Candidates Disclose Sources of Income

Three City Council candidates have filed amended conflict-of-interest statements, including environmental attorney Ed Masry, who came under fire for failing to disclose his Westlake Village law firm as a source of income.

Masry’s amended statement lists his firm Masry & Vititoe and the corporation owned by his wife, JKK LLC, as sources of income in excess of $100,000. Masry also lists as a source of income movie rights with Universal Pictures, which produced the film “Erin Brockovich” starring Julia Roberts. Masry’s fight against Pacific Gas & Electric was dramatized in the movie named after his real-life legal investigator.

Masry said he was never trying to hide the fact that he had a law firm, and that he doesn’t have any clients in Ventura County except for those he represents pro bono.

Masry, along with candidates Chris Buckett and Mary Harris, had initially checked the box “no reportable interests” on the state-mandated Statement of Economic Interests forms. Harris amended hers to include her husband’s income as a darkroom technician at Los Robles Regional Medical Center, and Buckett adjusted her form to indicate her husband’s job as manager of a Radio Shack in The Oaks shopping center.

Candidates also filed written ballot statements. Harris was the only candidate of the seven vying for two City Council seats who chose not to have a personal statement appear on the ballot.