Mayor Earned Commission on Land Sale He Promoted
Lancaster Mayor William Pursley earned a real estate commission of about $10,000 on the sale of property that the mayor promoted by obtaining a special city exemption, according to associates.
Mid Valley Real Estate in Lancaster, where the mayor works as an agent, confirmed Monday that Pursley received a $9,780.15 sales commission for representing his business partner, who was selling the land when Pursley asked the council for the exemption.
The district attorney’s office said Monday that it will review the case to determine whether to open a criminal investigation because of the disclosure that Pursley may have profited from his June council vote.
Pursley, who was elected to the Lancaster council in March, 1989, and selected mayor by his council colleagues this April, was out of the city and unavailable for comment, city officials said.
He had previously denied any wrongdoing in connection with the vote.
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