STANTON : Councilman Alleges Mayor Defamed Him

Councilman David John Shawver filed a lawsuit this week against Mayor Sal Sapien, claiming that the mayor defamed him in a letter sent to voters after an unsuccessful attempt--led by Shawver--to recall Sapien.

Shawver’s lawsuit seeks $200,000 in damages and a public apology for what he contends was a defamatory letter Sapien sent in December, 1991, to voters expressing thanks for their support and criticism of the recall effort.

Shawver, Councilman Harry Dotson and former Planning Commissioner Rand Hogan sought Sapien’s ouster because of the mayor’s support of a new civic center and the return of a controversial auto wrecking yard to the city. But the recall effort fell just short of the required signatures.

Shawver declined comment on the lawsuit. Sapien said Friday that he was not aware a suit had been filed.

“It’s really amazing to me that (Shawver) carries such a tremendous hate in his heart,” Sapien said. “He’s tried to discredit me, recall me, embarrass me, have me investigated . . . every single thing has failed. I guess this is one more attempt to do me harm.”

Sapien, meanwhile, said he would ask the FBI to investigate Shawver and his relationship with political consultant Glen Greener, who has been in the news in recent weeks because he at one time worked for the Dougher family, the mobile-home park owners whose political connections are drawing scrutiny.

The FBI and the district attorney’s office are investigating the Doughers’ relationship with Orange County Supervisor Don R. Roth over allegations that Roth may have traded gifts for political favors.

Although he acknowledged that he’s unsure whether any federal laws have been violated, Sapien said he would ask the FBI whether Greener acted improperly by paying about $1,300 to have a mailer printed and sent to 7,800 Stanton residents in the spring of 1991.

The mailer asks residents to voice opposition to the new city hall. “Stanton Taxpayers” is identified as the group that funded and produced the flyer.

Sapien claims that the mailer was part of the recall campaign against him and that Stanton Taxpayers wasn’t properly registered as a political committee. He also contends that since Greener paid for the mailer, his relationship with Shawver and Dotson and his involvement with the recall campaign should be studied.

But Greener said he was simply hired by Stanton Taxpayers to prepare and print the mailer as part of his job as a political consultant and denied any impropriety.

Shawver said the mailer was aimed to solicit public input on the city hall project, and was not a political effort.

“I have never had Mr. Greener help me with an election. . . . I’m getting tired of personal attacks on me,” Shawver said.

Carol Thorp, a spokeswoman for the state Fair Political Practices Commission, agreed that Stanton Taxpayers did not violate any filing laws, because the mailer did not endorse any council candidates or ballot measures.