‘Big Brush of Scandal’ Sweeps Away Boyd

Despite efforts by the candidates to downplay a criminal investigation into Seal Beach Councilman Shawn Boyd, his troubles appeared to be the key factor in his defeat in Tuesday’s election.

Boyd, who is being investigated by the district attorney’s office for allegedly voting on the purchase of a trailer park while having a business connection with the owner, came in third in a field of four candidates.

“I got painted with this big brush of scandal that soured people. Plain and simple,” Boyd said.

Businesswoman Beverly Pearce was the top vote-getter with just over 40%. Charles Antos, a county planner, received about 28% of the vote. Boyd got 20%.

Pearce and Antos will face each other in a runoff election May 14. The winner will be sworn in at a council meeting May 21.

Boyd, 33, who has yet to be charged with any crime, said the investigation was clearly the reason he lost the race for reelection.

Prosecutors are looking into links between Boyd and Richard Hall, who bought the Seal Beach Trailer Park for $2.9 million in 1998 and sold it two years later to a nonprofit group for $7.4 million. The sale was backed by city financing. Boyd abstained from votes regarding the trailer park purchase four times but voted on the matter at least seven times without disclosing that he worked for Hall on at least two other real estate ventures.

“Some people believe you are guilty until proven innocent,” Boyd said. “I’m not bitter. I’ve enjoyed my time in public service and maybe this was a blessing in disguise. It’s given me time to focus on other priorities.”

Some of his colleagues on the council believe Boyd was the architect of his own undoing.

“I feel sorry for him,” Councilman Paul Yost said. “It’s a difficult thing when you’re elected to public office. It’s not about [an individual] in that seat, it’s about the district and the community ... and I think Mr. Boyd got into a direction that it was more about Mr. Boyd than it was about the community.”

Boyd said he plans to take some time off after the new councilman takes over in May.

“I need that,” he said. “And I’m going to reassess what my priorities are. I’m going to stay active in the community. I care about Seal Beach and I care about Orange County.”

Although he said he is not soured on politics, he complained that “small-town politics is just brutal. Anybody who wants to run for higher office is best advised not to run into that fray.”