A candidate seeking to replace termed-out City Councilman Tom LaBonge said Wednesday he will refuse campaign donations from developers and return $4,300 in contributions he already received, a move his opponent called a “political stunt.”
David Ryu, a health center director, said he wants to “avoid even the appearance of conflict of interest,” and pledged to refuse campaign contributions from any developers, whether they have business before the city or not.
He said he will also refuse developer money during any potential City Council terms.
“People want to know that projects will be judged solely on their merits and their impact on the community — not by which developer has the deepest pockets,” Ryu said.
Ryu is squaring off against long-time LaBonge chief of staff Carolyn Ramsay in a May 19 runoff for the 4th District City Council seat.
Doug Herman, strategist for Ramsay, called Ryu’s announcement a “political stunt” that is “complete hypocrisy from a politician very cozy with developers.”
“Last year he made a $387,000 profit selling his property to a developer,” Herman said. “Will he be giving back that money too?”
Ryu’s spokeswoman Rachel Estrada countered that Ramsay has taken campaign contributions from Frost Chaddock, the same developer that bought Ryu’s property at 521 N. Wilton Place.
Ramsay’s campaign filing records show that in December 2013, Chaddock contributed $700 and “William Y.,” who appears to be a manager at the company, gave $100.
Estrada defended Ryu’s sale of the house, saying two years ago his “family’s situation changed and he made the decision to downsize to a condo.”
She added that after six months in which the house “languished on the market,” Ryu “and his neighbors were approached to sell their homes at a fair price.”
She said “as far as we know, there is no specific plan for the use of the land.”
Ryu’s campaign later decided to locate its offices at his former home and are “currently paying fair market value rent,” she said.
“Beyond the sale, David has no relationship whatsoever with this company,” she said.
Estrada added that Ramsay “is clearly uncomfortable with the fact that David has taken a principled stand against developer influence.”
“Rather than step up and join David in his transparency pledge, she has chosen to try and divert attention with this nonsensical charge,” she said.
Herman, Ramsay’s strategist, hit back saying, “Carolyn is not hiding behind political gimmicks because she will hold every developer accountable.”
“Developers are already in David Ryu’s pocket, having put nearly $400,000 into his bank account,” he said.
Ryu is returning six donations of $3,250 to people associated with Jamison Properties and Jamison Services, and the remaining $1,050 in funds are being refunded to people from United Realty & Investment Company, Clifford Beers — which owns affordable housing — and Stelee Industries, according Estrada.
Three checks are still being processed, but the rest have already been returned, Estrada said.
Estrada said Ryu’s definition of a developer comes from the Bureau of Engineering Land Development Manual and is “a person whose primary business involves purchasing land for a project that requires the issuance of a permit for construction or reconstruction in the city of L.A., including commercial, industrial, or residential projects requiring one or multiple city approvals.”
— City News Service