The Fair Political Practices Commission said Mayor Kasey Reynolds did not have a conflict of interest when she voted on downtown revitalization, closing an investigation that was opened after more than 80 complaints were filed.
Supporters of the Downtown Revitalization Project argued that Reynolds had a conflict of interest because of her co-ownership of Shubert’s Ice Cream and Candy, which is located on East 7th Street but several blocks off Main Street, which would have been re-designed had the project won City Council approval.
The City of Chico issued an Oct. 16 press release with Reynolds’ statement. “While this outcome affirms the position I maintained from the beginning —that I was legally entitled to vote — it cannot undo the personal toll this ordeal took on my family or the taxpayer dollars spent defending against these allegations,” the statement reads.
Her two votes against the project led to the complaints, with the largest increase occurring after a website was posted to facilitate them.