Sacramento Sheriff Scott Jones amends disclosures in House race

Sacramento County Sheriff Scott Jones, a top recruit of congressional Republicans seeking to oust Democratic Rep. Ami Bera, fleshed out his financial interests in an amended form filed this week with House officials.

Jones’ original financial disclosure was missing rental income from a property he owns in Antelope, as well as mention of a defined benefit pension the sheriff stands to receive for his nearly three decades in county government. It also omitted two unpaid board positions.

Jones is challenging Bera, of Elk Grove, in a toss-up race that covers suburban Sacramento County and is expected to garner national attention.

Congressional candidates are required to complete the forms to give the public a complete, if imprecise, picture of their personal financial situations, including their assets, income and liabilities like credit card debt.

Dave Gilliard, Jones’ campaign consultant, chalked up the discrepancies over the rental property, pension benefit and volunteer positions to a difference in interpreting the form’s instructions. Jones made the updates after the omissions were flagged by a reporter.

He earned $5,000 to $15,000 in rental income in each of the last two years, and has yet to draw the pension, which is categorized as “unrealized.”

This story was originally published April 12, 2016 at 10:03 AM.