Los Gatos Weekly-Times

Steve Blanton

Blanton says new job won't create a conflict of interests

By Jeff Kearns

Los Gatos Town Council member Steve Blanton--who is running for a third term--has accepted a job as public affairs director for the PenWest Association of Realtors. Although some council watchers have raised eyebrows over what could be perceived as a conflict of interest, Blanton says if any projects he's involved with on his job come before the council, he can recuse himself like anyone else would.

Blanton did ask Town Attorney Orry Korb for his opionion on what matters would create a conflict-of-interest situation, and Korb responded with a three-page memo, which concluded, "You do not have an automatic conflict of interest regarding most matters before the Town Council merely because you are employed by a trade organization such as PenWest. However, like all public officials, you must take care to avoid participating in decisions that might directly involve or otherwise affect the interests of your employer."

In his new position, Blanton, who left his job as a speech and communication teacher at Evergreen and Foothill community colleges, will serve as a lobbyist and media liaison.

PenWest formed in 1995 when six real estate boards, including the Los Gatos-Saratoga Board of Realtors, banded together to create the organization. Currently it represents more than 3,000 real estate agents on professional issues in 15 Peninsula cities from Woodside to Los Gatos.

Blanton stresses that the association's membership is made up almost entirely of real estate agents, not developers.

But while there's no technical conflict of interest, the new job could pose tough questions for the councilmember.

The Los Gatos-Saratoga Board of Realtors endorsed Blanton for council in 1994, along with Attaway and Councilmember Joanne Benjamin. The board also contributed $500 each to Blanton and Attaway. Benjamin was also offered the contribution, but declined. The association did not endorse Blanton when he was first elected to the council in 1990.

While Blanton, as the key legislative staff person for PenWest, will participate in decision-making about candidate endorsements and contributions, he says he will not be a part of that process when it involves the Los Gatos council race.

In fact, he says he will seek the association's endorsement for the race. He also says he will not accept contributions from PenWest. And he may not need it: Blanton told the Los Gatos Weekly-Times that he'd already raised $10,000 by the end of last month.

Blanton is not the only elected official who holds a government-relations job that could conceivably create a conflict. Saratoga Mayor Don Wolfe, for instance, worked for the Building Industry Association while serving on that city's council and Planning Commission. And Gary Fazzino is a councilmember in Palo Alto and is employed in the Government Relations Department at Hewlett-Packard.

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