Spouse Lurks in City Clerk Race

A candidate for Seal Beach city clerk has come under fire because her husband is a former councilman whose conviction on conflict-of-interest charges bars him from seeking public office.

Critics of Kimberly Boyd, including current Mayor Patty Campbell, who also is running for city clerk, say they fear Shawn Boyd will have access to confidential documents and materials if his wife is elected.

Kimberly Boyd declined to discuss the allegations. But in her ballot statement, she says: “Our city clerk is an elected administrative position, but Seal Beach doesn’t need another politician. The city clerk must be unbiased, fair and treat everyone with respect.”

Linda Devine, a community volunteer and former school board member and employee in the Bellflower Unified School District, also is running.

One of the three women will succeed Joanne Yeo, who started in the city clerk’s office as a part-time assistant in 1970. She has been city clerk since 1980.

The city clerk, whose salary ranges from $49,063 to $60,033, is a nonpartisan official who maintains records and City Council minutes, updates city laws, fulfills local requirements of the state Fair Political Practices Commission and conducts local elections.

Shawn Boyd, listed in disclosure statements as treasurer of his wife’s campaign, pleaded guilty in December 2002 to conflict-of-interest charges stemming from a financial relationship he had with Richard Hall, owner of the Seal Beach Trailer Park, who made a $4.5-million profit after the city financed the park’s sale to a nonprofit group.

The councilman received $104,000 in undisclosed payments from Hall but failed to reveal his relationship with the park owner.

Campbell charges that Boyd “is trying to get back into politics” through his wife’s candidacy. “Is he going to be standing over her shoulder when she’s picking people to work the elections?” Campbell asked.

Seal Beach resident Laura Brecht, who filed a complaint against Boyd with Orange County Dist. Atty. Tony Rackauckas and the state Fair Political Practices Commission in September 2001, also has questioned his involvement in his wife’s campaign.

Campbell also has noted that in 2001 and 2002 the Boyds filed joint tax returns that had to be corrected after his conviction.

Devine said she would rather talk about why Seal Beach residents should vote for her “and not go into why they shouldn’t vote for my opponents. There’s always rumors and comments made.... They’re made against me,” she said. But “if you take the higher ground and go with why you would be the better candidate, people will respect you.”

Also at stake in Seal Beach is the 4th District council seat, which Campbell must give up because of term limits.

Candidates are banker Henry Eagar and Ray Ybaben, president of a software company. Incumbent John Larson is running unopposed in the 2nd District.