The Los Angeles city ethics commission is scheduled Tuesday to consider additional fines against Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa for failing to report free tickets to more than two dozen sports and entertainment events.
On Monday, the state's Fair Political Practices Commission approved a $21,000 fine in a 4-0 vote.
Villaraigosa has acknowledged failing to report the free tickets for events that included the Grammys, the finals of "American Idol" and Los Angeles Dodgers playoff games. He said the violations were unintentional, and he did not consider the tickets gifts because he attended the events in his official capacity as mayor.
Villaraigosa said he attended more 3,000 events from his election as mayor in 2005 to 2010, the timeframe scrutinized by the state and city commissions in a joint investigation.
The mayor said the violations involve events representing just a fraction of his public appearances.
Free tickets are not considered gifts that must be disclosed when the public official plays a ceremonial role or function, such as tossing out the first ball at a baseball game. In the 21 state violations, the mayor was not able to document a ceremonial role that would have triggered the exemption.
"We appreciate the commission's determination that these were unintentional and made in good faith," Sarah Sheahan, a spokeswoman for the mayor, said in an email.
Four Los Angeles City Council members were also fined a total of $13,300 for similar offenses.
The commission is expected to approve the fines of Eric Garcetti, Jose Huizar, Herb Wesson and Tony Cardenas at its meeting Tuesday.
