Scandals Take Back Burner in Three City Races

While controversies have stirred the political pot in three Orange County cities in recent months, they seem to have had only modest impact on local municipal races.

In Yorba Linda--an upscale community that endured a year of legal wrangling with former City Manager Arthur C. Simonian--council candidates at most are asking voters to bring civility and accountability back to City Hall.

In Huntington Beach, where the mayor is the target of a recall effort and conflict of interest investigations, small words such as “trust” have found a place in campaign statements, but there are no shrill tones heard from campaigners.

And in Santa Ana, Councilman Ted R. Moreno’s conviction for muscling money from businessmen and then feeding it into his allies’ campaign war chests, has had virtually no impact on those running for his seat.

Moreno was suspended from his post Sept. 5 after his conviction by a federal jury on 25 counts of extortion, money laundering and mail fraud. He will be formally removed from the council when the judge enters the conviction into the court record in December. He is free on $200,000 bail while awaiting sentencing, also in December.

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No one at the heart of those controversies is on Tuesday’s ballot. So mostly, candidates say, what prospective voters seem to want is reassurance.

“Trust is an issue, absolutely,” said Chuck Downing, one of 20 council candidates chasing three seats in Huntington Beach. “When I’m walking the precincts or talking to people on the phone, they want to know who I am and why they should trust me.”

Downing said he’s encountered among some voters a feeling that Mayor Dave Garofalo--a popular figure throughout the beach city--broke that trust.

Garofalo, who isn’t up for reelection, is being investigated by the Fair Political Practices Commission, the Orange County Grand Jury and the district attorney’s office for potential conflicts of interest involving advertisers in the city’s visitors guide, which he published for several years. City Hall records show that during his time as publisher, Garofalo voted at least 87 times on issues that guide advertisers brought before the council.

Another Huntington Beach council candidate, James A. Young, advocates “tougher penalties for officials who violate the public’s trust” in his campaign statement. And Diane A. Lenning’s literature declares she is the “One You Can Trust!”

Huntington Beach resident Bob Biddle said council candidates such as Bill Borden--one of the mayor’s close friends--and incumbent Pam Julien could be hurt by their Garofalo connections.

Borden doubts it, noting that he’s been endorsed by no fewer than 13 past mayors. “There are no more trustworthy supporters than these proven leaders who have done the job and know what it takes to do the job today,” he said.

Julien, meanwhile, said her allegiance is to her constituents, not Garofalo.

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Debbie Cook, another council candidate, suggests that scandal can actually be a good thing in a political year, heightening public interest and awareness.

“Controversy can sometimes keep democracy alive,” said Cook, who in May sent a letter to the Fair Political Practices Commission requesting an investigation into Garofalo’s business dealings. “It’s a spark to get people to speak up and speak out, and pay more attention to local government.”

Other council candidates include: Lou Baker, Connie Boardman, Joe Carchio, Gerald Chapman, Gil Coerper, Thomas Doney, J. Devin Dwyer, Stephen Garcia, Robert J. Johnson, Mark W. Lewis, Joey Racano, Mark H. Szulc, John A. Thomas and Norm Westwell.

City Clerk Connie Brockway and Treasurer Shari Freidenrich are running unopposed for reelection.

In Yorba Linda, accusations against Simonian--the city manager for 27 years--surfaced in mid-1999 and culminated that September, when the City Council voted 3 to 2 to fire him. The city also sued Simonian, hoping to recover $300,000 in bonuses he allegedly paid himself without council authorization. Simonian said the bonuses were allowed under his contract, and he sued the city to clear his name and get his job back.

A judge ordered him reinstated, ruling that the city didn’t follow proper procedure in firing him. He remained on paid leave until June 2000, when the city agreed to pay him a $231,000 settlement in exchange for his resignation.

Michael D. Duvall is one of the Yorba Linda council candidates calling for accountability among elected officials and city employees.

“The city is in need of new leadership,” said Duvall, a businessman who is among 10 candidates seeking three council seats. “Too many people in the city, and some of the council members themselves, have been there too long. That’s where so many of these problems started.”

Also on the ballot are: incumbent Mark Schwing; businessmen Greg Schmidt, Thomas H. Lindsey and Jim Kapko; retired businessman John W. Taylor; planning commissioner Carl W. Boznanski; sheriff’s Deputy Allen Michael Castellano; police Capt. Jim Winder, and retired police Cmdr. Jack Parra.

Parra has called for an end to the city’s use of bonuses, advocating merit raises instead.

“We need to restructure local government to establish a system of accountability for the city manager and staff,” he said.

In fact, nearly every candidate in the race has called for dignity, respect and civility.

“It’s time we reestablish Yorba Linda as ‘The Land of Gracious Living,’ ” said Boznanski, referring to the city’s motto.

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In Santa Ana, council candidates say they seem unaffected by Moreno’s conviction.

“As I’ve been walking the district, the issue doesn’t seem to be resonating,” said attorney and congressional aide Mauro Morales, who is running in council Ward 1 against city planning commissioner Jose Solorio.

“A lot of Ward 1 residents really looked up to Ted Moreno--they saw him as a fighter for their interests. And right or wrong, they see him as a target. But the issue has really rarely come up. . . . They pretty much have assigned responsibility for that controversy to him.

“What people are looking for is someone who will continue to be a fighter and a voice for the needs of Ward 1,” Morales said.

Neighborhood improvements, driving drug dealers out of town, after-school programs for kids and recreational opportunities for adults are the issues voters are concerned about, according to Santa Ana resident Adrian Perez.

“I haven’t paid too much attention to the Ted Moreno thing,” he said. “Life goes on, and everybody makes mistakes, and the council’s done a good job overall.”

Also on the ballot is the mayor’s seat and council wards 3 and 5.

Steve Rocco, a teacher, and Vital D’Carpio, an attorney, are challenging Mayor Miguel A. Pulido.

In Ward 3, incumbent Brett Franklin is running against marketing consultant Michele Morrisey, businessman and housing commissioner Winston R. Covington, and Armando L. Ramirez, who lists himself as a banker and development manager. Businesswoman Nancy Lutz and deputy district attorney Claudia Alvarez are running in Ward 5.

Voters look at the candidates as individuals, said candidate Solorio.

“In our [Ward 1] race, Ted Moreno isn’t really a factor because neither of the two candidates were close to him,” Solorio said. “We’ve also had a very strong and decisive council that has helped move the city in the right direction. The public knows we do have good people on the council.”