WAPATO, Wash. (AP) — A city official in Wapato has resigned following allegations that he used his former position as mayor to enrich himself.
Washington state Attorney General Bob Ferguson sued the official, Juan Orozco, in June for violating ethics and open meeting laws. Orozco agreed to resign Friday, to forfeit his severance pay, and to pay a $500 ethics fine to settle his part of the lawsuit.
Ferguson’s lawsuit was based on an investigation by the state auditor’s office, which found that as mayor, Orozco directed the city attorney to write legislation creating a new city administrator position with a generous salary of $95,000 and a guaranteed seven years of pay.
The city council adopted the ordinance in a meeting without proper notice last year. Orozco then immediately resigned; Councilmember Dora Alvarez-Roa was named as mayor; and without discussion, she appointed Orozco to the new city administrator job.
State Auditor Pat McCarthy described the case as an “appalling disregard for accountability in the city’s administration.”