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Nevada County Treasurer – The Dai and Tina Show (updated 4oct2010)

George Rebane

Dai Meagher and Tina Vernon are the two candidates running for Nevada County Treasurer.

Over the last few weeks there have been some rumors that Dai has had a tax lien in his financial past.  I asked Dai about this, and he confirmed to me that this indeed was the case, and the only such event in his 22 year business history.  In 1995 he was notified by the California Franchise Tax Board of a $2,500 tax lien against him which he resolved to the benefit of his creditor.  In sum, all debts were settled within four months of notification and no creditor was stiffed.

On the other side it turns out that Ms Vernon also has a financial event of note that to my knowledge she has yet to reveal, particularly to her endorsers.  The public record shows that Ms Tina Marie Gulizia (Ms Vernon’s maiden name) of Reno, Nevada filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy on 18 June 1996 (case #9631192), Judge “GWZ” presiding, status “Discharged” which means that she was “released from the obligation of all (her) debts which were proved in the proceedings” (Black’s Law Dictionary).

This coming Thursday 7 October 2010, at 8pm in the Grass Valley city hall chambers both candidates will appear at a candidates forum sponsored by the League of Women Voters of Western Nevada County.

Full Disclosure:  I am a supporter of Dai Meagher, CPA for County Treasurer, and a contributor to his campaign.

[4oct2010 update]  I received this documentation via email from Dai Meagher.  Download Tina Vernon (aka. Tina Marie Gulizia) Bankruptcy .  YubaNet ran this as a news item with Tina Vernon's response.  This afternoon Dai Meagher released this statement regarding Ms Vernon's bankruptcy.  Also today The Union decided to pick up on this story (here) and promised to expand on it in tomorrow's print edition.

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31 responses to “Nevada County Treasurer – The Dai and Tina Show (updated 4oct2010)”

  1. Jeff Peline Avatar
    Jeff Peline

    Why didn’t you ask Tina Vernon about her “financial event”, as you did Dai about his?

    Like

  2. Sarah H Avatar
    Sarah H

    Great scoop George. Case#, interviews and all. Well done.

    Like

  3. Bob Hobert Avatar
    Bob Hobert

    Why don’t you ask her JP and report back here or on your blog.

    Like

  4. Barry Pruett Avatar
    Barry Pruett

    George…can you make a copy of the discharge order from the bankruptcy court available online? I do not want to re-publish this without a copy of the order.

    Like

  5. Barry Pruett Avatar
    Barry Pruett

    Also George…who was spreading the rumors about Dai?

    Like

  6. George Rebane Avatar
    George Rebane

    A pdf version of the discharge order is available for download. Identifying who spread the rumors about Dai’s tax lien will have to come from more proximal sources.

    Like

  7. Jeff Peline Avatar
    Jeff Peline

    So Dai is spreading this around? Wouldn’t it be prudent to contact Tina for her response, since Dai was contacted about the lien against him? This occurred in 1996.

    Like

  8. Mikey McD Avatar
    Mikey McD

    This information is paramount. To have a treasurer with a recent BK is like outsourcing the pound to Michael Vick.
    News like this = worst nightmare for endorsers. To save face many will have to revoke their endorsements.

    Like

  9. Steve Enos Avatar
    Steve Enos

    From Tina Vernon, as posted on Yuba Net… maybe tell the whole story:
    “Following a shattered relationship which left Vernon responsible for raising two small children on her own, Vernon in 1996 exercised her right under the law to file for debt relief through a Chapter 7 bankruptcy filing. The total relief awarded was approximately $2,500.
    Vernon explained the circumstance which led to the filing, “Now that seems like such a small amount of money but at the time $2,500 felt insurmountable. I was the sole support for my children. I had just completed my degree and was working full time, running the household, providing for my children, and was unable to overcome the debt left to me from my separation. Frankly, it came down to ‘do I struggle with the debt or put food on the table for my children?’ This is my story. I’m not proud of the bankruptcy but I am very proud of everything I’ve accomplished since that happened all those years ago.”

    Like

  10. Mikey McD Avatar
    Mikey McD

    $2,500 in debt overwhelmed the women seeking to manage MILLIONS?

    Like

  11. Nuff said Avatar
    Nuff said

    Course Mikey misses the whole friggin’ point … “‘do I struggle with the debt or put food on the table for my children?’ … do you have a heart, dude?

    Like

  12. Jeff Peline Avatar
    Jeff Peline

    George should have contacted Tina for the whole story, just as he contacted Dai.

    Like

  13. Nuff said Avatar
    Nuff said

    Agreed. But as George mentioned, he is a supporter of Dai and has contributed to his campaign. It’s much easier for him and his candidate’s campaign to throw the trash out and let someone else try and pick it up.

