Council Meeting Erupts in Allegations of Corruption, Political Grandstanding

An effort to pass a new law governing how the city awards contracts Monday opened old political wounds and laid bare the animosity underlying the political landscape of the Los Alamitos City Council.

The council voted 3-2 to amend a city code on purchasing, so that “contracts may be awarded based upon such factors as demonstrated competence, qualifications and suitability for the project in general, as well as cost.”

The law comes in response to a recent court ruling that the city violated its own process for awarding contracts when it chose Consolidated Disposal Services for the city’s $24.5-million trash contract instead of the lowest qualified bidder. Though the judge threw out the allegations, the suit also accused three City Council members of corruption. Instead of putting the lawsuit in the past, the new ordinance brought renewed allegations of criminal corruption, backroom dealing and political grandstanding between the City Council members. It also took a very personal turn as several residents and council members invoked the name of Brad Sheridan, a former city commissioner and council candidate who had long accused the council majority of corruption and who died last week.

“Brad Sheridan’s last words to me were, ‘You belong in jail.’ It’s politics,” said City Councilman Troy Edgar.

Sheridan had openly accused Edgar, Mayor Kenneth Stephens and Councilwoman Marilynn Poe of criminal corruption in awarding the contract to a political supporter rather than the lowest bidder. In turn, the three directed city officials to look into filing an ethics complaint against Sheridan, who was a private attorney.

The lawsuit was filed last year four days before the City Council election at a time when Sheridan and his political faction made an unsuccessful bid for majority control of the council, said Edgar. Most residents in Los Alamitos recognize the political motivation behind the lawsuit, and most people are happy with the trash contract, which offers residents the second lowest rates in the county, added Edgar.

With the trash contract voided by the court, city leaders should try to work together to come up with an even better deal, he added.

“As a community, I want to get along. I am tired of arguing back and forth," said Edgar. “I want this city to heal.”

However, to dismiss the lawsuit and the court’s voiding of the contract as mere politics is disingenuous, said Councilwoman Gerri Graham-Mejia.

“This is not an election year, and this lawsuit is not frivolous,” she said.

“The perception that we are trying to give everyone is that the council members are out of the woods, and that is not the case,” added Gerri Graham-Mejia, referring to an ongoing appeal of the court’s decision to throw out the corruption claims.

The city’s existing law governing contracts and the lawsuit are about protecting the community from cronyism and backroom deals, she said. When the city opted to go with the second highest bidder for the trash contract instead of the lowest, the council was essentially paying back a supporter at the expense of the residents and businesses, added Gerri Graham-Mejia.

“Why would we pay more for something we could get for a lower price,” she asked.

She further accused the City Council and city officials of violating the Brown Act, a state law that upholds open governance.

Resident and lawsuit plaintiff JM Ivler also accused the council of opting to deceive the community rather than simply fixing the trash contract in accordance with the court ruling.

“There is a good reason that the criminals and City Staff want this pushed through, not following proper procedure because they are afraid of the truth. They can’t handle the truth. They have to love a lie, and in that lie, they will enshrine criminal activity into the City Code,” said Ivler.

Resident Brad Taylor also had strong words for the council majority.

“I am sick that you are in charge here, and I can’t wait to get you out of office,” he said.

Poe denied ever taking campaign donations from Consolidated Disposal or affiliated trash hauler George Briggeman.

“I realize that this is a very emotional matter for everyone involved, but to continually be called a criminal when we are not is ludicrous,” said Poe.

“There was nothing hidden, nothing backdoor,” she added.

A handful of residents also spoke up in defense of the council majority, arguing that the city’s trash contract is a good one and chastising critics for incivility and for lobbing careless accusations against city leaders.

Resident Cathie Salai praised the current trash contract, noting that Consolidated Disposal was the “lowest responsible bidder.” She also chastised several in the community for “capitalizing” on Sheridan’s death to score political points on the same day his family buried him.

Resident Richard Vardeman called upon city leaders to do what’s right for the community.

“I admit I am somewhat confused by all this legality talk,” he said. “I think the City Council needs to look at what is best for the city.”