7 Dispute City Councilman’s Claim of Meals at Public Expense

Seven people whom San Diego City Councilman Uvaldo Martinez Jr. says he treated to meals at public expense said Friday that they did not dine with him on the dates he listed on city records.

Some of the people--U.S. Rep. Bill Lowery (R-San Diego), his aide Dan Greenblat and Greater San Diego Chamber of Commerce President Lee Grissom--said they had not eaten with Martinez in the last year.

Martinez, interviewed at his home Friday night, blamed the discrepancies on “mistakes” and said he left the expense form paperwork to his secretary.

“I certainly would not have submitted receipts to the auditor for payment . . . knowing it gets published, with the intent to be deceitful,” said Martinez. “Possibly, there may have been a breakdown in the reporting process in my office and I want to check on that.”

Martinez said he hoped to meet with city auditors Monday to review the expense records. He said he would reimburse the city for any amounts that were disallowed.

The meals in question include:

- A Sept. 6, 1984, outing with Mike Madigan, vice president of Pardee Development Co., and Grissom at Dobson’s Bar and Restaurant, located a block from City Hall. Martinez’s expense forms list the purpose of the meal as “EDC (the Economic Development Corp.) and Otay Mesa,” and the meal cost taxpayers $110.40. Madigan and Grissom, however, both said they did not eat with Martinez on that date.

- A Nov. 1, 1984, repast with Lowery and Greenblat at the Brigantine Restaurant to discuss “Tijuana sewer legislation.” The meal cost $130.74. Reached at his Washington home Friday evening, Lowery said that neither he nor Greenblat were at the alleged meal.

- Two meals on May 28, 1985, with Poway officials. The first meal is listed in the expense form shows that Jim Bowersox, Poway City Manager, was Martinez’s guest at Mulvaney’s restaurant in Escondido for a $9.50 meal and discussion about the “sphere of influence” of LAFCO, the Local Agency Formation Commission. The form said Martinez also hosted Bowersox and Poway Mayor Robert Embry at Los Arcos Restaurant in Escondido, resulting in a bill for $37.44.

Bowersox said he had “no recollection” of a May lunch and dinner with Martinez and added that he had “never eaten” at Los Arcos.

- A Jan. 8, 1985, meeting at Dobson’s with San Diego County Supervisor Brian Bilbray and Chula Vista Mayor Greg Cox. The officials discussed “South Bay issues,” according to Martinez’s records, and the meal cost $65.25. Bilbray said his records showed he attended a San Diego Unified Port Commission luncheon that day, and said he didn’t recall having a meal with Martinez, but couldn’t rule it out.