LONG BEACH : D.A. Drops Case Against Former Commissioner

The district attorney’s office will not file criminal charges against a former harbor commissioner suspected of using his political office to advance his tire business, officials said.

The county began investigating George F. Talin Sr. in 1991 after it was revealed that he had voted on the leases of Port of Long Beach tenants that were purchasing thousands of dollars in tires from his firm, Talin Tires Inc. He served on the Board of Harbor Commissioners from 1986-91. State law requires government officials to disclose potential conflicts of interest and abstain from decisions that may benefit them financially or personally.

Efrem M. Grail, deputy district attorney, said charges were not filed because Talin is no longer a public official and is semi-retired from the north Long Beach tire company. Grail also said the three-year statute of limitations has expired on some of the possible charges.

Talin’s attorney, Peter M. Williams, said Talin was not present during votes concerning the company’s clients and that many of the sales made to port tenants were closed without Talin’s knowledge by lower managers. “They dropped the case because there was no conflict of interest,” Williams said.

Talin, 65, is no longer active in the tire company though he remains chairman of the board of directors, Williams said. His son, George F. Talin Jr., 37, is president and chief executive officer.