D.A. Looking Into Conflict Complaint at Orange Unified

The district attorney’s office said Wednesday it will investigate allegations that the Orange Unified School District improperly gave an administrative job to a district vendor who had contributed to a trustee’s reelection campaign.

Deputy Dist. Atty. Jim Tanizaki said the investigation will determine whether it was proper for the district to hire Howard Mason, who was named maintenance director March 12.

The investigation is based on complaints brought by angry parents and a union who contend that trustees violated California law by hiring Mason, who formerly controlled Rancho Cucamonga-based Howard Mason & Associates Inc., a private firm that tests school construction and does business with the district, Tanizaki said.

Mason, formerly chief executive officer for the firm, said in an interview Wednesday that he welcomes the probe, adding that he sold his business interest to his estranged wife before taking the district post.

“I think the sooner this thing gets put to rest the better it will be for all parties,” Mason said.

Richard L. Donoghue, the district’s interim superintendent, also said the probe was welcomed to help “clear the air” and allow the district to continue its business.

“We don’t have anything to hide or be ashamed of. It will probably put this thing to bed appropriately,” Donoghue said.

Mason said it was the California State Employees Assn., which represents the district’s 1,200 classified workers, that brought up the conflict-of-interest allegation, something he described as “probably an understandable perception.” But he denied any impropriety.

“I’ve made an attempt to explain these things in detail, but some people need to hear it from a higher authority I guess,” he said.

In a letter to the district attorney’s office, a newly formed group, Responsible Parents for a Responsible School Board, sought the inquiry, citing a concern that board members “in general are not being honest . . . with their constituents.”

The letter was sent after a boisterous meeting between trustees and some parents who in April began a recall petition drive against six board members.

The parents’ group accused the board of financial mismanagement and board member Alan E. Irish of conflict of interest after he voted to hire Mason, who had donated to Irish’s campaign. Irish has also denied any impropriety.

In their letter, parents said: “We pray that our suspicions and information are invalid. But if this data is correct, it is our responsibility to stop this cancer before it continues to spread and kills our district.”

The second complaint came from the California State Employees Assn. local. Barbara Noble, union president, said the complaint was filed only after Orange Unified officials refused to supply them with a copy of Mason’s state-required economic disclosure form, which is a public record. On Wednesday, the district provided a copy of Mason’s disclosure form to the Times Orange County Edition.

Supt. Donoghue said that Mason had disposed of the stock he owned in Howard Mason & Associates, having sold the stock to his estranged wife, who now runs the company. He said Mason takes no compensation from the company, although Mason does hold a promissory note.

Mason said he sold his holdings--32,500 shares, valued at $6.50 per share at the time of the transaction--to his wife, Stella Mason, from whom he is legally separated. The $211,250 sale was part of the divorce agreement, he said.

Now that the stock has been sold to his wife, Mason said, he has only two remaining ties to the company. The firm is repaying a $15,000 loan that he and his wife made from their personal funds last year, Mason said. Payments go to Mrs. Mason, and she gives him his share. In addition, he and his wife are guarantors on a $100,000 line of credit extended to the company last year by California State Bank, Mason said. Mason and his wife are responsible for that loan in the event that the company defaults, Mason said.

Times staff writer David Reyes contributed to this report.