Battle Ground City Council member Paul Zandamela has been identified as the subject of two allegations of ethics violations.
Zandamela will have a chance to present his side of the case, as will a representative of the council, at a public hearing scheduled for Dec. 20. The complaint was filed with Mayor Mike Ciraulo two weeks ago.
Zandamela is accused of violating two sections of the city’s ethics ordinance, which was unanimously adopted by the council Aug. 16. The first allegation is Zandamela provided false information to the city council, leading the members to make decisions based on non-factual information, Ciraulo said. The second allegation is Zandamela tried to influence administrative decisions, which are to be made by the city manager, Ciraulo said.
The specifics of the allegations and which council member filed the complaint will not be made public until the hearing next month, Ciraulo said.
Zandamela said he was left scratching his head about the accusations, saying he doesn’t believe he did anything wrong and views the accusations as an attack.
“I’m not surprised,” he said. “I think Mike Ciraulo and some members of the council have been after me for a very long time. I’m not surprised that they found a way to come after me.”
The ethics committee, which includes Ciraulo and Councilmen Chris Regan and Bill Ganley, reviewed the allegations against Zandamela and determined the claims have merit. The entire council then reviewed the allegations during executive session Monday night. The council determined the claims constituted “major violations” and scheduled the public hearing.
Earlier this month, Ciraulo also received an ethics complaint filed against another council member. That complaint was not reviewed during the executive session Monday night, Ciraulo said.
Ciraulo recused himself from the second investigation to avoid a potential conflict of interest. Deputy Mayor Phil Haberthur led the investigation but is now on vacation. Either the committee found no merit in the claim or Haberthur will present the findings to the council when he returns, Ciraulo said.
If the council deems an ethics violation as “minor,” it would issue an official censure. Violations classified as “major” provide the council with a variety of possible penalties it can impose following a public hearing. Those penalties include admonition, a resolution of reprimand, a resolution of censure and removal from council-appointed positions on committees, boards or commissions. The council does not have the authority to remove a member from his or her position on the council.
Zandamela said he’s happy the allegations against him will be vetted during a public meeting. He said he believes the accusations transcend politics but said he will continue to stand by his principles.
“I’m not there to be loved or liked by other city council members,” he said. “I’m there to do a job I was elected to do.”
