MARINA DEL REY : Dana Urged to Abstain From Vote on Marina
An election challenger to Los Angeles County Supervisor Deane Dana demanded Monday that he abstain from voting today on a precedent-setting Marina del Rey lease extension for developer and campaign contributor Jona Goldrich.
Rolling Hills City Councilwoman Gordana Swanson said that Dana has a conflict of interest and should refrain from voting on extending the developer’s lease on the Dolphin Marina apartments and boat slips because Goldrich has been a campaign contributor and was co-chairman of the supervisor’s major fund-raising dinner in February.
“There is no way the public can be assured that this decision is being made on its merits when the prime beneficiary is also a prime contributor and fund-raiser for one of the chief decision-makers,” Swanson said.
But Dana’s campaign manager, Ron Smith, said that “there is no conflict of interest” and Dana will participate in the discussion of whether to extend Goldrich’s lease on public land to 2062. Smith defended Dana’s role, saying, “He made a tough deal” with Goldrich.
Start your day right
Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.
