West Hollywood : 2 Cleared of Charges

City Councilman Sal Guarriello and his campaign manager have been cleared of charges that they violated state election laws.

Guarriello and Dennis Orfirer, vice president of the city employees’ chapter of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees Local 3339, had been under investigation by the state’s Fair Political Practices Commission for allegedly making false statements in campaign disclosure reports. The complaint had been filed by Mayor John Heilman shortly after the City Council elections last April.

Heilman and Guarriello were two candidates among a field of nine vying for three open seats on the council.

Heilman charged that independent campaign efforts by the union’s political action committee were made at the behest Guarriello. If that were so, Guarriello would have been required to report the money, which he did not do.

The political action committee spent $3,075 on behalf of Guarriello, and two other candidates, Babette Lang and Steve Martin. State law requires candidates to file papers for contributions of more than $1,000.