Garofalo

Here's what we know so far. In all cases, Huntington Beach Mayor Dave Garofalo has denied any wrongdoing and said he's consistently followed the advice of the city attorney regarding any potential conflicts of interest. Garofalo's company has had the no-bid contract to publish the city-funded Huntington Beach Conference & Visitor's Bureau annual guide since 1993. The bureau pays nothing up front to Garofalo, but his business keeps all the profits.

Huntington Beach Mayor Dave Garofalo returned home Tuesday to recuperate after double bypass heart surgery. Garofalo said he was supposed to leave the hospital Saturday, but bleeding in his stomach forced him to stay longer. Although he walked around the block and fixed himself breakfast Wednesday, the 54-year-old city official said he needs rest to recover from the operation performed last week at Fountain Valley Regional Hospital and Medical Center.

-- Tariq Malik HUNTINGTON BEACH -- The Citizens for Honest and Responsible Government, a group of residents working to recall Councilman Dave Garofalo, is hitting the streets to collect signatures from registered voters who support their cause. Resident Sandra Cole, who is spearheading the effort, said the group's petition forms were approved by City Clerk Connie Brockway on Friday. The group has until June to collect enough signatures, 10% of registered voters, to put the recall measure on an election ballot, she said.

Angelique Flores HUNTINGTON BEACH -- Despite raising questions from critics, Mayor Dave Garofalo broke no laws at last week's City Council meeting when he remained in the room during a discussion and vote involving a Huntington Beach mall redevelopment, an issue from which he has been advised to abstain, officials said. "There are no specific rules on leaving the room," said John Symkowick, spokesman for the Fair Political Practices Commission. Robert M. Stern, who helped draft the state's political reform laws, said council members should leave the room, just to be on the safe side.

The Pacific Liberty Bank announced this week the resignation of Dave Garofalo from the bank's board of directors. Garofalo was one of the founding directors of the bank, which has offices on Beach Boulevard and Springdale Avenue in Huntington Beach. Garofalo tendered his resignation to the bank's board citing the need to devote time to personal and business affairs as his reason. "I think that's just kind of the conclusion -- thats what he needs to focus on," said Rick Ganulin, bank president and CEO. It is the same reason he gave last month when reigned his seat on the City Council, less than a month before pleading guilty to one felony and 15 misdemeanor conflict of interest charges.

Tariq Malik HUNTINGTON BEACH -- An attempt by residents to recall Mayor Dave Garofalo has hit a snag, hinging on proof that paperwork was served properly. All that is standing in the way is a signature verifying that copies of a letter of intent and petition to recall the mayor was hand-delivered to Garofalo. "The proof of service should have been signed by [Sgt.] Janet Perez," said Sandra Cole, a 44-year resident who is spearheading the effort.

Eron Ben-Yehuda HUNTINGTON BEACH -- Some locals worry that newly appointed Mayor Dave Garofalo's history of business dealings may lead to questionable spending of public funds. "He's always somewhere on the shady part of the gray area in terms of financial investments," said James Bridges, a perennial City Hall critic who is frequently at odds with government spending. "It can't help but carry over into his public decision making." The latest example of Garofalo's questionable dealings came to light in recent weeks, after he invested $50,000 of borrowed money in a small community bank in April.

With great sadness I read this article ["It's not easy being the mayor of Huntington Beach," June 8]. [Garofalo] has placed himself as King of Huntington Beach, and now I feel that I am a member of his kingdom, "Serf City." Yes, he has brought a lot of controversial items to this city, and he has stood up for what he believes in. Yes, he voted to bring in the world's largest retailer. Yes, he voted to bring in Coke and Chevrolet. Yes, he worked to have the Bolsa Chica purchased and brought two new restaurants to town.

In the two months since the Independent began reporting on potential conflicts of interest involving Huntington Beach Mayor Dave Garofalo, he has offered -- in interviews, memos and public documents -- differing accounts on a variety of issues that have popped up. Here are some examples. ON WHY HE BOUGHT A ST. AUGUSTINE HOME In a May 8 memo to City Atty. Gail Hutton, Garofalo said he placed his "name on the waiting list at St. Augustine," and he bought and sold a single family home that was "meant to be my primary residence, and later was not."

A few eyebrows might have gone up at news that City Councilman Dave Garofalo is planning to run for the state Board of Equalization when his council time is up next year. After all, there is that lingering, year-and-a-half investigation by the district attorney into allegations that Garofalo approved city projects for companies that advertised in his publishing ventures. In April, we called on the district attorney to quit dragging out the investigation and wrap it up. Nine months was long enough to determine Garofalo's innocence or guilt, we said.

