Garofalo not surprised by D.A. search

Tariq Malik

HUNTINGTON BEACH -- The seizure of materials from the home and office

of Councilman Dave Garofalo last week caught the city official off guard

but sparked hope in some residents seeking his recall.

On April 12, investigators with the Orange County District Attorney’s

office seized computer equipment and files from Garofalo’s Main Street

home, as well as a SeaCliff Office Park publishing office and from

Coatings Resource Co., owned by longtime friend Ed Laird.

Laird purchased the publishing rights to the city’s visitors guide

from Garofalo in 1998, and did not return phone calls regarding the

seizures.

“This was an expected thing, and it was a day that I knew would come,

but honestly I wasn’t prepared for it,” Garofalo said of the seizures.

“The [investigators] were very polite in their duties and took what they

deemed necessary.”

Tori Richards, spokeswoman for the district attorney’s office, would

not comment on the seizures, saying Garofalo has not been formerly

charged with any wrongdoing and the investigation is still ongoing.

But some residents hope the buzz about the search will support their

efforts to oust Garofalo from office.

The Citizens for Honest and Responsible Government, a group formed by

resident Sandra Cole, began circulating a petition to recall Garofalo in

January with the hopes of collecting enough signatures to put the measure

on an election ballot.

Cole announced the intent to recall the councilman last October, but

was unavailable for comment Wednesday.

“I think the hope is that last week’s activities will give us a

boost,” said resident Dean Albright, who has worked with Cole on the

recall effort. “If we can get the word out, then maybe we can generate

more involvement from people and collect even more signatures.”

Albright added that while he was unaware of the total signatures

collected to date, support for the recall has been abundant.

Garofalo has been scrutinized in investigations by the district

attorney’s office, as well as the Orange County Grand Jury and Fair

Political Practices Commission over possible conflicts of interest

stemming from his business, David P. Garofalo & Associates.

The business owned publishing rights to the Huntington Beach

Conference & Visitors Bureau’s visitors guide for several years starting

in 1993, and the allegations claim that Garofalo may have profited from

the contract and had conflicts of interest when voting on projects put

forth by advertisers in the publication.

Garofalo has consistently denied any claim of wrongdoing, adding that

he actively sought and followed legal advice on issues where questions

arose. Last week’s seizures were another part of the legal process, and

he is confident it will find in his favor.

“I think this will just take us another step closer to closure on this

issue, and to my vindication,” he said.