Mayor Paid Him $2,000 for Vote, Woolard Alleges

A former Moorpark city councilman says he accepted a $2,000 bribe last year to cast the tie-breaking vote to approve a 254-acre housing development and road study.

The former official, Danny Woolard, told reporters at a City Council meeting Wednesday night that Mayor Thomas C. (Bud) Ferguson arranged for him to receive $2,000 in cash one week before the council voted on a plan by Griffin Homes of Calabasas to build 484 houses.

Woolard resigned from City Council last month after admitting that he embezzled $5,500 from the Moorpark Post Office, where he worked as a clerk, to buy cocaine.

In an interview Thursday, Woolard alleged that Ferguson sought his vote on the project to forestall suspicions of misconduct on the mayor’s part. Ferguson favored the project, but wanted to vote against it because it would benefit him and a friend, Woolard quoted the mayor as saying.

“The money was given to me to vote the proper way on the Griffin project,” Woolard said.

Woolard said he has described the incident to the Ventura County district attorney’s office. Ventura County Dist. Atty. Michael D. Bradbury said last month that his office is investigating allegations of misconduct by Moorpark city officials.

‘Reasonably Explained’

Ferguson would not comment on the allegation, the lastest in a series made by Woolard since his resignation. The mayor’s attorney, Dennis Orrock, said, “Mr. Ferguson denies any such action took place. We have talked with the district attorney. We have turned over all our information, and we believe that all the allegations have been reasonably explained.”

Elaine Freeman, vice president of land development for Griffin Homes, said her firm contacted the Ventura County district attorney’s office in November, 1985, because “we felt there was an inappropriate handling of the matter and we were concerned about what was going on.”

Freeman said “the matter” was the company’s project, but she would not say specifically what prompted the company to contact authorities.

Access Road

Woolard said he had been instructed by Ferguson to push the council to require the Griffin company to contribute at least $780,000 to the city for study of a four-lane, 1.7-mile road. The road would provide access to more than 500 acres of property owned by Robert F. Butler, Ferguson’s longtime friend, former employer and owner of the house in which Ferguson lives.

The Butler property is now accessible only by a dirt road.

Woolard alleged that Ferguson has a hidden financial interest in the property. County records show Butler and his wife as sole owners.

Ferguson voted against both the housing project and the road study requirement, and he has denied having any financial interest in the property.

Butler could not be reached for comment.

Woolard said he and Ferguson agreed to delay approval of the housing project until the developer agreed to pay part of the expense of the road, estimated by the city at $7 million to $9 million.

City officials say they hope to get other developers to contribute to the road project as well. There is no timetable yet for its construction.

Vote Deadlock in 1985

The Griffin Homes housing project, near Moorpark College in the northeast section of the city, had been stalled on a 2-2 City Council vote in December, 1985. Woolard and Ferguson then voted against the planning and zoning changes necessary for the project, city records show. A fifth member of the council, former Councilwoman Leta Yancy-Sutton, abstained because she had arranged the sale of the property.

At the Feb. 3, 1986, council meeting, Woolard moved to require the road-study money as a condition of approval.

Paul Griffin, president of Griffin Homes, told the council at the time, “We don’t understand why you are laying the alternate route on this subdivision approval.” The proposed road, an extension of New Los Angeles Avenue east from the Moorpark Freeway to the Simi Valley Freeway, passes within about a mile of the Griffin project.

The project was approved after the road contribution was included after Woolard switched his vote.

The week earlier, Woolard said Thursday, he had asked Ferguson for $2,000. Woolard said he received the money in cash from a friend of Ferguson’s while at the man’s home.

After City Council voted its final approval of the project on Feb. 18, 1986, Woolard said, Ferguson told him that, because of his favorable vote, he did not have to repay a $7,000 loan.

Ferguson’s attorney denied that the mayor agreed to forgive any loans to Woolard.

Allegations Followed Plea

Woolard began making charges of corruption in Moorpark after pleading guilty in federal court last month to embezzlement from the Moorpark Post Office. He faces up to 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine at his sentencing Feb. 23.

Woolard first alleged that Ferguson had used him to funnel contributions to state Assemblyman Tom McClintock (R-Thousand Oaks) to get around campaign spending limits.

Woolard said Ferguson helped him get as much as $30,000 in loans over the last 18 months for participating in the vote-influencing scheme. Ferguson has acknowledged arranging as much as $10,000 in loans to Woolard, but said he only was trying to help his colleague pay gambling debts and was not attempting to influence Woolard’s vote.