Reply to Truce Proposal

UP NEXT

Valley Crime Stoppers’ Most Wanted Person of the Day: Rachelle Maria Blanco

San Luis Obispo’s Madre Fire Grows to Nearly 80,000 Acres, 30% Contained

4 hours ago

Musk Announces Forming of ‘America Party’ in Further Break From Trump

4 hours ago

Death Toll From Texas Floods Reaches 59, Including 21 Children

4 hours ago

California’s Politics Drifts Right While New York’s Leans Left

5 hours ago

How Trump’s ‘Big, Beautiful Bill’ Will Make China Great Again

1 day ago

What’s Caitlin Clark Worth to the WNBA? A Lot More Than Her $78,066 Salary.

1 day ago

Trump to Sign Tax-Cut and Spending Bill in July 4 Ceremony

2 days ago

Madre Fire Spurs Evacuations Across 3 Counties, Grows to More Than 70,000 Acres

2 days ago

Clovis, Sanger, Madera, and Bass Lake Will Light the Sky With Fireworks Shows Tonight

2 days ago

Oil Dips Ahead of Expected OPEC+ Output Increase

2 days ago

Fresno DUI Driver Slams Into CHP Motorcycle, Tow Truck on Highway 99

A suspected DUI driver crashed into a parked California Highway Patrol motorcycle and tow truck along Highway 99 near North Avenue, missing ...

4 hours ago

A 22-year-old suspected DUI driver crashed into a parked CHP motorcycle and tow truck on Highway 99 near Fresno, narrowly missing an officer and bystanders, CHP said Saturday, July 5, 2025. (CHP)
4 hours ago

Fresno DUI Driver Slams Into CHP Motorcycle, Tow Truck on Highway 99

A service member of a drone unit of the 24th Separate Mechanized Brigade named after King Danylo of the Ukrainian Armed Forces controls a heavy combat drone while it flies over positions of Russian troops, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Donetsk Region, Ukraine June 12, 2025. (Reuters File)
4 hours ago

Russia Downs 120 Ukrainian Drones Overnight, Defense Ministry Says

An Israeli tank maneuvers in Gaza, as seen from the Israeli side of the border, July 6, 2025. (Reuters/Amir Cohen)
4 hours ago

Israel Sends Delegation to Qatar for Gaza Talks Ahead of Netanyahu Trip to US

The Madre Fire near New Cuyama has burned nearly 80,000 acres as of Sunday, July 6, 2025, morning, prompting widespread evacuation orders and warnings across three counties. (CalFire)
4 hours ago

San Luis Obispo’s Madre Fire Grows to Nearly 80,000 Acres, 30% Contained

Tesla Chief Executive Officer Elon Musk gets in a Tesla car as he leaves a hotel in Beijing, China May 31, 2023. (Reuters File)
4 hours ago

Musk Announces Forming of ‘America Party’ in Further Break From Trump

A search dog operates at Camp Mystic after deadly flooding in Kerr County, Texas, U.S., July 5, 2025. (Reuters/Sergio Flores)
4 hours ago

Death Toll From Texas Floods Reaches 59, Including 21 Children

2024 Democratic National Convention
5 hours ago

California’s Politics Drifts Right While New York’s Leans Left

Solar Farm in Riesel, Texas
1 day ago

How Trump’s ‘Big, Beautiful Bill’ Will Make China Great Again

Help continue the work that gets you the news that matters most.

Search

Send this to a friend