ANTIOCH — A bill aimed at Jeffery Belle, Contra Costa County school board trustee, and other politicians who lie on ballot statements — passed both houses and is headed to the governor’s desk.

The bill, if signed into law by Gov. Jerry Brown, would impose a fine of up to $5,000 on candidates that lie on ballot statements when seeking political office.

“Candidates who shamelessly lie to voters are committing fraud and they should pay the penalty,” Assemblyman Jim Frazier, D-Discovery Bay, said. “For many voters the only information they may have about a candidate is what the candidate submits for a ballot statement. This is especially true in down-ballot races, such as the Board of Education, which usually don’t get a lot of media coverage.”

Frazier said the bill, called assembly bill 894, was authored in response to Belle, who was found to have lied about his education and qualifications following an investigation by this newspaper. Related Articles Los Medanos Health board member faces assault charges in connection with Antioch shooting

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The bill, as it was first proposed, would have required a public official to forfeit the elected office that was won.

However, lying in a candidate’s statement is an infraction, not a crime, and would not guarantee the newly elected public official the right to a trial by jury or a public defender, according to analysis by staff of the Committee on Elections and Redistricting. No other infraction can strip a public official of elected office.

The American Civil Liberties Union of California opposed the bill stating that it appeared to be “a solution in search of a problem” and that Belle was prosecuted for intentionally misleading voters in his candidates statements.

Belle received 20 hours of community service and a fine of $1,000. Belle continues to serve as a trustee on the Contra Costa Board of Education.