Redondo Treasurer’s Suit Says Officials Libeled Her

Redondo Beach Treasurer Alice E. DeLong filed a libel suit against city officials who she says have been out to ruin her reputation over the last year.

In the suit filed Friday, DeLong says she was defamed by memos circulated in City Hall earlier this year that portray her as a drunkard who harasses city employees. She asked the court to halt closed-session City Council meetings where her office is discussed, and she called for city officials to stop harassing her.

Named in the suit, which also claims civil rights and slander violations, were Mayor Brad Parton, the City Council, City Manager William E. Kirchhoff and City Atty. Jerry Goddard.

DeLong could not be reached for comment, but her attorney said Tuesday that DeLong filed the suit to defend her name and the integrity of the treasurer’s office.

“I think she owes a duty to the citizens of Redondo Beach,” attorney David P. King said. “She’s doing it on behalf of the people of the city.”

DeLong seeks unspecified damages.

DeLong, who has served as the city’s elected treasurer for 19 years, is seeking reelection in the city’s March election. She has been under fire for about a year, since Kirchhoff told the council he could no longer supervise her office because she mistreated employees and failed to properly manage the city’s $40 million in investments.

In the suit, DeLong said she has been harassed because she criticized Kirchhoff’s handling of $6.3 million in redevelopment money, which DeLong alleged was transferred illegally to city coffers in 1992. Kirchhoff, who could not be reached for comment, has denied any wrongdoing.

DeLong said that after she raised the complaint, a memo was circulated that falsely accused her of being drunk on the job.

Since then, the council has formed a committee to study the city’s investments and oversee the treasurer’s office, and an attorney for a city employees’ union made public several workers’ allegations that DeLong has come to work under the influence of alcohol and has intimidated employees. The attorney, Sylvia E. Kellison, who was also named in the suit, told the council that a supervisor in DeLong’s department had sexually harassed three employees.

DeLong has denied being under the influence at work and said she was unaware of any harassment in her office.

DeLong said in the suit that the alleged defamation resulted in her being “scorned and abandoned by all her friends, co-workers, neighbors and constituents.” In addition, she stated she has suffered “humiliation, embarrassment, hurt feelings, mental anguish and suffering.”

City Councilman Robert Pinzler said he sympathizes with DeLong. He said he has been frustrated by the many memos and reports regarding DeLong that have been circulated outside City Hall, and he said he understands why she filed suit.

“I’m not sure she had a whole lot of choice in the matter,” he said. “Here are some people she felt were abusing her, and what other choice do you have when you feel like you’re being defamed?”

Councilwoman Marilyn White said she was disappointed by the suit.

“We seem to be getting further and further away from why we’re there, which is to help the city,” she said. “I’m tired of Redondo being the city everyone is watching. It’s a good city, and I don’t like to see things get messed up like this.”