While Barton Health wanted to support the Tahoe Chamber Independent Expenditure Committee, it has had to back pedal with its donation for legal reasons.

The political action committee is an arm of the Lake Tahoe South Shore Chamber of Commerce. The entity financially supported candidates Brooke Laine and Jason Collin for South Lake Tahoe City Council. They went on to win the two seats earlier this month.

Collin is an employee of Barton Health.

According to Mindi Befu with Barton, the $1,000 contribution was given before the health conglomerate knew who the IEC was going to support. The money, she said, was in support of the chamber’s Tahoe Future 2020. Nonetheless, Barton as a non-for-profit group cannot make such a donation.

“As a 501(c)3, Barton Health is unable to contribute funds that support or oppose political candidates. When Barton administration was made aware of this event, we requested the donation be returned,” Befu told Lake Tahoe News.

— Lake Tahoe News staff report