ALATORRE TO PAY ETHICS FINE, MOVE ON.Byline: Rick Orlov Daily News Staff Writer Los Angeles Los Angeles (lôs ăn`jələs, lŏs, ăn`jəlēz'), city (1990 pop. 3,485,398), seat of Los Angeles co., S Calif.; inc. 1850. Councilman Richard Alatorre Richard Alatorre is a politician, and a member of the Democratic Party. Alatorre has served as a member of the Los Angeles City Council. He was the first Latino to serve on the council in 23 years. announced Monday he will pay $6,000 in fines to end an inquiry by the city Ethics Commission In the United States, an Ethics Commission is a commission established by State law to discourage dishonest practices by their public employees and elected officials. Almost all American states have such a commission. into whether he misused mis·use n. Improper, unlawful, or incorrect use; misapplication. tr.v. mis·used, mis·us·ing, mis·us·es 1. To use incorrectly. 2. To mistreat or abuse. See Synonyms at abuse. Adj. his power to help a fund-raising fund-raising, large-scale soliciting of voluntary contributions, especially in the United States. Fund-raising is widely undertaken by charitable organizations, educational institutions, and political groups to acquire sufficient funds to support their activities. group founded by his wife. The councilman was accused of calling an official in the city Department of Social Services social services Noun, pl welfare services provided by local authorities or a state agency for people with particular social needs social services npl → servicios mpl sociales to ask for a license that would allow his wife's group, Eventfully Yours, to go forward with a fund-raiser on behalf of the El Sereno Youth Development Center. ``I did not and would not do anything illegal,'' Alatorre said during a City Hall news conference. ``I didn't twist any arms. But I want to get this behind me and move on.'' Alatorre also agreed to pay $2,000 to the state Fair Political Practices Commission for failing to file proper disclosure statements. The agreement goes to the Ethics Commission for consideration Thursday. The commission has a policy of not commenting on pending matters. In agreeing to pay the fines, Alatorre refused to acknowledge he acted improperly im·prop·er adj. 1. Not suited to circumstances or needs; unsuitable: improper shoes for a hike; improper medical treatment. 2. or admit he even made the call. He said he decided to drop the matter because of the expense, saying he has already spent $50,000 on attorney fees. ``I would love to be able to take this on, but my attorney said there is a time to end things and move on,'' Alatorre said. Alatorre's wife, Angie, founded Eventfully Yours but transferred ownership to a sister after her marriage to Alatorre. That sister died in a car crash, but Angie Alatorre remained a $36,000-a-year employee of the firm. This is the first time the Ethics Commission has taken action against Alatorre, but the councilman has found himself in trouble with political watchdog groups in the past. In 1986, he paid a $141,000 fine to the state Fair Political Practices Commission on charges he improperly used $85,000 for his first City Council race from a committee created while he was in the state Assembly. |
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