Ethics panel looks at Cardenas

Frustrated with repeat campaign finance violations by Councilman Tony Cardenas, the Los Angeles Ethics Commission asked its staff Tuesday to consider at least tripling proposed fines for accepting excess campaign contributions. Kerry Cavanaugh in the Daily News.

Commission staff had proposed fining Cardenas $2,050 for accepting $500 in excess contributions from three donors and for failing to submit two scripts of automated phone calls made before his 2006 re-election.

But commissioners said those fines were too low, considering that Cardenas has been fined for 15 similar violations during elections in 2001 and 2003.