No Conflict of Interest Found for Heidt

The state Fair Political Practices Commission, brushing aside questions raised by a developer, said Tuesday there is no conflict of interest that would prevent Santa Clarita City Councilwoman Jan Heidt from voting on two controversial housing projects proposed by the developer.

The commission’s opinion was contained in a letter Heidt received shortly before a public hearing was held Tuesday night on the projects proposed by G.H. Palmer Associates.

Heidt, in an emotional and angry speech at the hearing, accused Palmer Associates of using sleazy tactics to prevent her from voting on the 1,452-unit Santa Catarina project and an 800-unit project called The Colony.

Last month an attorney for Palmer Associates wrote to the FPPC suggesting that Heidt might not be legally entitled to vote on the proposals because her husband, Gerald Heidt, has options to buy land near the projects. The FPPC said that the Heidt property was not close enough to the Palmer property to create a conflict.

At the hearing, Heidt released a six-page letter detailing what she said were months of intimidation by Palmer Associates and its attorneys. “This whole situation has cost me and Gerry a great deal,” she wrote. “The time, the money, the anguish and manipulation have taken their toll.”

Dan Palmer of Palmer Associates said he was pleased the FPPC had cleared Heidt of any conflicts. He denied his company was bent on mudslinging. “It’s appalling that she makes these allegations,” he said.