Fake email led to exec getting ‘catfished’

Part of my column last week dealt with an email sent to Newport Beach council members, supposedly by resident Steve Pawliczek.

The fake email questioned the suitability of Planning Commission nominee Bill Dunlap based on a commentary he wrote for the Daily Pilot in 2013 opposing gay marriage.

The email raised a valid viewpoint in light of last year’s controversy surrounding Councilman Scott Peotter’s anti-gay marriage emails.

I corresponded with the writer, as I do with those who send me subjects for columns. Nothing seemed odd — until the column ran, and the real Pawliczek contacted me.

Apparently he’d been “catfished,” a form of identity theft where someone impersonates a victim by setting up false social media profiles and email addresses.

It’s quite devious, and unfortunately there’s little you can do to protect yourself. In Pawliczek’s case, his email address was changed only slightly.

Catfishing is a common problem on dating sites, it takes a peculiarly strange twist here considering we’re talking about a potential Planning Commission appointee.

The real Pawliczek, a finance executive, was quite unnerved that someone was spouting opinions in his name, and so was I.

¿His attorney sent a letter to the council setting the record straight and disavowing the email. Pawliczek has no idea who would impersonate him and ¿has alerted law enforcement to the identity theft. He’s also contacted Dunlap to explain the incident.

Dunlap wasn’t happy about my column — even before he found out about the impersonation — and penned his own comments in a letter to the editor.

He also took exception to my column, saying, “You framed me to be homophobic, and I’m not.” Dunlap says my quoting his op-ed piece from 2013 was unfair, and “out of context.”

Dunlap says as far as gay marriage goes, the “law is the law” and he respects that, regardless of his personal beliefs.

We had a pleasant chat, but let’s just say our views on civil rights and the LGBT community will probably never align, and that’s fine.

Quite frankly, it’s a stretch to say that his personal beliefs, whatever they may be, would come into play with Planning Commission decisions anyway.

Dunlap told me this week he’s spoken to most of the council, with the exception of Ed Selich and Keith Curry, about the email’s contents.

Dunlap’s now concerned that he’s been put in a difficult position. He feels he needs to “rebuild his character” as he goes through the nomination review process.

“You would hope that a Planning Commission process would not go political,” he told me.

Maybe in a perfect world, but this is Newport Beach we’re talking about.

With so many development projects being heatedly debated recently — especially in the Fashion Island area — to think planning appointments wouldn’t have political blowback is a bit naive.

No doubt Newport politics has hit a disturbing new low with this catfish episode.

Incidents like this discourage good people from participating in city government, and that’s unfortunate.

I asked Curry to weigh in since at the last council meeting he felt more names should be added to the appointment list.

“I think it is abhorrent that a person would use someone else’s email account to engage in political advocacy,” he said.

Curry says it’s not uncommon for council members to receive dozens of emails in support and in opposition to commission nominees.

“The integrity of the political process depends on confidence that the senders are who they say they are,” he said.

How can officials trust what they receive moving forward in light of this incident?

The reality is, they can’t.

Curry tells me Dunlap is “Team Newport’s pick” for one of two open planning seats and is being championed by Peotter.

Curry feels other equally qualified applicants should be considered. He intends to bring up those names at the June 28 meeting, kind of a write–in vote, so to speak.

One name on Curry’s list surprised me: Tim Stoaks.

Stoaks is an architect and building project manager. No doubt he’s qualified, but he’s been turned down for this position six or seven times now..

Is it because he’s politically active in community groups?

Stoaks doesn’t think so.

“It’s because I’m friends with you, Barbara,” he jokes.

Ouch!

But Curry’s never voted to appoint Stoaks before. Why now?

Is it because he’s not beholden to political agendas his last year in office?

Or is he making amends?

Curry’s certainly become this council’s wild card.

Note: I’ll be on vacation next week. My column returns July 8.

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BARBARA VENEZIA lives in Newport Beach. She can be reached at bvontv1@gmail.com.