Dalager Pleads Guilty to Conflict-of-Interest Charge

Former Encinitas mayor Daniel Dalager pleaded guilty Wednesday to a misdemeanor conflict-of-interest charge for casting a vote involving property owned by a local businessman after receiving discounted appliances from the store owner.   

Dalager, 60, was immediately fined $1,000 and sentenced to three years probation by Vista Judge Marshall Hockett. As a result of the plea, Dalager cannot hold public office for four years, authorities said.   

The Feb. 17, 2010, conflict-of-interest violation was based on Dalager's vote on an appeal to void a city violation filed against Matthew Gordon's residential property.   

The appeal was heard by the Encinitas City Council while Dalager was mayor.   

An investigation revealed that Dalager had received appliances, such as a cooktop, oven and exhaust fan from Gordon—the owner of Aztec Appliances—in the months prior to the vote. Dalager subsequently gave Gordon $150, but the same appliances would retail new in excess of $2,000, authorities said.

Though Dalager accepted a call from Encinitas Patch early this afternoon, he declined to comment on the charge.

City News Service contributed to this report.