Placentia : Publisher’s Complaints Referred to City Attorney

The Orange County district attorney’s office will take no action on a complaint filed by a self-described muckraker accusing the City Council and city attorney of two violations of state law.

In his complaint, publisher Gary Arnold said the city attorney has not filed an oath of office with the city clerk, and the City Council has not met consistently every other week. Both are state law requirements for general-law cities such as Placentia, Arnold said in the complaint.

Deputy Dist. Atty. Maurey Evans said he intends to leave the case with Placentia City Atty. John Harper for investigation.

Arnold recently was cleared of any wrongdoing by the state Fair Political Practices Commission and the Orange County district attorney, after he distributed leaflets criticizing city officials.

At the council’s request, Arnold was investigated for violations of the Fair Political Practices Code after he published the attacks on several city officials he said had violated conflict-of-interest rules and engaged in unethical practices.

Arnold filed a $750,000 claim against the city on Dec. 11, charging that the investigation infringed on his constitutional right of free speech. His claim also accused the city of harassment, damage to his reputation and invasion of privacy.

Arnold, a self-employed marketing consultant, lives in Santa Cruz and runs the Placentia Citizens for Civic Responsibility from a local post office box.

He has been an unsuccessful candidate for several public offices, including President.