Bohr cleared in conflict allegations

Allegations that former Huntington Beach Mayor Keith Bohr should have recused himself from the Downtown Specific Plan because of a conflict of interest were found false by the Fair Political Practices Commission last month.

In a letter to Kim Kramer, spokesman for the Huntington Beach Downtown Residents Assn., a member of the group of residents that submitted the allegations, the commission stated Bohr violated no laws.

“After review of your complaint and the evidence obtained, we found no violation of the Fair Political Act ... Mr. Bohr sought advice from our legal division concerning his political conflict of interest,” said Roman Porter, executive director of the Fair Political Practices Commission, in a letter to Kramer dated Feb. 10.

A group of residents asked the Orange County district attorney and the commission to investigate Bohr in November over the possible conflict of interests .

The association believed Bohr should have recused himself from the vote because he would benefit from the plan because he is a principal partner in the real estate development and construction company Team Companies Inc., which had an office downtown and, according to the letter, an interest in three restaurants.

The Downtown Specific Plan is a long-range planning document that dictates building and parking specifications, and design guidelines. The City Council directed the plan to be updated to increase development over the next 20 years. The plan still has to be certified by the California Coastal Commission.

At the time Bohr said the claims have no validity and that he received assurance from the Fair Political Practices Commission that he could vote on the plan.