Editorial

We’re disappointed. Disappointed in Huntington Beach Mayor Dave Garofalo.

Disappointed in the city attorney’s office. Disappointed in Councilwoman

Shirley Dettloff.

On May 1, Garofalo voted on an important $46-million hotel, retail and

restaurant project for Downtown, one that will serve as a cornerstone for

the city’s redevelopment district. It’s a project that is expected to

bring much-needed revenue to city coffers and one that city officials

have been excited about for more than a year.

But what most people didn’t know at the time of the vote is that, four

months earlier, the mayor had accepted a $2,995 check from the developer,

Commercial Investment Management Group, for an advertisement in the

city’s Conference and Visitor’s Bureau visitors guide. The guide is

published by the Local News, a company Garofalo once owned but sold to

Air Quality Consultants. Garofalo on Tuesday said he now works as a

consultant for the firm.

Although Garofalo on Tuesday said he doesn’t sell ads, CIM Vice President

John Given has said the company made the check for the ad out to David P.

Garofalo & Associates, a company the mayor owns lock, stock and barrel.

This is where things get sticky.

The Fair Political Practices Act prohibits elected officials from

receiving money -- as little as $250 -- from companies involved in issues

that come before them. If an elected official has accepted money within

12 months of a vote, that person must recuse himself from the

decision-making process.

Garofalo says he sought advice on the CIM matter from the city attorney’s

office. Assistant City Atty. Scott Field acknowledges that, saying at

this week’s council meeting that the office advised Garofalo on matters

involving CIM several times last year.

Garofalo dismisses any questions of impropriety, saying only that “the

proper accounts” were credited. However, despite repeated requests, he

has yet to offer up any documentation to prove that.

Field, too, dismisses any questions regarding the issue, saying it’s a

matter for the Fair Political Practices Commission. And Field said -- in

no uncertain terms -- that the city attorney’s office would not forward

the matter to the state commission.

And this is why we’re disappointed.

The law is clear. But the CIM matter is fuzzy.

There are many questions -- reasonable, important questions -- that

remain unanswered. How can we be sure that a conflict of interest did not

occur when, according to Given, the check for the ad was made out to a

company owned 100% by the mayor? Other guide advertisers have said they

made their checks out to the Local News. If the the money was deposited

into Local News’ accounts, then why hasn’t Garofalo met with our requests

to provide documentation?

We’re not talking about just any businessman striking a deal here. We’re

talking about the mayor accepting a check from the developer of a

multimillion-dollar project that had already been before the City Council

and was sure to appear before it again.

We’re disappointed in the nonchalant attitude expressed by Dettloff, who

suggested this is not a matter of local concern.

“This is not a local issue, and this is an issue that will be answered by

an appropriate body,” Dettloff told the Independent last week. “I don’t

think it needs local action.”

But how will the appropriate body -- whether it’s the Fair Political

Practices Commission or another agency -- investigate if no one from the

city passes the information along?

There’s still another question: How can the city-funded Convention and

Visitor’s Bureau give, year after year, a potentially lucrative contract

for its visitors guide to a company Garofalo has such a close financial

relationship with?

During Monday’s City Council meeting, residents were joined by Councilmen

Dave Sullivan and Tom Harman in urging Garofalo to provide full

disclosure of his dealings with the CIM Group. We’re disappointed

Dettloff and Councilwoman Pam Julien -- the remaining council members in

attendance Monday -- did not do the same.

And Garofalo critic Debbie Cook asked about his business ties to the

visitors guide.

We are taught -- and our elected leaders promise us -- openness. And yet

when we ask for it, we get vagueness and even mockery.

Again, we urge Garofalo to provide full disclosure on his business

relationship with the Local News, the visitors guide and its advertisers

so this matter can be put to rest.

The sooner the better.