BREA : Councilwoman-Elect Raps Aid for Wedin

A newly elected member of the City Council has denounced a decision to provide legal assistance for Councilman Wayne D. Wedin at public expense, saying it is a waste of funds and will not benefit Brea in any way.

“Such payment sends the wrong message to our citizens,” said Kathryn E. Wiser, who won one of the two open seats on the City Council in the Nov. 3 election. “It implies that illegal acts by our public officials are acceptable and gives them a degree of immunity.”

Wiser, who will be sworn in as a councilwoman on Dec. 1, said Monday that she decided to state publicly her opposition to the use of city funds to pay for Wedin’s legal expenses because several residents have asked her to.

“The people wanted someone just like themselves in the City Council,” she said. “I intend to be the voice of the people. And most people I talked to are against paying for Mr. Wedin’s defense.”

Bev Perry, who won the other council seat, was unavailable for comment. She is on vacation in Australia.

The trial of the 52-year-old Wedin starts Thursday at North Municipal Court in Fullerton. He is facing four misdemeanor counts of violating conflict-of-interest laws for allegedly helping Keith Cos. of Costa Mesa secure a planning contract from Brea while he was working as a consultant for the company.

He is also accused of failing to disclose $37,000 in income between February and November, 1990, in his 1990 financial disclosure statement as required by state law. He has pleaded not guilty to the charges.

On Nov. 3, the City Council voted 3 to 0, with Wedin abstaining, to pay for Wedin’s legal expenses, estimated to cost a minimum of $20,000.

In justifying the action, Mayor Burnie Dunlap and Councilmen Glenn G. Parker and Carrey J. Nelson concurred with City Atty. James L. Markman’s opinion that Wedin acted without malice and in the best interest of the city.

Wiser disagrees. She said that Wedin’s action was his alone and that other members of the council were not aware there was possible conflict of interest.

“These acts appear to have been taken to provide the Keith Cos. with competitive advantage in their negotiations with the city of Brea and to further the relationship between the Keith Cos. and Wayne Wedin,” Wiser said.

She said the city neither benefited from Wedin’s action nor was harmed by it. “The city does not have a vested interest in the outcome of the trial, and it appears it cannot suffer any loss or obtain any benefit,” Wiser said.