Woolard Says He Taped Conversation About Bribe

Former Moorpark Councilman Danny Woolard said Saturday that he secretly tape-recorded a conversation last month in which the city’s mayor allegedly acknowledged knowing about a $2,000 bribe Woolard said he accepted for his vote on a controversial city issue last year.

Woolard told a press conference that he gave the tape to the Ventura County district attorney’s office, which is conducting an investigation into political corruption in Moorpark.

A spokesman for the district attorney’s office on Saturday would not confirm or deny the existence of the tape.

The mayor, Thomas C. (Bud) Ferguson, has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing. Ferguson’s attorney, Dennis Orrock, said last week that Ferguson has cooperated in the district attorney’s investigation.

Granted Immunity

Woolard was granted immunity from prosecution by the district attorney’s office last month for his testimony in the corruption investigation.

Meanwhile, two other members of the City Council--Clint Harper and John Galloway--said Saturday that they are considering requesting that the state attorney general’s office take over the investigation because the county has spent 14 months looking into the matter without either bringing criminal charges or dropping the case for lack of evidence.

Both council members said they would ask Ferguson to resign if Woolard’s tape recording revealed criminal involvement on his part.

Woolard told reporters that he secretly recorded his conversation with Ferguson on Jan. 9, three days before he pleaded guilty in federal court to stealing $5,500 from the Moorpark post office, where he worked as a clerk. Woolard has said he embezzled the money to pay for cocaine.

Reason for Tape

Woolard said he made the tape because he did not want Ferguson to continue to serve on the City Council after both men allegedly participated in vote-buying and other political corruption.

“I don’t care if Ferguson spends a day in jail, I just want him off the City Council,” Woolard said.

Woolard resigned from the council Jan. 13. He is scheduled to be sentenced Feb. 23 for the post office thefts and faces up to 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.

He said at the press conference that he carried a small tape recorder hidden in his shirt pocket and engaged Ferguson in a conversation at Ferguson’s home that included references to an alleged bribery scheme.

He said the tape would show that he asked Ferguson a question in relation to Woolard’s collecting a $2,000 bribe, which he charges Ferguson arranged. Woolard said Ferguson made reference to the money’s changing hands.

Woolard said Thursday that he had accepted the $2,000 bribe last year to cast the tie-breaking vote to approve a 254-acre housing development and a study for a road providing access to property owned by a friend of Ferguson.

Woolard has charged that Ferguson arranged the bribe because passage of the project would benefit Ferguson and one of Ferguson’s longtime friends.

Woolard alleged that Ferguson wanted to vote against the project to forestall suspicion of misconduct. Woolard has said that Ferguson arranged for him to be paid to vote for the project, thus canceling out Ferguson’s no vote.

Woolard’s Allegations

Woolard said he had been instructed by Ferguson to push the council to require the project developer, Griffin Homes of Calabasas, to pay at least $780,000 to the city for study of a 1.7-mile road that would connect the Moorpark and Simi Valley freeways.

That road, which the city estimates would cost between $7 million and $9 million, would provide access to more than 500 acres of property owned by Robert F. Butler, Ferguson’s longtime friend, former employer and owner of the house where Ferguson lives.

The Butler property is now accessible only by a dirt road.

Woolard has charged that Ferguson holds a hidden interest in the Butler property. Ferguson has denied the allegation. County records show Butler and his wife as the sole owners.

There had been earlier charges of irregularities involving the development. Elaine Freeman, vice president of land development for Griffin Homes, said last week that her firm contacted the Ventura County district attorney’s office in November, 1985, because of “inappropriate handling” of the 484-home development. She would not say publicly what she meant, and the district attorney’s office has refused to comment.

Talk of Loans

Woolard said Ferguson in the taped conversation also acknowledged arranging to lend him $7,500 last September to make good Woolard’s post office thefts before they were discovered. Ferguson admitted that he arranged the loans to Woolard but has said he believed they were to pay off gambling debts.

Woolard said the district attorney’s office has refused his request to have the tape returned. He said he did not make a copy of the tape.

Woolard said he told reporters about the tape hoping that the district attorney’s office will allow the City Council to listen to it.

“As soon as people hear the tape, they will demand Bud’s resignation,” Woolard said.

Vince O’Neill, chief deputy in the district attorney’s office, said evidence given to his office normally must remain confidential. However, Dist. Atty. Michael D. Bradbury could decide to release the tape to city officials if they could persuade him that information on the tape is needed to “serve the public good,” O’Neill said.

Bradbury could not be reached for comment.

State Probe Requested

Councilmen Harper and Galloway said in separate interviews Saturday that they asked City Atty. Cheryl Kane on Friday to advise them how to initiate an investigation by the state attorney general.

Harper said the city has been told by the district attorney’s office that the current investigation may take several months to complete. Harper said he would like to hear the tape allegedly made by Woolard.

“If the tape substantiates criminal activity on the part of the mayor, of course I would ask him to step down,” Harper said.

Galloway said he has begun drafting a letter that calls for a state investigation of the corruption charges.

“I have become very concerned about the district attorney’s lackadaisical attitude,” Galloway said.