The race for Los Angeles city attorney has involved an increasingly bitter exchange of charges between the two candidates.
City Councilman Jack Weiss has hammered at his opponent, defense lawyer Carmen "Nuch" Trutanich, for refusing to disclose the names of his law firm's clients. Trutanich has fired back by repeatedly questioning Weiss' ethics.
For The Record
Los Angeles Times Saturday, May 23, 2009 Home Edition Main News Part A Page 4 National Desk 1 inches; 52 words Type of Material: Correction
Casden Properties: A May 11 article in Section A about a controversy over campaign contributions received by Los Angeles City Councilman Jack Weiss said officials of Casden Properties had been indicted in 2003 for allegedly making improper contributions to candidates in city elections. One official of Casden, a vice president, was indicted.
During a recent debate, Trutanich accused Weiss of receiving "tens of thousands of political dollars of laundered campaign contributions, plus matching funds." The charge involves contributions Weiss received that the city Ethics Commission determined were improper. Trutanich has charged that Weiss' failure to return the contributions "is illegal and a crime."
The facts are complex. Here's a look at the issues involved:
--
How did the improper contributions come about?
During the 2001 election, the vice president of a Southern California real estate developer, Casden Properties, and more than a dozen of the firm's subcontractors funneled tens of thousands of dollars in improper campaign contributions to four city candidates.
After a joint investigation by Los Angeles County Dist. Atty. Steve Cooley and the Ethics Commission, a grand jury in 2003 indicted the Casden officials and the subcontractors. The indictment said the contributions were intended to "improperly influence" future city business decisions in favor of Casden Properties. The defendants pleaded no contest in 2004 to misdemeanor charges of laundering contributions.
The indictment did not make accusations against any of the four candidates who received contributions: council candidates Weiss, Wendy Greuel, then-city attorney candidate Rocky Delgadillo and mayoral candidate Kathleen Connell.
--
What did Weiss say after the indictment?
Weiss announced he would oppose a then-controversial Casden project to build a $100-million residential and commercial development in Westwood. Weiss said he was concerned there had not been enough outreach to the community by the developer and said it would be "bad public policy for the city to continue consideration of the project in light of the indictment of an official of the development firm." Weiss' office worked with residents and the developer to reach a compromise on the project, which was ultimately approved by the council.
--
When did Weiss learn the contributions were improper?
