Tokofsky Returned Check From Belmont Partner

LOS ANGELES — Los Angeles school board member David Tokofsky said Friday that he received a political donation from Art Gastelum--a partner in a firm helping to build the controversial Belmont Learning Complex--but promptly sent it back.

Tokofsky said Gastelum showed up at the last minute of a March 11 fund-raiser and left a $250 check.

“He just handed it to the women at the door. . . . And then when we checked what money came in, I said, ‘No, no, no, we cannot receive that one,’ ” said Tokofsky, an opponent of Belmont.

Gastelum helped arrange two contributions of $10,000 to school board members Barbara Boudreaux and Jeff Horton, who have supported the Belmont project.

Tokofsky said he returned the check because of the public outrage over the district’s spending on the $200-million learning complex, the most expensive high school in state history. He also said the check was returned because Gastelum didn’t fill in the “pay to the order” line.