After Residency Questions, Sa’s Not Running

A Fullerton councilwoman facing accusations that she lives in a sprawling $1.5-million Chino Hills home rather than in a rented motor-inn apartment failed to file reelection papers Friday, effectively bowing out of city politics.

Councilwoman Julie Sa, who had been poised to run for reelection, has been in the cross hairs of a debate on whether she actually lived in a small, one-bedroom kitchenette in Fullerton or an 8,200-square-foot mansion, complete with a helipad, tennis court and swimming pool.

Although the state attorney general’s office is investigating, experts had said the councilwoman probably could survive a legal challenge.

Sa, who was seen earlier Friday at City Hall, could not be reached for comment later in the day. She previously has explained the hilltop mansion is investment property, and she has said the residency issue has been energized by political foes.

Leland Wilson, a community services commissioner, said he thinks Sa’s decision not to run again is smart “because it will save everybody a lot of embarrassment. I think that shows, in my opinion, some honor.”

Sa claims to spend three to four days a week at her $470-a-month Ambassador Inn apartment, where she gets most of her mail. The rest of the time, she explained, is divided between her parents’ home in Anaheim Hills and the Chino Hills property. She said she intended to sell the mansion and buy a house in Fullerton.

The residency accusation arose this month when John Cross, president of the Fullerton Police Officers Assn., filed a formal complaint with the city. The matter, in turn, was passed to the Orange County district attorney’s office and then to the state attorney general’s office when it was discovered an employee in the prosecutor’s office was running for a Fullerton council seat.

Councilman Chris Norby, up for reelection himself, was circumspect about Sa’s apparent decision not to run again for office. “I’m sure she’s made the right decision under the circumstances,” he said.

Others were taken aback.

“It was her feeling that the controversy about her home was not that upsetting to her,” said Mayor F. Richard Jones. “She is a nice lady, and I have always enjoyed working with her.”

Jones said his colleague may have decided it wouldn’t be worth plowing through an election with the residency issue still unresolved.

Said commissioner Wilson, “I think for the sake of herself, she wouldn’t want to go through the tough questions. . . . She saved herself and saved everyone else from that.”

Our Times reporter Luladey B. Tadesse contributed to this report.