Death, Taxes and the FPPC


Millionaire Richard J. O'Neill died, reportedly of natural causes, on April 6, but not before the government took its last piece of flesh from Orange County's monumental Democrat. 

The 85-year-old real estate developer who headed the California Democratic Party 30 years ago and was a major contributor to Democratic candidates in OC and throughout the state during his life was fined $1,500 by the state's Fair Political Practices Commission a month a two days before he died.
His mistake? Failing to fulfill public disclosure requirements for a $10,000 contribution to the Phil Angelides 2006 campaign for governor. Can't a dying guy catch a break?
His family's massive South County ranch formed Mission Viejo, Ladera Ranch and Rancho Santa Margarita and, in exchange for lucrative housing and commercial development rights, created large public park areas.
I can attest to a large number of people who loved O'Neill dearly.
–R. Scott Moxley / OC Weekly

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