Council members and current planning commissioners were unruffled by Councilman Joe Carchio's decision to appoint Fred Speaker to the commission in spite of Speaker's connection to former Mayor Dave Garofalo. Speaker was Garofalo's appointee on the planning commission for six years in the late '90s. "I think Freddie has got a lot of experience," Carchio said. Each council member can appoint a person of their choice to the seven-member planning commission. His previous experience of serving on the planning commission is well-regarded in the community, Carchio said.

When former Huntington Beach Mayor Dave Garofalo resigned from office and eventually pleaded guilty to 15 misdemeanors and one felony count involving votes he cast and gifts he received while in office, we hoped that others who followed him into public service would learn from his mistakes. People who have pledged to serve the public should never use their office or their power to serve themselves instead. Sadly, Garofalo's was not a lesson former Huntington Beach Mayor Pam Houchen learned or even tried to heed.

Tim Geddes The spate of letters to the editor calling for City Councilwoman Pam Julien Houchen to resign (Mailbag, May 20), and the public outcry over the condo conversion controversy brings with it the inevitable comparison with the Dave Garofalo scandal that forced another local businessperson from a position of public trust. With local elections less than six months away, it also raises the question of what kind of leaders we should be looking for and what standards of conduct we should demand from our elected and appointed officials.

Paul Clinton A Huntington Beach man has been released on bail, after allegedly assaulting former mayor Dave Garofalo in a local Mexican restaurant. The Orange County district attorney is mulling over which charges to file against 48-year-old Gregory Middlesworth. At about 9:30 p.m. on May 10, Middlesworth approached Garofalo as he sat on a bar stool at Mario's Restaurant, police said. "Mr. Garofalo was involved in a verbal confrontation," Sgt. Gary Meza said.

For two years, the Huntington Beach City Council has taken a public image bruising. The investigation and subsequent felony conviction of Councilman Dave Garofalo left a dark and foreboding taint on city government that is going to be hard to shake. But Saturday, the remaining six council members took a big step toward changing the public image of the council and restoring the public trust with the appointment of Grace Winchell to fill the remaining eight months of Garofalo's term.

The Pacific Liberty Bank announced this week the resignation of Dave Garofalo from the bank's board of directors. Garofalo was one of the founding directors of the bank, which has offices on Beach Boulevard and Springdale Avenue in Huntington Beach. Garofalo tendered his resignation to the bank's board citing the need to devote time to personal and business affairs as his reason. "I think that's just kind of the conclusion -- thats what he needs to focus on," said Rick Ganulin, bank president and CEO. It is the same reason he gave last month when reigned his seat on the City Council, less than a month before pleading guilty to one felony and 15 misdemeanor conflict of interest charges.

In response to the letter from Bill Orton (Jan. 17) who states "No, I don't think the councilman needed to resign" I wonder what would constitute sufficient grounds in his mind? Persons who seek election to any office have the duty to educate themselves about ethical behavior in that office. Garofalo knew what "conflict of interest" meant although he continues to project a beleaguered, "who, me?" image. This is nonsense. Speaking of ethical education, just what was our well-paid, longtime City Attorney Gail Hutton, doing during all these illegal votes?

Danette Goulet With two days left to apply, 39 residents have picked up the application for the council seat vacated by Dave Garofalo earlier this month, but a mere nine have actually applied for the job. Of those nine, only two have have much in the way of name recognition in town -- 2000 City Council candidate and high school teacher Diane Lenning, and Jill Hardy, also a high school teacher at Huntington Beach ...

Danette Goulet Former Huntington Beach councilman and mayor Dave Garofalo pleaded guilty Thursday to one felony and 15 misdemeanorcharges in connection with a long-standing probe into his business and political practices. In an Orange County Superior Court, Garofalo was convicted of criminal conflict of interest charges following a two-year investigation. Garofalo amended his often-heard plea of innocence at the hearing to say he never meant to break any laws.

Bryce Alderton Councilman Dave Garofalo resigned his seat effective Wednesday, ending one of Surf City's most controversial political careers -- a tenure that remains under investigation by the district attorney. Garofalo submitted a simple, one-page letter to the City Clerk last Friday. In it he said: "It's time for me to spend more time on some personal issues and get on with my personal life to resolve lingering matters. I can best do this as a private citizen."