State lawmaker repays donations from temples

A Republican lawmaker has repaid $6,100 in improper campaign donations made by two Buddhist temples and a research organization associated with one of them.

Mike Spence, chief of staff for Assemblyman Curt Hagman of Chino Hills, said the last of the refund checks was mailed Wednesday.

The three Buddhist organizations -- the Buddhist Temple of Chino Hills, the Bu-Sha Center and Buta Buddhism Research Center, both of West Covina -- gave Hagman campaign donations despite their nonprofit status, which prohibits them from becoming involved in political campaigns.

Representatives of the temples said they didn't know the contributions were illegal.

Hagman, a former mayor of Chino Hills, said he was unaware of the temple contributions until they were pointed out to him by The Associated Press.