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Ventura's city attorney contract on hold until Wednesday
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More from Local NewsThe Ventura City Council decided Monday to talk once more behind closed doors before considering a hefty contract for its pick for city attorney, now that the man faces misdemeanor harassment charges following a dispute with a neighbor.
The council has heaped praise on Ariel P. Calonne of Boulder, Colo., since it chose the career lawyer to replace longtime city attorney Bob Boehm, who retired last month. Calonne would be paid $192,000 annually, plus perks, under an at-will contract that was expected to be approved Monday.
Instead, the council postponed a decision on the contract to a special Wednesday meeting so the group can discuss the matter in a closed-door meeting. Mayor Carl Morehouse, who has spoken to Calonne, never mentioned the charges Monday and offered the audience little explanation other than saying an "issue has come up."
Calonne, 48, was cited last month by police in Boulder, Colo., for misdemeanor harassment and criminal mischief after an early morning dispute with his neighbor.
The woman called police on Calonne after he let his dog walk on her property.
According to a police report, Calonne responded by threatening her with violence if she touched his dog.
The woman, Beverly Potter, told police she turned on her sprinklers to get Calonne's dog off of her lawn and said Calonne kicked the heads off two of the sprinklers.
Calonne denied striking the sprinkler heads when questioned by police.
Reached Monday at his Boulder office, the city attorney said the charges had "absolutely no merit" and he was confident he would be cleared.
Boulder's top attorney since 2003, Calonne said he was "incredibly embarrassed" by the incident and insisted he never threatened the neighbor, whom he described as having "severe personality problems" and who has argued with others on his block.
"My biggest mistake was responding to her," said Calonne, who has four sons and was a former assistant city attorney in Ventura. "I told her to leave me the expletive' alone."
Citing police records he obtained, Calonne said over the past three years, the woman has made 54 complaints to police — three about him and 51 about other neighbors — including one about the neighborhood ice cream truck playing its music too loud.
"This is the most horribly depressing thing I have had to go through in my life," Calonne said, describing himself at one point as a victim.
The charges were first reported in Boulder's newspaper, the Daily Camera. Potter could not be reached for comment.
Calonne's Ventura contract sets his start date on Aug. 13. As part of the city's review process, Calonne passed an extensive background check into his criminal and financial history. He has a Boulder court date on Aug. 15.
In an interview before the meeting, Morehouse said he had had a lengthy discussion with Calonne and Boulder Mayor Mark Ruzzin. Morehouse said he was confident in Calonne but wanted to talk to the other council members about what he was told.
Councilman Bill Fulton said in an interview that he planned to vote for Calonne. "As far as I am concerned, this is a private dispute between two neighbors about a dog."
Posted by cowchip on July 10, 2007 at 7:28 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Here is the original article from the Boulder Daily Camera (much more informative than the Star):
http://www.dailycamera.com/news/2007/...
Posted by Equitable_Enforcer on July 10, 2007 at 9:46 a.m. (Suggest removal)
The shark's neighbor may well be a kook, if the statistics provided by the shark regarding her complaints against him and other neighbors is correct.
However --- the comment regarding Boulder police would indicate that he does not belong in Ventura. If he is hired, we'd best get a recall campaign going quickly.
If he had filed a complaint against a neighbor and the police didn't go forward with it, he'd also blame the police. He is a lawyer, therefore he is always right and all knowing.
Lawyers, as we see daily, whether defense, prosecution or judicial, hold themselves blameless for any decision they make. They are in one of the few professions where they can still charge their clients even when they lose.
Posted by ed.fitzhenry on July 11, 2007 at 2:26 p.m. (Suggest removal)
"Councilman Bill Fulton said in an interview that he planned to vote for Calonne. "As far as I am concerned, this is a private dispute between two neighbors about a dog.""
Actually, it's between Calonne and the Courts. This is about threats of violence made toward a neighbor. Just what Ventura needs, another A-hole with a bad attitude. As if there were not already enough. I'm sure any transgressions by this guy can be overlooked if he says he's an "artist," or that he supports "art." After all, Ventura is populated with nothing but artists!
Just pay the guy's bail, Morehouse, and get him a bus ticket out to your beloved city so he can threaten his new neighbors!
Posted by ed.fitzhenry on July 11, 2007 at 2:29 p.m. (Suggest removal)
PS:
Lawyers stink!!!
Posted by ed.fitzhenry on July 16, 2007 at 7:10 a.m. (Suggest removal)
"ed.fitzhenry-
Speaking of another A-hole in Ventura with a bad attitude.."
What are you, his girlfriend? Comment on the news, not the comments, glammi.
Posted by juandeveras on July 19, 2007 at 2:14 a.m. (Suggest removal)
The Boulder paper reports that Mr. Calonne has addressed his senior neighbor as follows: " I will kick your ass if you touch my dog", "psychotic" ( 3 times in front of a police officer, who felt compelled to reprimand Mr. Calonne for the remarks ), and "are you off your meds". Even if he's correct, one does not address any elder citizen of any community in that manner. His other neighbor used profanity toward her, and admitted it to the police. I don't care who Calonne thinks he is, he is a disgrace and the Council who gave him 5 free trips to Boulder to try unresolved cases ( which he should have left to his successor ) should re-think their actions. He lobbied the ones who voted for him, but not the one member who remembered him from 14 years ago - Monahan - who voted against him. Interesting. Calonne's behavior is that of a jerk. There are too many good lawyers in this state for Ventura to be saddled with an overpaid egotist.
Posted by juandeveras on July 22, 2007 at 12:32 a.m. (Suggest removal)
We learn more at his "web presence" at Calonne.org
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