When asked about a potential conflict of interest, Elk Grove mayor didn’t even bother asking city attorney for a hall pass
As she made clear during a news conference addressing retail theft on Tuesday, January 23, Elk Grove Mayor Bobbie Singh-Allen represents a trade association of gasoline stations and convenience stores. Like all part-time city council members, their day jobs ocasionally create conflicts of interest that require recusal from deliberations.
A potential conflict of interest arose during the Wednesday, January 24, Elk Grove City Council meeting. During that meeting, the city council considered a liquor application for a new gasoline station.
During public comment on non-agenda items and the hearing, Michael Monasky noted the mayor’s role as a trade representative representing merchants selling gasoline, liquor, tobacco, and other items. Mr. Monasky’s comments and exchange with the mayor can be viewed in the video.
Although Singh-Allen stated the owner/applicant was not a member of the association she is employed by, had Monasky not inquired, consideration of a conflict of interest would not have surfaced, and Singh-Allen would not have voluntarily disclosed her relationship with the industry. Even after being confronted with the possibility of a conflict, so confident in her invulnerability to scrutiny, Singh-Allen didn’t even bother to ask city attorney Jonathan Hobbs for a hall pass on the hearing.
In the past, Elk Grove City Council members have voluntarily recused themselves from deliberations, even when not required. When the city council gave a multi-million dollar incentive to Pappas Investments in 2018 to build the Elk Grove Boulevard Costco, City Councilmember Darren Suen recused himself based on owning less than $10,000 in Costco stock.
Nonetheless, as matters such as climate action plans, especially as they relate to fossil fuels and other products purveyed by Singh-Allen’s trade association, come before the city council, it will be worth monitoring if the mayor voluntarily recuses herself because of conflicts of interest.
