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LA City Controller Denies Campaigning For Mayor On City's Dime

LOS ANGELES (CBSLA.com) — Los Angeles City Controller Wendy Greuel Tuesday denied allegations made by a local newspaper that she has been campaigning for the 2013 mayoral race on the taxpayer's dollar for the past three years.

The Los Cerritos Community News published the accusations Monday with information from an "inside source."

"They actually called us and told us that Wendy was spending an inordinate amount of time on her mayoral campaign. Instead of civic duties (as controller)," said publisher, Brian Hews.

Employees at the paper said they poured over 640 pages of Greuel's "official city appointment calendar" and found that, in their opinion, she violated the Los Angeles Governmental Ethics Commission Ordinance No. 172891, Section 49.5.5 (B), which states:

"No City official or employee of an agency shall engage in campaign related activities, such as fundraising, the development of electronic or written materials, or research for a campaign or an elective office or ballot measure during the hours for which he or she is receiving pay to engage in City business; or using city facilities, equipment, supplies of other city resources."

Greuel told CBS2's Dave Lopez that it's "campaign silly season."

She said she doesn't use staff members for campaign purposes or attend events with them that would enhance her chances of being the mayor.

Well, unless they volunteer to help her after work.

"That's what they do in their after-hours to help me. Not being paid. That's in their personal time," Greuel said.

Mayoral candidate Kevin James, who admitted to helping Hews break the story, sarcastically said it's "amazing" how many volunteers Greuel has.

"Yesterday, at 3 p.m., the Chief Deputy Controller appeared on behalf of the campaign in a campaign staff meeting that I was in," he said.

James continued, "You've got the controller's office doing the campaign work, the campaign office doing the controller work. Who's doing the people's work?"

It's unknown if the City Attorney's Office will investigate the allegations.

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