ANAHEIM : Grand Jury Asked to Investigate Hiring

An Anaheim councilman has asked the Orange County Grand Jury to investigate the way three of his colleagues handled the selection of Jim Ruth as city manager over a controversial city manager from Ohio.

Councilman William D. Ehrle said Wednesday that he has requested the investigation of council members Tom Daly, Miriam Kaywood and Irv Pickler. He charged that they violated laws against secret meetings and the council’s own code of ethics.

He further asked the jury to investigate what he called the conspiracy by the three council members to force the retirement of outgoing City Manager Bob Simpson.

The grand jury would not verify that a investigation request had been filed.

On Friday, Ehrle and Mayor Fred Hunter asked for a district attorney investigation of the same three council members. Hunter made similar allegations.

Both Ehrle and Hunter stormed out of a closed executive session Friday when they learned that Toledo, Ohio, City Manger Philip Hawkey, who was their choice, would not win the post. The two councilmen did not attend the public council meeting at which Ruth was chosen for the job by a 3-0 vote.

Ehrle and Hunter contend that council agreed to hire Hawkey on March 10. They say the three council members met secretly during the following days and conspired to elect Ruth instead.

The three council members have repeatedly denied such claims about the city manager selection process. They say two candidates remained at the end of the Saturday meeting.