A member of the Escondido municipal council revealed a potential conflict of interest a week after having voted to finance a festival organized by a group that contributed to its campaign.
The revelation could have derailed the Aboriginal culture and art festival scheduled for April 19 in Grape Day Park, but the members of the Council agreed on Wednesday that they did not have to reconsider the previous vote.
On April 2, the council voted 4-1, with the member of the Consuelo Martinez council, to provide $ 61,950 for the festival. The San Pasqual Gang of the Kumeyaay Indians is organizing the event and provided $ 10,000 for the festival.
The member of the Council Judy Fitzgerald asked the Council to reconsider the vote because it had received a campaign contribution of $ 2,500 from the San Pasqual of the Kumeyaay Indians last October.
Fitzgerald said on Wednesday that she had returned the money, which was not necessary, and recognized that her novelty in the council had played a role in the issue.
“I became aware of the conflict of interests that extends or extends in the field of community financing and special events,” she said during the meeting, adding that she did not completely know the rules.
“As I always learn politicians, I assume full responsibility,” she said. “And because I really appreciate and I want to make sure that we maintain the integrity of the council in the way we make decisions and votes for decisions, I asked for this to be reconsidered, in the absence of a vote.”
Fitzgerald left the play to challenge itself while the Council organized a brief discussion.
Mayor Dane White made a motion not to reconsider the previous vote to finance the festival and noted that the contract had already been executed.
Martinez voted for the only vote against the motion and had abstained from last week’s vote after saying that she had supported it, but that she was uncomfortable with the amount and late request from the funds.
Originally published:
California Daily Newspapers