    Like

  14. Mikey McD Avatar
    Mikey McD

    $2,500 in debt would not keep anyone worthy of an elected position from putting food on the table (I would like to hope that our future Treasurer would not be overwhelmed by a $43/month payment).

    Like

  15. Steve Enos Avatar
    Steve Enos

    It was in 1996, she became a single mom, finished her degree, took care of her kids and worked hard to over come the results of a failed relationship. That’s something she should be attacked for?
    So is it time to also discuss Dan Logue and his tax lien history too?
    Since 1996 Tina Vernon has done what?.. Provided for her kids and worked hard… but some here want to bash her for this?

    Like

  16. Chris Howard Avatar
    Chris Howard

    You should be saluting her. She turned her life around. Isn’t that what us conservatives want? Find something better to do George. Shame on you.

    Like

  17. Greg Goodknight Avatar
    Greg Goodknight

    I salute Ms. Vernon for her turnaround, it is inspiring. However, I think someone seeking the Treasurer post should not have a Chapter 7 in their not very distant past.
    It would have been politic to completely make whole the creditor(s) who were shorted, before filing for the Treasurer post. Was that the case?

    Like

  18. Mikey McD Avatar
    Mikey McD

    Would it not have been a better turn-around story if she never went BK? Would it not show more resilience/integrity to not go BK?
    I am not questioning her abilities as a mother or attacking her for a bad relationship… I am questioning the idea of having someone in the Treasurer’s office (managing MILLIONS) who was overwhelmed by $2,500 in debt to the point of filing BK and ethically open to reneging on her promises to pay creditors.
    I am sincerely sorry that this ‘event’ took place, but, as a voter it is extremely important information.
    “It would have been politic to completely make whole the creditor(s) who were shorted, before filing for the Treasurer post. Was that the case?”-Goodknight

    Like

  19. George Rebane Avatar
    George Rebane

    George Foster, who had some problems posting his comment directly, emailed and asked me to post the following –
    The professionally written Tina Vernon press release stated:
    “I intend to tell the voters the story…”
    The obvious response: “When?”
    Not for the June voters: That’s over for the losing candidates; those results are final.
    Probably not for the endorsers: Some thought they knew her; the mailers are printed and out.
    The Absentee and November voters are entitled to know significant facts about a candidate for this serious job. When $130 million in the treasury and $400 million in transactions are involved the voter/taxpayer should know that a candidate has filed a bankruptcy in a different state and previous name. This was not meant for the voters to know.
    Purposefully hiding significant history while running for a major financial office is playing the electorate for fools. Had this been disclosed in May would she have survived the primary?
    Shooting the messenger seems to be the preferred response.
    George Foster
    10-04-10

    Like

  20. Jeff Peline Avatar
    Jeff Peline

    I keep wondering whether this race is about the candidates — or the supporters from each side with their longer-time axes to grind.

    Like

  21. Michael Anderson Avatar
    Michael Anderson

    Jeff,
    Knowing George F.’s political persuasion in Nevada County, he would most likely be in line with the present supes. The fact that he is clearly casting his line in the Dai pool is more about substance I think.
    This is a lot like the Rolf and Sue vote–people voted every which way for lots of personal and political reasons. We have to look at everything: past (personal) economic history, experience, certifications and education, endorsements, everything.
    I can tell you right now that I am now undecided between Dai and Tina, whereas a couple of weeks ago I was committed to Dai. I voted for Dai in the primary but I have no idea how I am going vote as of this moment.
    Today’s events are also a big reason why I don’t vote absentee. Too many last minute surprises! )-:
    M.

    Like

  22. Jeff Peline Avatar
    Jeff Peline

    Michael,
    I know why George is voting for Dai, because I asked him. He likes his CPA and thinks he will be a Rood Center “watchdog” during the pension crisis. George and I are friends.
    My point was not the content of what was released — it was how it was released and whether Tina was contacted. I heard, for example, that The Union had this information but chose not to run it until it appeared on this blog.
    That also is something I consider when making a decision how to vote, and I’m sure others do too.
    -Jeff

    Like

  23. Nuff said Avatar
    Nuff said

    Purposefully hiding significant history while running for a major financial office is playing the electorate for fools. Had this been disclosed in May would she have survived the primary?
    Are you talking about Tina or Meg Whitman???

