Council Approves New Term for Controversial Harbor Official

The City Council formally approved on Tuesday the reappointment of Jun Mori, the controversial Los Angeles Harbor commissioner who has been criticized by some city officials for apparent conflicts of interest during his eight years on the board.

Among the 13 council members present, only Ernani Bernardi opposed the naming of Mori to a new five-year term.

Mori is a private attorney whose firm represents several clients doing business with the Port of Los Angeles, which the Harbor Commission governs. Bernardi noted that over the years, Mori’s potential conflicts of interest have barred the commission from voting on certain matters, making it necessary for the City Council’s Board of Referred Powers to decide the issues.

“I don’t have anything personal against Mr. Mori; I’m just concerned about . . . the enormous amounts of items that are being referred,” Bernardi said.

The Times reported in June that Winston Tyler, the senior city attorney assigned to the harbor, has accused Mori of participating in matters that could financially affect him or his clients.

Following the article, Mayor Tom Bradley reappointed Mori, subject to council confirmation. Bradley has described the Japanese-American Mori as an important link to Far East trade, which accounts for most of the port’s business.

Prompted by the Times article, City Atty. James K. Hahn launched a review of Mori’s conduct and turned over information to the district attorney’s office. Both probes are still under way.

In an Aug. 7 letter responding to questions raised by Joan Milke Flores, whose council district includes the harbor, Mori said his law firm represents six companies that do business with the port.

In a brief discussion that preceded the council’s approval of Mori, Flores asked the city attorney to prepare an ordinance calling for departments under the control of a commission to file an annual list detailing each firm with which the departments do business. The ordinance would also require commissioners to specify any firms on the departments’ lists with which they do private business.