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COCONINO COUNTY

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OFFICE OF THE COUNTY-ATTORNEY

We sarua the public by advoafing far juscce-

Atrgust 1 1, 2000
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Mr. Michael Goimarac Sedona City Attrcmey 102 Roadrunner Sedona, AZ

Dr. E6336 OPINION

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RE:

CONFUCT OF INTEREST

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Dear Mr. Goimanc

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This lettar responds to your request that this office investigate and render an opinion whether Arircna's Conflid of lnterest Laws, A.RS. S 3&501, et. seq., were violated by the Director of the City sf Sedona's Community Development Departrrent John O'Brien, either in his capacfu as directoa or previously as a staff mernberwt$r the deparfnent. The investigation involved a thorough revieur of relevarilfiles maintaineC by tfie Sedona Comrnunity Developrnent Departnent (SCDD) and the Sedona City Attrcmet's Office and matedals published bythe John D. Miller Real Estaie lnvestment Company, !nc.; lengthy interviews ol Mr. John O'Brien, his wife, Claire O'Brien and furmer Assistant Cfu Attomey, John Paladini; information provided by John D. Miller and your of{ica, brief follow up intervio,vs with you and John D. Miller, and an analysis of the Conflict of lnterest statute and of the opinions of the Arizona appeltate coufts and of the tuizona Attomey General interpreting that statule. With this letter we offer the opinion that in sevaral instances the Conffict of lnterest laws were violated, but there is insufficient evidence to support tre condus:on thatfie vblations were of a crirninal nature. The leter begins with a discussion of the Conflict of lnterest law, then lums to the matetial facts generated during the investigation, anci concludes with an explanatir:n of our opinion.

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