State Sues Ex-Sen. Campbell’s Wife, Aide
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SANTA ANA — The wife of former state Sen. William Campbell and his legislative aide wrongfully used their connection to him to collect several hundred thousand dollars that would have gone to charitable services sponsored by Campbell, the state has charged in a lawsuit.
Atty. Gen. Dan Lungren alleged in a lawsuit filed in Orange County Superior Court this week that Margene Campbell and her business partner, Karen Smith, violated state law when they collected payments that were far above market value for organizing Sen. Campbell’s Conference on Women in Anaheim in 1987 and 1988. At the time, Smith was also Campbell’s district coordinator for his Orange County offices.
The lawsuit seeks compensatory damages and recovery for investigation and litigation costs.
The nonprofit annual conferences offered women tips on personal development and career advancement. Money raised from the conferences was to be used to underwrite future conferences and workshops.
However, the state charged, the net surplus received from the conferences in 1987 and 1988, which totaled $427,000, was used to pay Margene Campbell, Smith and their firm, West Coast Seminars of Laguna Niguel, for consulting work.
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