CHICO — The California Fair Political Practices Commission, after investigating, has opted to dismiss a complaint filed against Chico City Councilor Addison Winslow.
“After review of the complaint and evidence provided, the Enforcement Division will not pursue an enforcement action in this matter. Under the Political Reform Act, a public official has a prohibited conflict of interest and may not make, participate in making or in any way use or attempt to use the official’s position to influence a governmental decision when the official knows or has reason to know the official has a disqualifying financial interest,” reads the dismissal letter issued by the commission on Thursday.
The complaint in question was filed by Chico resident and Winslow’s former political opponent Nichole Nava.
Nava accused Winslow in the complaint of being financially involved with the Butte Environmental Council, an organization that has pushed against the Valley’s Edge development project planned for the southeastern part of the city. Winslow has previously announced his opposition to the project but the commission ultimately determined he was not a paid employee of BEC.
Winslow noted in his response to the initial complaint that he had disclosed previous contract work in his Form 700s back in 2022.
“The complaint is wrong to assume both that my employment with BEC was ongoing during my tenure as a candidate and officeholder and that the work assigned to me was related to the Valley’s Edge project,” Winslow wrote in his response.
Winslow went on to explain that the complaint focused on a vote held in April 2023 after a referendum went forward to put the Valley’s Edge plan to a vote.
“The April 4, 2023 decision was regarding placement and scheduling of a vote on the Valley’s Edge project following a successful referendum of the City Council’s approval of the project on Jan. 3, 2023. Both of these decisions I participated in as a council member, voting with the majority April 4 and as the one vote of opposition Jan. 3,” Winslow said. “I was sworn in Dec. 6, 2022 after winning the 2022 District 4 election ending Nov. 8.”
Nava responded to the dismissal saying she was skeptical of the process.
“It was not unexpected, and I believe Addison Winslow lied so he could get elected, and now it’s too late,” Nava said. “You got what you voted for which is a dishonest human being. He should have recused himself.”
Winslow said he expected the complaint to ultimately be dismissed.
“I figured it would be,” Winslow said. “The whole thing was a foolish waste of everyone’s time.”
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