    Like

  24. Sarah H Avatar
    Sarah H

    I feel lied to by Mrs. Vernon. Why was this kept secret through the first election? Thank you for sharing George Foster’s email to. I hate politics; too many politicians. Thank you George for having the conscience to share this critical info. Blessings
    -Sarah

    Like

  25. Michael Anderson Avatar
    Michael Anderson

    Jeff,
    Thanks for the clarification, that clears up some things for me.
    You’re the only professional journalist in Nevada County who has a blog as far as I know, and your attention to details like attribution, and getting comments before posting, and proper disclosures, etc., I think are very helpful to setting the overall tone of expected discourse.
    Maybe I’ve lived here too long, but I’ve become accustomed to a lower bar. I don’t take it personally when the t’s aren’t crossed and the i’s aren’t dotted, but I’m also glad that you’re working hard to make it better.
    Plus, this is the new internet blogging space, which didn’t really exist until just recently. This is all Third Wave stuff, and keeping our respective blood pressures on an even keel should probably be our main focus.
    Michael A.

    Like

  26. George Rebane Avatar
    George Rebane

    For the record, the FUE is neither the county’s nor my standard for morality and ethics. However, I do realize that not everyone can say that.
    This post published two financial events in the careers of our candidates for county treasurer. One was relayed to me by Dai Meagher of which I recounted the bare essentials to inform my readership. The occurrence of the tax lien needed no further corroboration since it was the subject of the lien who established its bona fides, and I reported what he stated. Purposely I did not inquire into the surrounding details of the tax lien because I considered it immaterial to this post, and that any additional details that needed airing would be disclosed in the aftermath. It was a report of a matter of fact in the public domain.
    The second event, being the Tina Vernon bankruptcy, was first disclosed to me via hardcopy through a confidential source. It named a Tina Marie Gulizia as the petitioner. I notified The Union that this information was in my possession and, since this blog’s goal is not counting scooplets on that newspaper, informed them if they were going to go with the story then I would not. The Union’s response was the sound of silence.
    When I subsequently decided to post both pieces of information, my concern was that the named petitioner on my hardcopy package was in fact Tina Vernon. I called Tina Vernon and she confirmed that her maiden name was indeed Gulizia, during the phone call I also told her that I was posting a piece on Meagher and her. Additionally, I wanted corroboration from Dai Meagher who then sent me the pdf I make available in the post. Purposely I did not inquire into the surrounding details of the bankruptcy because I considered it immaterial to this post, and that any additional details that needed airing would be disclosed in the aftermath. It was a report of a matter of fact in the public domain.
    In sum, I decided that both pieces of material information about the candidates should be made public. One, because it may have already be known to some, and would see the light of day sooner or later to the detriment of the candidate I back. And the second, because it was clear that Ms Vernon had no intention of disclosing her bankruptcy to the voters before November as witnessed by her having skated through the primary without letting her supporters or the people who voted for her know this material fact.

    Like

  27. Mikey McD Avatar
    Mikey McD

    Gents, today’s release of contributions show a lot…Tina made a campaign promise in The Union April 29th which she has broken. Her promise is below.
    “Tina M. Vernon
    Why are you running?
    I am the person who can fulfill these duties, will not enter into political gamesmanship, will not accept donations…” -The Union April 29th 2010 http://www.theunion.com/article/20100429NEWS/100429695&parentprofile=search
    Just politics as usual?

    Like

  28. Sharon Rose Avatar
    Sharon Rose

    Jeff Pelline wrote: “I keep wondering whether this race is about the candidates — or the supporters from each side with their longer-time axes to grind.”
    Oh, Jeff! How you speak the truth. This partisan position, it seems, is just cannon fodder for those seeking local power. It’s the old v. the new. However, sometimes what’s new stinks to high heaven, as well as the old continues to rot and smell. We, the community, are smaller because of the way local elections are waged — we, the community, are the losers.
    I propose something fresh – perhaps an agreement between the existing political factions that leaves non-partisan offices as off-base. What is going on is disturbing, wrong, and divisive. In this political poisonous atmosphere no one wins.

    Like

  29. Dixon Cruickshank Avatar
    Dixon Cruickshank

    In my best Jack Nickelson impersonation – I’m Baaacck
    I certainly think for what ever reasons this is pretty pertenient to a Treasuer election for both parties. One disclosed and explained the other and along with the apparently self-taught honorable Mr Pelline think a BK for a Treasurer is not fit to disclose, even if he knew.
    Lots of words on our vocabulary for this, so pick the one you like but honest at it – just say’in
    2500 are you kidding? thats less than peelines annual ice cream budget

    Like

  30. Mikey McD Avatar
    Mikey McD

    I spend well over $2,500 annually on ice cream. just say’in

    Like

  31. Dixon Cruickshank Avatar
    Dixon Cruickshank

    And I thought I was bad complaining about the new less than 1/2 gal sizes only having 2 or 3 servings
    Do you stay with ultra premium brands or drop back to a store brand occasionally to stretch the budget

    Like

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