Theresa Moreau
HUNTINGTON BEACH -- Supporters of the city's mayor made themselves
known last week at a City Council meeting, standing behind a man who has
recently been under fire from residents, anonymous posters and the press
for alleged conflicts of interest.
Five people spoke in support of Mayor Dave Garofalo during public
comments -- some friends, others merely interested residents -- saying
the mayor, who is facing allegations that he violated state political
reform laws by voting on advertisers in his various publications, is a
decent person.
Planning Commissioner Fred Speaker, a Garofalo appointee, pledged his
support to his friend of 30 years.
"He is being unjustly accused of many things," Speaker said. "All he's
trying to do is serve his community to the best of his ability. Does he
make mistakes? Of course he does, but who among you does not? He serves
because he truly wants to help, not for personal gain."
Virginia Sims, who has publicly supported the mayor in the past,
pleaded for the public to love one another.
"This is still a free country, isn't it?" Sims asked. "I'm afraid for
Huntington Beach. I really am. If you're in favor of the mayor, something
mean will be said about you. Something unfavorable.
"It's still like World War II and the Nazis. People couldn't talk.
They were afraid. I am not."
Bob Hoxsie said he supports the mayor and described his experience as
he marched in the Fourth of July parade.
"We started noticing posters of Mayor Garofalo behind bars, and I was
really upset when I noticed the HBPD logo was on it -- that it was
printed by the Huntington Beach Police Department," Hoxsie said.
Huntington Beach Police Sgt. Janet Perez said the department had
nothing to do with the printing or posting of the flier.
"There's certainly no authorized use there. I haven't seen that
poster, but whatever they put on that poster was not something sanctioned
by the Police Department," Perez said.
The unfavorable and unflattering posters of Garofalo appeared on the
doors of portable restrooms along Main Street during the 96th annual
Huntington Beach Fourth of July Parade.
The fliers, which contained at intervals incomprehensible ramblings,
depicted the mayor as a criminal wanted by police in connection with
conflict of interest violations.
Lt. Chuck Thomas, a spokesman for the Huntington Beach Police
Department, said the department doesn't know who posted the signs. The
posters did not violate any laws, he added.
