California’s government ethics watchdog found no wrongdoing in Chico Mayor Kasey Reynolds’ votes earlier this year on the city’s downtown revitalization project.
The Fair Political Practices Commission investigated conflict-of-interest allegations involving the mayor’s ownership of Shubert’s Ice Cream and Candy downtown.
In a letter dated Oct. 15, the commission said there was “insufficient evidence” that Reynolds violated the Political Reform Act. The Watergate-era law prohibits public officials from making governmental decisions that could affect their personal finances.
The commission also said while Reynolds has a financial interest in Shubert’s, the mayor “does not have an interest in the underlying real property” since the shop rents month to month.
Investigators closed the case “without further action,” according to the letter.
Reynolds took to Facebook Friday to celebrate the commission’s decision.
“While I wish that myself, my family, and my business didn’t have to go through what we went through this spring, it’s uplifting to know the right decision was made, and we can move forward,” Reynolds said.
The downtown revitalization project would have redesigned downtown’s streets to be more walkable and bikeable.
Supporters billed it as a way to boost downtown business and safety, but tie votes by the City Council in April sank the project.
The commission’s decision isn’t the mayor’s first win in the downtown project controversy.
A separate lawsuit brought by former Chico Mayor Ann Schwab challenging Reynolds’ votes was closed after Schwab’s attorney requested dismissal in July, according to online Butte County Superior Court records.
