The city council, which represents the small city of Palmdale in northern Los Angeles County, often makes headlines, but this week’s council meeting changed a surprising event as the city’s former mayor lost its title in an investigation.
The dispute said on Tuesday night that when city attorney Alexandra Halfman asked then-Richard Roar to reject himself due to conflicts of interest, he said he was under investigation into a “secret allegation.”
“I’m not saying that it has something to do with you. It’s confidential. It’s just a conflict of interest,” Halfman told LOA when he questioned the proposal.
The city’s attorneys did not say what prompted the nature of the investigation or allegations.
Roa, who has been on the city council since 2018, served as the “ritual” mayoral title as Palmdale Council members voted to spin and fill the mayor’s seats each year.
After the closure session, the council voted unanimously to remove the LOA from all committee and city assignments as the unnamed investigation continues.
After his removal, the city said mayor Laura Bettencourt would tentatively envisage the mayor’s duties and responsibilities.
The Palmdale City Council consists of five councillors, including the LOA, serving four years of terms, handling city legislative issues and overseeing urban sectors and services, including public safety and economic development.
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