Conflict-of-Interest Laws Need Respect : * The Public Expects Its Officials to Be Clearly Removed From Business Dealings

In recent years in Orange County, we have seen evidence that some officials have an appalling indifference, or even outright contempt, for conflict-of-interest guidelines in the exercise of their public duties.

A year ago, we asked whether things were too cozy in Brea, where the California Fair Political Practices Commission had reopened an investigation of Councilman Wayne D. Wedin’s relationship with an engineering firm that he had championed for some major city planning work. The investigation continues.

This past week, Brea Mayor Ronald E. Isles’ arraignment was again postponed on charges brought by the Orange County district attorney that he had violated conflict-of-interest laws by casting votes on issues involving a longtime business partner. The district attorney’s office charged Isles with 21 misdemeanor counts. The mayor has denied any wrongdoing and says he ended his financial involvement with Don McBride, owner of McBride Development Co. of Brea when he was elected to the council. The district attorney says that even though Isles did change--in 1988--some aspects of a partnership with McBride, whose company built an apartment complex and business park in Brea, “there still existed an intricate financial relationship.” If convicted, Isles could face six months in jail and maximum fines of $10,000 per count.

The Isles investigation dealt with the city’s granting of a contract giving McBride Development the exclusive right to negotiate to build an auto service center on a city-owned parcel. As a councilman, Isles took part in discussions, then abstained from voting. But after further council negotiations, Isles was among the council members approving the contract along with other items on a consent calendar. The city later withdrew the contract when controversy broke out over McBride’s ties with Isles.

Whatever the outcome of the case, Isles’ actions suggest at least some carelessness about the appearance of conflict of interest. There is no question that a partnership continued in name. But Isles seemed to be saying that because his name was on the partnership and since everybody knew, he had nothing to hide.

Isles deserves his day in court. But there are larger lessons in Brea. It is just such a loose-ended approach that too often is seen in relationships between public officials and certain developers.

Moral of the story: The public needs to have its officials clearly at arm’s length from business interests.