With Sacramento’s June 2 primary fast approaching, Board of Supervisors candidate Flojaune “Flo” Cofer is facing a late-breaking ethics headache. A political watchdog has filed a state complaint accusing her of filing a false financial disclosure, claiming she reported “no income” on a March Form 700 even though she later swore under penalty of perjury that she had been paid for speaking, guest lectures, expert work and consulting. The Fair Political Practices Commission has confirmed it will review the allegation.
Complaint Filed With the FPPC
The complaint, submitted April 25 by Sacramento resident Richard Dwyer, alleges that Cofer either underreported or misrepresented sources of income, according to The Sacramento Bee. It highlights a March 5 Form 700 in which Cofer checked a box indicating she had no reportable income, then contrasts that with a March 25 sworn statement in court where she described receiving paid speaking and guest lecture fees, expert witness work and government consulting income.
Why the Form 700 Matters
Form 700 is California’s standard economic disclosure for candidates and public officials. It is meant to flag potential conflicts of interest by requiring people in public life to list reportable income, gifts and financial holdings, according to the Fair Political Practices Commission. Filing something that is false or incomplete can trigger FPPC enforcement, which can lead to administrative fines or other remedies, depending on what investigators find.
Who Filed the Complaint and the Ballot Fight
Dwyer’s complaint was filed through political law firm Bell, McAndrews & Hiltachk LLP, a familiar name in Cofer’s campaign drama. It is the same firm that successfully challenged her original use of “doctor” on the ballot; a judge ultimately ordered her professional description changed to “Epidemiologist, Public Health,” as reported by The Sacramento Bee. Cofer has dismissed the new filing as “political theater,” arguing that the complaint misstates what is actually required on Form 700 and includes payments she says either did not happen or fall outside the relevant reporting window.
Campaign Response and Stakes
Cofer is competing in a closely watched District 1 race that Sacramento News & Review characterizes as pivotal for setting county policy on housing, public safety and public health. Her rivals include Sacramento City Councilmember Eric Guerra, a well-known figure in local politics. How quickly the FPPC chooses to act, and whether it issues any findings before the June 2 primary, could influence last-minute messaging as campaigns look for any edge in the final stretch.
What Could Happen Next
The FPPC regularly posts enforcement actions that show it can impose administrative penalties when it finds violations, with recent Fair Political Practices Commission decisions including fines ranging from a few hundred dollars to tens of thousands, depending on the severity of the offense. The commission has told the complainant it will notify the parties once there is a final decision, but these investigations can run for weeks or months and may not wrap up before voters cast their ballots.
In the meantime, the existence of an FPPC inquiry alone is often enough to become campaign fodder, regardless of how it ultimately ends. The commission’s next public steps will determine whether this allegation stays a paperwork scuffle or turns into a bigger storyline. We will update this article if the FPPC posts documents or either campaign provides further comment.
