Two election investigations by Fresno City Attorney Andrew Janz resulted in one letter threatening fines and another finding compliance.

Fresno City Attorney Andrew Janz sent a warning letter Tuesday to progressive advocacy group California Working Families Party, giving it 48 hours to file necessary campaigning forms or face a $1,000 fine.

A spokesperson with the organization told GV Wire on Wednesday that the group sent the required forms to the state on May 21.

Separately, an investigation into the One Fresno Coalition, run by political consultant Alex Tavlian, found that while forms were filed late, the organization was “substantially in compliance,” Janz told GV Wire.

The letter to the California Working Families Party comes after a complaint alleged the organization had not filed expenditure forms for multiple local and state candidates, including Fresno City Council District 1 candidate Naindeep Singh, Fresno City Council District 7 candidate Ariana Martinez Lott, and State Assembly candidate Sandra Celedon.

The San Joaquin Valley Sun first reported the complaint.

The complaint also alleged that a phone banking event with Martinez Lott violated state laws requiring candidates to remain independent from supporters.

Janz determined that the phone banking matter lies outside the jurisdiction of his office.

Martinez Lott told GV Wire she was not aware of the details of the fine. To the phone bank issue, she added: “My team has followed all reporting rules pertaining to coordination.”

Added Martinez Lott: “I am proud of the way we have operated this community-driven campaign. Over 400 people have donated their time and resources — teachers, community leaders, District 7 neighbors, nurses, and my family and friends.”

Independent Expenditures Report Arrives Same Day as Legal Letter

The parent of the California Working Families Party is the Brooklyn, New York-based Working Families Party, which endorses candidates nationwide, promoting racial, economic, and environmental justice. Since Jan. 1, the California chapter of the organization has received more than $1 million, distributing $927,000 to causes and candidates statewide, according to filings with the California secretary of state.

Closer to home, the organization has spent nearly $10,700 on digital ads, texting and mail campaigns supporting Martinez Lott. A majority of that, $10,000, has gone to digital ads.

For Singh, the organization paid out $1,100 worth of phone banking, staff time, texting, and direct mailers.

Date stamps on the Form 496 Expenditure Reports for Singh and Martinez Lott show the documents received the same day that Janz’s letter went out. In the letter, Janz gave the organization 48 hours to file the state-required forms.

A discrepancy between the received and filing dates for one of Martinez Lott’s filings received by the city May 21. The first expenditure form was filed May 12.

Phone Bank Event in Compliance: Working Families

Also at issue is a phone banking event allegedly held “in coordination” with Martinez Lott. A flyer from Working Families promoted a phone bank event on May 13 with Martinez Lott and Celedon, something the California Fair Political Practices Commission regulates.

The complaint alleges the event with the two candidates — both of whom received financial support from the organization — violates state campaign laws.

California law forbids coordination between a political action committee and a candidate.

“By claiming the mailer is ‘not authorized by a candidate’ while actively coordinating campaign activities, the Working Families Party and the Lott campaign are violating both the independence requirements and the disclaimer rules,” the complaint states.

The FPPC told GV Wire on Wednesday it had not received any complaints against the California Working Families Party.

In a response to GV Wire, Jorge Contreras, state director of the organization, said the group followed all state and federal laws surrounding the event.

“The California Working Families Party takes compliance seriously,” Contreras said in a statement. “We have robust internal systems and firewalls to ensure our work complies with election laws and reporting requirements, and we are confident that this complaint is without merit.”