SIMI VALLEY : Candidate Requests Inquiry on Contract

Steve Frank, a candidate for Simi Valley mayor, said Friday that he has asked California Atty. Gen. Dan Lungren to investigate a computer services contract that the city awarded in 1989 to a firm that employed Michael W. Piper.

Piper was then a city planning commissioner and is now a City Council member. He was named to the commission by Mayor Greg Stratton and has investment ties to the mayor.

Frank questioned Stratton’s vote in favor of the $35,000 contract. In his letter, Frank told Lungren he was not alleging that “anything illegal occurred,” but he added, “I am concerned about how this looks to the public.”

In an interview, Frank said Stratton “should never have voted on this. It was a conflict of interest.”

Stratton said Friday that the city attorney’s staff has on several occasions reviewed his business ties to Piper and his right to vote on matters relating to Piper.

“There is absolutely no conflict whatsoever,” Stratton said. “Mr. Frank is basically wasting Mr. Lungren’s time.”

Piper said the letter to Lungren was merely a campaign tactic aimed at Stratton, who is seeking reelection.

“It’s just one more political salvo that Mr. Frank has conjured up to discredit the people who are running this community,” Piper said.