School Board Member Accused Of Hiding Conflict Of Interest

SANTA MONICA, CA – The Los Angeles district attorney's office is investigating votes made by a Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District board member who approved contracts with companies that did business with her husband, a spokesperson told Los Angeles Times.

According to a Times report published last Friday, Board Member Maria Leon-Vasquez voted to benefit companies without disclosing that they'd been paid consulting clients to her husband, Santa Monica Councilman Tony Vazquez.

The votes may have violated the state’s conflict of interest laws, former Dist. Atty. Steve Cooley said.

A school district spokeswoman announced that district officials are conducting their own investigation into the findings made by Los Angeles Times. The spokeswoman said that the Board of Education recognizes “the importance of conflicts of interest.”

Read more at Los Angeles Times.

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