Veteran member forced off city board

Dave Brooks

Public Works Commissioner Dean Albright is off the board after a chat

group e-mail offended the council member who appointed him to -- and

then last week removed him from -- his four-year post.

After Albright allegedly wrote a June 12 e-mail suggesting female

council members were protecting Councilwoman Pam Houchen from

political fallout for her alleged involvement in illegal condominium

conversions, Councilwoman Connie Boardman demanded his resignation,

saying she was insulted by his innuendo.

“How can I keep him on when he’s accusing me of interfering with a

police investigation,” she said.

On Thursday, Boardman announced that she had appointed trial

lawyer Paul Horgan to take Albright’s place. Horgan is best known for

his participation in a successful lawsuit against the Coastal

Commission to protect the Bolsa Chica from a 900-home development.

Albright said he was surprised by Boardman’s decision and never

intended for her to see the e-mail.

In response to an e-mail from a resident that compared Houchen to

deposed Mayor David Garofalo, Albright allegedly wrote: “[Y]ou are

not in the loop, but it as plain as the nose on your face. Pam

Houchen is not like Dave Garofalo. She is female and is protected by

females on the City Council, otherwise, like Dave, she would have

been gone yesterday.”

Albright denied he was the source of the controversial part of the

e-mail, saying he was simply passing on the thoughts of an

unidentified neighbor and admitting to writing the remainder of the

e-mail.

Boardman said she believes Albright is the original author since

he signed and sent the e-mail.

Albright said Thursday that he does stand by the comments.

“The women all stick together,” he said. “Just look at how most of

the council votes have come down.”

To be an effective commissioner, Albright added, appointees

shouldn’t be afraid to express their opinions or correspond with

other individuals.

“I have that right to be able to speak out.” he said. “She’s

talking about spreading gossip but she’s the one responsible for

getting it into the press.”

According to city law, political appointees serve at the pleasure

of their council members and can be removed at any time. Former

Public Works Commissioner Donald Hansen, who previously served with

Albright, said “my philosophy is that while commissioners are always

free to express their thoughts, at the end of the day, they should be

in sync with their council members.”

Boardman agreed.

“[Albright] has the right to say whatever he wants, but there are

always consequences,” she said.

* DAVE BROOKS covers City Hall. He can be reached at (714)

965-7173 or by e-mail at dave.brooks@latimes.com.