THE GROUP that was Monterey County supervisor candidate Marc Del Piero’s main financial supporter broke state law when it failed to disclose $95,000 in contributions to him and two other candidates this year, according to a state agency that investigates violations of the Political Reform Act.

At a meeting Dec. 13 in San Diego, the California Fair Political Practices Commission will consider whether the North Salinas Valley Fund for Responsible Growth should be fined for not filing a campaign statement disclosing contributions of $45,000 to Del Piero, $35,000 to 4th District Supervisor Jane Parker and $15,000 to Ed Mitchell, who plans to challenge Lou Calcagno for the 2nd District county supervisor spot in 2014.

The three contributions were made March 20.

The North Salinas group, considered by the FPPC to be a “major donor committee,” is charged with violating Government Code section 84200, which requires semiannual statements be filed each year no later than July 31 for the period ending June 30, and no later than Jan. 31 for the period ending December 31.

While FPPC staff found the North Salinas group had violated the law by not filing the appropriate Form 461, the commission will consider whether to fine the group $1,350. The commission also has the option of rejecting the charge although that’s unlikely since the group admitted fault.

“The commission does have the final word,” FPPC enforcement officer Gary Winuk told The Pine Cone Tuesday.

The three-page decision by the FPPC lists Marjorie Kay as the group’s respondent.

Winuk said county clerks are required to report groups or candidates who fail to file campaign statements.

“Anybody who doesn’t file statements is going to get turned in,” he said.

In a big-money push to oust longtime incumbent 5th District Supervisor Dave Potter, the North Salinas group gave Del Piero a total of $132,500. Another $14,000 came from Curtis Spitler, who is the husband of the North Salinas Fund’s chair, Julie Engell.

The effort failed, and Potter, who accused the North Salinas group of trying to “buy the election,” was reelected.

The group also donated $197,600 this year to LandWatch Monterey County, with which it’s closely aligned.

The group’s large donations prompted Ron Chesshire, CEO at the Monterey/Santa Cruz Counties Building and Construction Trades Council, to petition county supervisors to limit direct campaign contributions to local political candidates.

Chesshire informed the FPPC of the group’s deadline blunder.

Engell told the Monterey County Herald this week that the group simply missed the filing deadline. Once the mistake, was realized, she said, the forms were filled out and turned in the next day.

Engell also said the group wasn’t trying to hide anything and was “embarrassed” by the oversight.

The tax-exempt North Salinas group came into its cash bonanza in 2008 when it received a $600,000 settlement stemming from a legal fight it waged with Monterey County over permits for Butterfly Village, the proposed residential development north of Salinas.

The group was then called the San Juan Opposition Coalition.

Del Piero lost to Potter by 55 percent to 45 percent in the Nov. 6 election.