Los Angeles mayoral candidate Kevin James today held a press conference in front of City Controller Wendy Greuel’s office to call for an independent review of the Controller’s office conduct.
Ms. Greuel also is running for mayor in the March 5 primary.
Yesterday, the Los Cerritos Community News released the Controller’s appointment calendar that called into question several items involving city staff, lobbyists, mayoral fundraising, and special interest groups.
According to the Los Angeles City Ethics Commission Governmental Ethics Ordinance [Ordinance No. 172891, Section 49.5.5]:
B. No City official or employee of an agency shall engage in campaign-related activities, such as fundraising, the development of electronic or written materials, or research, for a campaign for any elective office or ballot measure:
1. During the hours for which he or she is receiving pay to engage in City business or
2. Using City facilities, equipment, supplies or other City resources.
C. No City official or employee of an agency shall engage in outside employment during any hours he or she is receiving pay to engage in City business.
Said Mr. James:
“The City Controller has her political consultant, John Shallman, responding for her city office and her chief deputy controller, Claire Bartels, representing her at a campaign and polling briefing during city hours.
“Her political consultant is doing the Controller's work, and her No. 2 at City Hall is doing her campaign work. The problem is, nobody is doing the people's work.”
“Wendy Greuel continues to flaunt her inefficiencies while simultaneously taking credit for audits her staffers and other high-paid consultants accomplish,” said Jeff Corless, Mr. James’s spokesperson.
“It's time for Wendy to come clean with the voters of Los Angeles.
“These calendar items are the quintessential proof of corrupt politicians using taxpayer funded resources for political gain.”
