Councilman to Propose New Attorney for Investigations

Reversing his earlier position, City Councilman Lou Lopez said Tuesday night that he will propose terminating the contract of independent prosecutor Ravi Mehta and hiring a local attorney to take over Mehta’s investigations.

Lopez and Councilman Bob Zemel voted in September to hire Mehta to look into allegations that some city officials had violated state and local campaign-contribution laws.

Lopez also said at Tuesday’s council meeting that he will put the issue on the agenda for the March 17 session and that he has already directed City Atty. Jack L. White to prepare for consideration at that time a list of Orange County attorneys, their credentials and billing rates.

After speaking during council comments at the end of Tuesday’s meeting, Lopez left the building. Reached at home later, he would not comment.

A surprised Zemel said, “I think to change a prosecutor in the middle of any prosecution is an obstruction of justice, especially if it’s being changed because of political pressure.”

On Feb. 24, amid complaints about the high cost of Mehta’s services, a group of residents presented both councilmen with notices that recall campaigns have begun against them. The group, Taxpayers Expecting Accountability, also said that Mehta’s investigations have been aimed at political foes of Lopez and Zemel.

Mehta filed misdemeanor complaints in January against Mayor Tom Daly, his campaign treasurer and estranged wife, Debra Daly, and former Councilman Irv Pickler, alleging that they had breached campaign-contribution laws. Arraignment is set for March 27 in Municipal Court in Fullerton.

Councilwoman Shirley McCracken proposed last week to turn over Mehta’s investigation to the district attorney’s office, but her effort failed for lack of a second.