LOS ANGELES COUNTY : AQMD Won’t Investigate Charges of Political Spying

The South Coast Air Quality Management District governing board declined Friday to conduct an independent investigation into allegations that district employees engaged in political espionage.

The vote came after disclosures last week in The Times by Julie Flores, a district employee, that she was ordered by superiors to find out in advance how Los Angeles officials intended to vote in upcoming elections to select city representatives to the AQMD governing board. City officials elect five of the 12 board members. The information was forwarded to executives in memos labeled “highly confidential.”

At the time, the district’s executive staff was said to be concerned about the reelection prospects of two AQMD board members--Chairman Henry Wedaa and Henry Morgan--who had generally supported the staff’s leadership.

A motion by AQMD board member Mike Antonovich calling for the probe fell one vote short of the seven needed for passage. The vote was six in favor and two abstentions. Four AQMD board members were absent. Antonovich, a county supervisor, said he would ask for another vote next month.