YORBA LINDA

The City Council is expected to deadlock Tuesday on a vote to hire an attorney to represent Mayor John M. Gullixson in a lawsuit filed against him by City Manager Arthur Simonian. Simonian, now on paid administrative leave amid allegations that he misappropriated city funds, sued Gullixson last month, alleging his right to privacy was violated when the mayor gave the press documents related to the city’s investigation against him.

Interim City Manager Dan Miller has recommended that the city hire the law firm Reid & Hellyer at $165 an hour to defend the mayor. The costs would be covered by insurance. Councilmen Henry W. Wedaa and Mark Schwing had wanted to keep the documents private, and Wedaa said Friday he thought the two would vote against the recommendation.

The four-member council, lacking a fifth seat since the September resignation of Gene Wisner, has deadlocked consistently in the past few months over issues related to Simonian, who has denied the allegations. Miller said Friday that it would not be a conflict of interest for Gullixson to vote on the matter, citing a recent ruling of the Fair Political Practices Commission.