Heffernan takes on conflicts of interest

June Casagrande

City Councilman John Heffernan on Tuesday called for a special

study session on whether a city ordinance could better prevent

conflicts of interest.

Motivated by recent disclosures that about $458,000 of a city

grant for airport education was paid to a consultant who had also

worked on numerous council members’ campaigns, Heffernan suggested

policies that would let taxpayers know in advance of financial deals

of that nature.

“What I’m suggesting is a conflict-of-interest ordinance that

would say that if a city official has paid someone or received funds

from someone -- or that somebody has given a fund-raiser for that

official -- that that official is precluded from participating in or

discussing any matter benefiting that person,” Heffernan said.

He said that the action was inspired by recent reports that showed

that Dave Ellis -- the hired campaign consultant for council

candidates Tod Ridgeway, Gary Adams, Don Webb and Bernie Svalstad --

was one of the consultants paid to provide public education about the

John Wayne Airport settlement agreement.

Of the $3.6-million grant, Ellis’ fees came to about $458,000.

Though his fees were well within the guidelines of how the grant

money could be spent, Heffernan said that residents would have been

better served by being told in advance of Ellis’ role in the grant

spending and his relationship with council members and candidates.

Ellis had no comment Tuesday.

“I’m not going after any individual,” Heffernan said. “These are

times when we’re trying to build some trust in the system. All I’m

saying is, let’s have everything on the table for everyone to see.

Opponents have countered that the terms of the grant, which

earmarked the money for education but not political advocacy, limited

the City Council’s role in determining how it was spent. But

Heffernan said he hopes that a city policy, perhaps one tailored

after a policy of the City of Los Angeles, can lay out clear and

simple guidelines to prevent conflicts and restore residents’ faith

in the system.

* JUNE CASAGRANDE covers Newport Beach and John Wayne Airport.

She may be reached at (949) 574-4232 or by e-mail at

june.casagrande@latimes.com.