Ann Ravel fights for Arizona records in biggest battle of her term

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Updated 7:15 a.m.: State authorities have confirmed that they expect the Arizona nonprofit, Americans for Responsible Leadership, to release the names of its donors at 8 a.m. on Monday.

After more than a year and a half leading California’s campaign finance watchdog, Ann Ravel hasn’t gained a reputation as a firebrand or a lightning rod of controversy.

But in the mind of her opponents, she is a “one-woman media onslaught, rabblerousing and prejudging, including ‘tweeting’ her incendiary view.”

That quote is from a legal argument filed by Americans for Responsible Leadership, the obscure Arizona nonprofit that pumped $11 million into a California campaign fund last month.

Ravel and the Fair Political Practices Commission have been trying to audit the nonprofit’s records to determine whether it is improperly shielding the identities of its donors.

The California Supreme Court ordered the nonprofit to turn over records on Sunday. In response, the group’s lawyers said they were preparing to ask the U.S. Supreme Court to block the audit.

The full story ran in Monday’s Los Angeles Times.

Ravel, a career government lawyer, said Sunday’s court order was historic.

“It sends a signal that California is very concerned about anonymity of contributors and believes that transparency in all political financial transactions is absolutely essential,” she said.

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Arizona group plans appeal to U.S. Supreme Court in funding case

California Supreme Court orders Arizona nonprofit to turn over records

-- Chris Megerian in Sacramento
twitter.com/chrismegerian

Rich Pedroncelli / Associated Press