The Neil Blais Funny Money – Assembly Candidate Files Third Straight Deceptive Campaign Report

For the third straight time, Assembly candidate Neil Blais has inflated his available cash (now by a running total of $150,000) to conduct a primary campaign in the 71st Assembly district, using questionable and perhaps even prohibited accounting practices.

"The way Neil Blais makes money appear and disappear, he should have no trouble getting employment as an illusionist in a cheap Vegas lounge after he loses this election, " said Dave Gillard, consultant for the leading Republican candidate, Jeff Miller.

At first glance, the Blais campaign report shows $202,270 in cash-on-hand. But a deeper analysis shows that only $50,164, or 24.8% of the Blais money, is likely or legally spendable in the Primary. "It is common for many candidates to fudge their reports a little around the margins, but for such a huge percentage of a reported cash-on-hand to be fiction is unprecedented," stated Miller campaign manager Brandon Powers.

Blais has loaned, paid back, re-loaned, re-paid back, re-re-loaned, and re-re-paid back the exact same $64,597.02 to his campaign. Another loan for $35,402.58 has followed the same path. This $100,000 originated after Blais took a second loan out on his house early in 2007.

"Moving this money in and out of his account every time a reporting deadline crops up is an obvious ploy to deceive people into believing he has a higher cash-on-hand balance than is reality. If this deception is not a matter for the FPPC or the DA, it should be," said Gilliard. "In this real estate market, a guy in his employment position is not going to be spending that $100,000 against his home."

A total of $46,541 of Neil’s cash-on-hand is General Election money – and cannot be legally spent in the Primary. Deception is the only motive for raising this much General Election money unless, as some have speculated, Blais is planning to use the General Election money he is raising to pay himself back for his Primary Election loans. "Such a ploy would be illegal and we will be watching very carefully to make sure he is held accountable if in fact he attempts it," said Powers.

All told, when you back out the General Election money ($46,541), the second mortgage loan ($100,000) and the accrued expenses ($5565), Blais has a true cash-on-hand of only $50,164, which gives him enough to run for reelection to the city council, but that is about it.