The Region : University Probe Widens

Another University of California, Santa Barbara, building official came under investigation in a widening inquiry into use of campus funds. Assistant Dist. Atty. Patrick McKinley said his office is investigating allegations that university money may have been used for landscaping and similar items at the Santa Barbara home of Theodore Towne, 61, who announced his retirement last week as assistant vice chancellor of facilities management. As head of the facilities management department, which employs 245 people and has an annual operating budget of $13.9 million, Towne was the immediate supervisor of Holger Chris Ferdinandson, the department’s former manager of operations and maintenance who is serving a prison term after admitting that he conducted a kickback scheme with private contractors.