‘It was of no concern to me’

Newport Beach City Atty. David Hunt, who has been on administrative leave since his March arrest on suspicion of felony spousal abuse, filed for bankruptcy in 2006, court records show.

Hunt had taken out three mortgages on his $1.1-million, six-bedroom home in Paso Robles by the time he and his wife filed for Chapter 7 protection in March 2006, according to U.S. Bankruptcy court records.

The bankruptcy was related to Hunt’s shuttered law practice in Paso Robles, Newport Beach Councilman Mike Henn said.

Court documents show that Hunt was the chief executive of Hunt & Associates for 12 years. The law firm closed in February 2006.

Members of the Newport Beach City Council said they were aware of Hunt’s past financial problems when they hired him to take over as city attorney in December 2008.

“It was of no concern to me at all,” Henn said Tuesday. “In my judgment, he’s done an excellent job managing the department, including managing the financial part of the department.”

The council learned of Hunt’s bankruptcy through a reference check conducted by an independent contractor during the hiring process, Councilman Don Webb said.

“It was something we were aware of,” Webb said. “We took that into consideration, and we still hired him.”

Council members declined to discuss why Hunt filed for bankruptcy. Hunt did not return calls seeking comment.

As city attorney, Hunt is in charge of enforcing city codes, advising city officials on legal matters and presiding over his department’s roughly $1.5-million annual budget.

City Manager Dave Kiff, who was assistant city manager when Hunt was hired, declined to comment beyond stating that he was aware of the bankruptcy filing.

The city requires potential hires to undergo a rigorous financial background check for executive-level positions, city spokeswoman Tara Finnigan said.

However, Councilwoman Leslie Daigle said that Hunt was not forthcoming about the bankruptcy, and council members found out about it late in the hiring practice.

“We did ask him about it. His explanation made sense, so we looked beyond it,” said Councilwoman Nancy Gardner. “I don’t think we would’ve hired him if we didn’t have confidence in him.”

Court records showed that the Hunts had accrued more than $93,000 in credit card debt and had a car repossessed by the time they filed for bankruptcy. Among his other debts, Hunt owed $36,000 to American Express for expenses relating to his now-defunct law practice, documents show.

In all, Hunt and his wife reported $1.6 million worth of debt, about $396,000 more than they had in assets in 2006, according to the court documents.

As part of the bankruptcy proceedings, the Hunts asked the court to let them keep a 1998 GMC truck; $5,200 worth of household items and art; a second home valued at $100,000 in Newark, Texas; their clothes; and their wedding rings.

The attorney who represented Hunt during the bankruptcy filing declined to comment.

Hunt has not been criminally charged in connection with his March 14 arrest on suspicion of striking his wife during an argument with his 18-year-old son in the family’s Santa Ana home.

The council has not yet made a decision on Hunt’s future with the city. Hunt has been on administrative leave since March 23.

Santa Ana police said at the time of the arrest that Hunt, 52, was arguing with his 18-year-old son when his wife, 49, tried to intervene the night of March 14. Hunt’s 16-year-old son called 911 during the argument. Hunt allegedly hit his wife, police said, causing her to fall and cut her arm on a table. She also and hit her head on the tile floor, leaving a large bump, police said.

It remains unclear, however, whether Hunt struck his wife intentionally or accidentally. She was treated and released from an area hospital after the incident.