Mansoor accused of conflict of interest

Deirdre Newman

City officials are looking into allegations of a conflict of interest

involving City Councilman Allan Mansoor and his planning

commissioner, Joel Faris. A decision is expected today.

The alleged conflict was discovered by former Mayor Sandra Genis,

who made an emotional speech at Monday’s City Council meeting --

without alluding to Mansoor or Faris by name -- about how proud she

was that a conflict of interest ordinance had been passed during her

tenure on the council.

Acting City Atty. Tom Wood is investigating the charge, which

revolves around $300 in contributions Faris made to Mansoor’s council

campaign last fall.

In February, Mansoor appointed Faris to the Planning Commission.

Based on a new process that hasn’t received its final approval, Faris

serves at the will of Mansoor, who can retract Faris from the

commission at any time.

The $300 exceeds a tenet of the city’s ordinance that makes a

conflict of interest any campaign contribution of $250 or more during

the year before a council decision involving the contributor.

Mansoor said he didn’t intend to violate the code when he

appointed Faris.

“Joel did give me $100 on three separate occasions,” Mansoor said.

“I appointed him to the Planning Commission because he’s a stand-up

guy and we have similar goals and as soon as all of this was brought

to my attention, I immediately notified the city attorney.”

Genis said that she wrote this part of the code and it means that

Mansoor can’t be involved with any decision about Faris because of

his contributions, and that Mansoor shouldn’t have even voted for his

appointment.

“We worked really hard to get things cleaned up, and then to go

‘nevermind’ is just horrifying,” Genis said. “I think, what did I sit

up there for all those years?”

Faris said he will reserve comment until Wood issues his legal

opinion, except to echo that Mansoor wasn’t aware of the conflict of

interest code.

Wood also refrained from comment on the conflict of interest until

his analysis was complete.

If Mansoor’s appointment is found to be a conflict of interest, it

could also preclude Mansoor from nominating Faris to replace outgoing

Mayor Karen Robinson.

He might also have to abstain from voting on Faris’ appointment if

someone else nominated him.

* DEIRDRE NEWMAN covers Costa Mesa and may be reached at (949)

574-4221 or by e-mail at deirdre.newman@latimes.com.