Center Manager Labels Charges ‘Tragic’

In his first public comments about allegations that he held four private parties for his friends and family at public expense, San Diego Convention Center general manager Tom Liegler on Wednesday called it “tragic that 41 years of professionalism have been called into question.”

Liegler, 63, the Convention Center’s top executive since 1985, would not comment directly on the allegations because they are still under investigation by the center’s executive board.

But he defended himself in part by saying that he makes dozens of tough decisions each day regarding the $162-million Convention Center and used a sports analogy to blunt recent criticism.

“Ted Williams hit .408 in his best year, and if you hit .300 nowadays, you’re doing pretty good and might even lead the league just getting hits one-third of the time,” he said. “With all the decisions I have to make each day, I think my batting average is pretty good.”

(Actually, Williams hit .406 in his best season, 1941.)

Still, he said, it is jarring to see headlines in local newspapers suggesting that he misused the Convention Center by inviting friends and family members to have dinner and cocktails there.

“As a young man, things go pretty well for you, and then something like this happens,” he said. “It’s tragic that 41 years of professionalism have been called into question. It’s a personal thing. But anything in life has two sides, and what appears to be one-sided often isn’t.”

Liegler was asked to take vacation time for the rest of the week while the matter is being investigated.

The Convention Center’s executive board is examing the particulars of four parties Liegler arranged over the past 14 months:

* In February 1990, Liegler invited about 30 members of the Tom Club, a social group composed of business and community leaders named Tom, to a marketing presentation and dinner at the center. The Convention Center picked up the $852 tab.

Board chairman Morgan Dene Oliver defended the meeting as a proper use of the center, because community leaders were likely to rent the hall for seminars or receptions.

* In April 1990, Liegler held a gathering of the International Assn. of Auditorium Managers, which included many of his friends and associates from the Anaheim Convention Center and Anaheim Stadium, where he previously worked. The event cost $9,707 for dinner and cocktails served to 200 people, and the Convention Center paid the bill.

Oliver said the event was a proper use of the center because officials wanted feedback on the center’s facilities from other professionals in the same business.

* Last February, Liegler invited a dozen physicians, including his neurologist cousin from Orange County, to the center because they were interested in holding a workers compensation seminar there.

All of the physicians except his cousin found it impossible to attend, but Liegler suggested he come down anyway and invite members of his family. In all, 12 members of the Liegler family enjoyed $745 worth of food, a sum Liegler said he reimbursed the center after the expenditure was questioned.

Oliver called Liegler’s decision to invite family members a “judgment error” that should not have occurred.

* Last Saturday, Liegler held a party for 32 members of his golfing club and said he had planned to pay the $1,411 dinner cost. The San Diego Tribune, however, quoted a food service company spokesman as saying the dinner bill was to have been paid by the Convention Center until the newspaper made inquiries, and Liegler then asked that the bill be sent to him. The spokesman did not return a call from The Times.

Oliver said he believes Liegler had intended all along to pay the bill for the golfing party.

Liegler said Wednesday he heard a taped interview of Tuesday’s press conference in which Oliver defended him.

“I have heard the discussion, and I was appreciative of Mr. Oliver’s support,” he said.

The three-member executive board this week is going to make its findings about the events and present them to the full board May 8 for possible action, spokeswoman Donna Alm said Wednesday.

Oliver already has said that a suspension of Liegler would be too severe a punishment.

While he spends the next few days on vacation, Liegler said, he is reflecting on his administration.

“I’m trying to formulate how many decisions an executive makes per day and to mark them all down,” he said. “It’s just amazing how many times I’m asked to say yes or no and make split-second decisions. For my own well-being, I’m going to chart it.”