Supervisor Lawson-Remer Used Campaign Funds to Pay for Childcare Costs

The San Diego County supervisor reportedly spent up to 7,545.00 on two different preschools for her toddler during her recall campaign. 

San Diego County Supervisor Terra Lawson-Remer reportedly used campaign funds to pay for childcare services in 2022. Lawson-Remer reportedly spent $7,545.00 on childcare bills for her toddler in 2022 when she was faced with a recall effort. 

Lawson-Remer was elected in 2020 to represent the 3rd district. She has served as the vice chair for the Board of Supervisors since 2023. 

In 2022 she faced a recall effort launched by a group called Undivided San Diego, which ended with the group failing to gain the number of needed signatures to put it on the ballot. It was during this recall effort that Lawson-Remer used campaign funds to pay for childcare services for her toddler. 

California state law requires political candidates to use campaign funds exclusively for campaign-related expenses. Donor money is not to be used for personal expenses. 

State law does, however, permit candidates to use this money to pay for childcare costs while they are campaigning. This 2019 legislation was intended to make it easier for parents to campaign for political office. Per the reports, candidates, “can only use campaign funds to pay ‘reasonable and necessary’ child care bills that wouldn’t have come up if they weren’t engaged in campaign activities.”

Critics say that the law is too ambiguous and open to being exploited. Opponents of Lawson-Remer argue that her use of funds amounting to $7,545.00 was excessive, and may even serve as a major “test” of the new law. 

They also highlight that a memo from Lawson-Remer’s attorney on the matter does not clarify whether the $7,545.00 was used specifically for child care during campaigning, or if it was used during her attendance of board meetings. If used for the latter, this would violate current California law pertaining to the use of those funds. 

Lawson-Remer’s attorneys have argued that the use of campaign funds was legally permitted because the funds were used during a campaign to fight a recall effort. 

Supervisor Lawson-Remer has recently dedicated work to making child care services more available for the people of San Diego County. She has collaborated with fellow supervisor Nora Vargas as part of this effort by her office.