Candidate Jon Madison dismisses questions about his age, name, resume

Laguna Beach City Council candidate Jon Madison’s credibility was dealt a serious blow Sunday when the Orange County Register reported that the restaurateur may have lied on his campaign website about degrees he earned from two universities, in addition to apparent discrepancies in his birth date and work history.

Madison’s most recent voter registration information, for the 2013 general election, lists his birth date as Jan. 29, 1953, which would make him 61. Madison told the Coastline Pilot in an interview earlier this year that he was 57.

Even more confusing, one voter registration entry for 2007 lists a Jon Madison with a birth date of Jan. 29, 1953, and the address 320 N. Coast Hwy. — that of Madison Square & Garden. — while another entry has a Jon J. Madison with the birth date Jan. 29, 1954, and the address 435 Jasmine St., Laguna Beach.

“To tell you the truth, I don’t look at years,” he told the newspaper.

There was also a question about whether he changed his name, but Madison told the newspaper he hadn’t.

Madison, owner of Madison Square & Garden Cafe and chairman of the city’s Heritage Committee, did not return a call to the restaurant or two emails seeking comment as of late Monday afternoon.

His campaign website says he was born in New York City, graduated from the Bronx High School of Science and went to Cornell University.

He earned multiple degrees in plant physiology and horticulture, as well as in landscape architecture and urban planning, the website says.

Cornell officials said there was no record of Madison receiving any degree from the university, the Register reported.

Madison, who is involved with several philanthropic organizations, also claimed to have earned a degree from the UCLA School of Law, but university officials said there was no record of a man by that name having attended the school, according to the Register.

The state bar had no record of his law license, according to the Register.

Madison stood by the accuracy of his website, telling the Register, “I know who I am. Write what you’re going to write. I know who I am.”

Madison’s campaign website says he has served on the boards of South Coast Repertory, the Pacific Symphony and the Orange County Museum of Art, as well as the advisory board of the Laguna Art Museum.

South Coast Repertory public relations director Tania Thompson said Madison served on that organization’s board, from 1996 through 2005.

Madison is among seven candidates seeking one of three seats opening on the five-member Laguna Beach City Council.