Arrest Warrant Out on Westminster Councilwoman

WESTMINSTER —  An arrest warrant was issued for City Councilwoman Lyn Gillespie after she failed to appear at a recent court hearing to discuss her delinquent debt to her former campaign manager.

The bench warrant was issued this month by Orange County Municipal Judge Michael Beecher, court officials said. Gillespie has not been arrested, though, because the Orange County marshal’s office has not yet received the paper work from the court, a marshal’s spokesman said.

Harvey Englander, 41, president of Costa Mesa-based Campaign Management Inc., has estimated that Gillespie owes him more than $16,000, including interest on the debt and legal expenses, from her successful 1988 campaign for the council.

Gillespie, 35, said that she has the Epstein-Barr virus or chronic fatigue syndrome and that her doctor has advised her to avoid the stress of court appearances. She called Englander’s legal tactics “harassment.”

She also alleged that Englander “didn’t perform (many of) the services that he’s charging me for” and that he has rejected attempts to arrange payment.

“I’ve been very willing all along to settle this bill with Harvey, but he has been unreasonable,” Gillespie said. “And he has chosen to assassinate my character in the press instead of working to get this matter resolved.”

Englander alleged that Gillespie is using illness as an excuse to dodge legal appearances, noting that she has continued to attend council meetings.

However, Gillespie said her council position “is a responsibility that I take very seriously. In order to go to a City Council meeting, I have to stay the whole day before in bed and usually two days after in bed, but that is one responsibility that I cannot give up at this time.”

Englander said he has received court permission to sell Gillespie’s 1988 Ford Bronco. By court order, he is now receiving $105 of Gillespie’s $500-a-month council salary as payment toward the debt--a circumstance that Gillespie called a “bullying tactic” and said would be appealed.

Englander denied that he has been bullying Gillespie.

“If harassment is attempting to get payment on a debt that’s owed, then (I’m harassing her), but I don’t think that’s the definition of harassment,” Englander said. “She has made no attempt to pay off the debt and make a payment plan. What she’s trying to do is settle it for a lesser amount.”