Mayor Asks for End to Allegations

Mayor John M. Gullixson said this week he wants to put an end to a series of allegations of conflict of interest that residents have been making at candidate forums for City Council contenders.

At today’s council session, he said, he will ask members to adopt a policy to have all possible conflicts of interest investigated by the city attorney, who would then make a declaration about the legality of the actions.

Since the race for council has been underway, two council candidates have been challenged repeatedly at forums and debates.

Several people have alleged that Councilwoman Barbara Kiley and former Councilman Henry W. Wedaa both voted improperly on projects tied to their respective businesses, the mayor said.

Wedaa has been accused of benefiting from his votes on joint projects with the school district because he owned a book company that sold materials to local schoolchildren, the mayor said.

Wedaa, who left the council in 1994 and is seeking to return, has denied that there was ever a conflict of interest, saying that he never benefited personally from the deals.

Incumbent Kiley has been accused of voting on contracts with companies she worked for as a government relations specialist, Gullixson said. She maintains that she accurately declared her conflicts and never voted on contracts with any companies she worked for.

The council meets at noon at City Hall, 4845 Casa Loma Ave. Information: (714) 961-7100.