FPPC to look at Webster's possible conflict

The Fair Political Practices Commission (FPPC) notified Anderson Councilman Keith Webster last week that it would begin investigating a complaint that he allegedly violated the California Political Reform Act.

The complaint, filed by Gene LaTour, states that Webster, 57, failed to excuse himself from a council discussion that could have had an effect on a corporation for which he was working, a Record Searchlight article stated.

LaTour also alleged that Webster's economic disclosure statements failed to mention his official standing with the company or reveal that he had received about $15,000 for his secretarial duties between August 2007 and January of this year, the Record Searchlight reported.

City council discussions in question occurred in August and September of 2008, and centered on efforts to clean up a mobile home park next to property owned by River Run Cove Land Development.

The letter notifying Webster of the FPPC's intent to investigate states, in part, ". . . we have not made any determination about the validity of the allegation(s). . . ."

"I don't think I've done anything wrong," Webster said. "I hope they talk to the city manager, the city attorney and Rex and Millie Moravec, who started action on the the mobile home park before I was involved" in River Run Cove Development.

Webster was referring to a Valley Post story published Aug. 27, 2008, that stated, "Rex and Mildred Moravec . . . had originally requested clean up of this same property in December 2006."

Webster delivered a copy of the FPPC's letter to the Valley Post on Friday, uncommonly depressed compared to his usually ebullient demeanor. The former Mayor received a Distinguished Service Award by the Anderson Chamber of Commerce in March.

"If they find something wrong, I'll face it then. I'm tired of seeing my name in bold on the front page. I feel like all my efforts have been for nothing," Webster said. "If I am cleared, will it be on the front page in full print?"

According to Roman Porter, executive director of the FPPC, the length of any investigation is highly variable depending upon the cooperation of those under investigation and the amount of interviews required.