ORANGE COUNTY PERSPECTIVE : There’s No Free Lunch--or Dinner

Orange County’s hottest Assembly primary took a disappointing turn last week when one of the candidates benefited from a campaign event staged by members of the County Planning Commission. The event raised the disturbing specter of a conflict of interest when the commissioners included as guests representatives of projects that will require the panel’s approval.

One of the commissioners isn’t talking, and the other says his involvement was limited to the fact that the event was held at his restaurant. But a number of people who attended the dinner have said that the two commissioners, Stephen A. Nordeck and Roger Slates, actively solicited contributions.

The dinner was for Peter von Elten, who works for Mola Development Corp. and is a Republican candidate in the 58th Assembly District. It was held at Nordeck’s restaurant and, according to Von Elten, organized at the request of Slates, who asked if he could “put a little dinner together” for him. Three of the guests either had projects before the commission or would in the future.

Whatever the details, the commissioners should have known better. The dinner, as described by Von Elten and others, signaled to the developers that the fate of their projects might depend on their participation. State law prohibits appointed commissioners from soliciting campaign donations of $250 or more from individuals who have matters pending before them.

Orange County Dist. Atty. Michael R. Capizzi should investigate. And a good question is whether the two now can vote on the developers’ projects without compromise.

There are more unsettling fingerprints of planners on this campaign. Huntington Beach Mayor Thomas J. Mays, another 58th District candidate, benefited from a fund-raiser at the home of city Planning Commission member Kenneth Bourguignon. Among the 80 guests was the coordinator/developer of the highly controversial Pierside Village project.

That made Mays’ criticism of Slates and Nordeck--he accused them of “putting the squeeze on” developers who have projects before the county commission--sound very hollow indeed.

We’re sitting out the GOP primary on June 5 in the heavily Republican 58th District race for the seat being vacated by Assemblyman Dennis Brown (R-Los Alamitos). But one thing is clear: Planning officials have no business hosting developers at campaign functions, whoever Brown’s successor may be.