MORGAN HILL
– A
”
big joke,
”
a
”
waste of taxpayer money,
”
”
stupid
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and
”
small-town
”
politics are how residents characterized a recent scandal
involving two high-ranking city employees, a city councilwoman and
a local attorney.
MORGAN HILL – A “big joke,” a “waste of taxpayer money,” “stupid” and “small-town” politics are how residents characterized a recent scandal involving two high-ranking city employees, a city councilwoman and a local attorney.
In an informal poll conducted Wednesday and Thursday at various locations in Morgan Hill, area residents unanimously expressed bafflement over the flap at City Hall that has drawn wide-spread interest from news media throughout the Bay Area.
Local attorney Bruce Tichinin was condemned by the City Council last week for his role in the scandal. He hired a private investigator to follow City Manager Ed Tewes, who Tichinin believed was having an affair with City Attorney Helene Leichter. Tichinin wanted proof of the alleged affair – that both city officials deny – as proof that Leichter was not acting independently related to a project in which Tichinin has a financial interest.
He was also called to resign from a committee, on which he sat, but so far has refused the request.
Of more than 35 people approached, less than a third were willing to offer an opinion.
Those who responded either live in Morgan Hill or live in Gilroy and work in Morgan Hill.
Everyone who responded questioned why it was anyone’s business to investigate what people may or may not do in their private lives.
“They should just stay out of family business,” said Misty Chambless, who works at Second Street Coffee Exchange.
Gilroy resident Jennifer Brenan, a hair stylist at Ciao Bella Salon, said there are many more issues to be addressed.
“So long as it doesn’t affect decisions made, they shouldn’t make it such a big deal,” she said.
Morgan Hill barber Carlos Altamirano called the controversy and the surrounding publicity “A big joke.”
So far, the city has spent $50,000 on its own investigation into the matter, an amount that troubles some residents.
“There shouldn’t be a need for it,” Altamirano said. “The money should be spent on something else. It’s a waste of tax payers money.”
Morgan Hill’s scandal has received news coverage across the Bay Area, leading to a potential image problem for the city.
“This is utterly stupid,” said Blais Carr, a Gilroy resident who retired from General Motors personnel department and now works part time in Morgan Hill. “This can do nothing but tarnish Morgan Hill’s image. It cannot do any good.”
While some think Morgan Hill’s image is hurt, others don’t think it will have lasting affects.
“This is small time stuff,” said firefighter Jay Walter. “This is just small-town politics.”
“People are just going to see this as bad politics,” said business owner Dave DeValk. “They are going to care about it for a week then move on to something else.”
“I would be embarrassed if I lived in Morgan Hill,” Carr said.
By focusing on the investigation, people wonder if council business will take a back seat. They mentioned there were things like the a new library that should take higher priority.
“They are just wasting time now,” Carr said. “All this does is defocus the city government.”
Most people approached either declined to comment or were unfamiliar with the situation that has dominated council discussion for two weeks.
Interviews were conducted in downtown Morgan Hill and the Safeway, Nob Hill and Target shopping centers over the two-day period.
