An Escondido City Council member revealed a potential conflict of interest a week after voting to fund a festival put on by a group that contributed to her campaign.
The revelation could have potentially derailed the Indigenous Culture and Art Festival scheduled for April 19 in Grape Day Park, but council on Wednesday agreed they did not have to reconsider the previous vote.
On April 2, the council voted 4-1, with Councilmember Consuelo Martinez abstaining, to provide $61,950 for the festival. The San Pasqual Band of Kumeyaay Indians is organizing the event and has provided $10,000 for the festival.
Councilmember Judy Fitzgerald requested the council reconsider the vote because she had received a $2,500 campaign contribution from the San Pasqual Band of Kumeyaay Indians last October.
On Wednesday, Fitzgerald said she had returned the money, which was not required, and acknowledged that her newness to the council played a role in the issue.
“I became aware of the conflict of interest that expands or extends into the area of funding special community and events,” she said at the meeting, adding that she was not completely familiar with the rules.
“As I’m still learning the policies, I take full responsibility of that,” she said. “And because I really value and want to make sure that we maintain the integrity of the council in how we make decisions and vote for decisions, I requested that this be reconsidered, absent my vote.”
Fitzgerald left the room to recuse herself as the council held a brief discussion.
Mayor Dane White made a motion to not reconsider the previous vote to fund the festival and noted that the contract already had been executed.
Martinez cast the only vote against the motion and had abstained from last week’s vote after saying she ed it, but was uncomfortable with the amount and the late request for the funds.
