NEW STANDARDS PROPOSED FOR O’SIDE CITY TREASURER

Oceanside needs to set minimum qualifications for its elected city treasurer, the City Council said Wednesday, after recent complaints about the current office holder Victor Roy.

“As everyone knows there has been some turmoil in our city treasurer’s office,” Councilmember Ryan Keim said at the meeting. “There have been some very concerning allegations made.”

Among the allegations is an internal city report recently made public that says Roy used a public computer to view “inappropriate material” including nude images at the Mission Branch Library. A city employee also has alleged that Roy harassed staff members and solicited at least one city worker for campaign contributions.

Roy said last month his attorney has advised him not to discuss the allegations. He was absent at both Wednesday’s council meeting and from the council’s previous meeting in June before the July break.

City Attorney John Mullen confirmed that an investigation of Roy is under way and said, “There will be a communication from my office at the conclusion of that process.”

Whatever the results of the investigation, the situation brings to light the need for better qualifications to run for treasurer, Keim said. Presently there are only three requirements: the candidate must be a resident of the city, registered to vote in the city and at least 18 years old.

The elected city treasurer is a part-time position that oversees a roughly $500 million portfolio, making sure investments are made according to the city’s policy. The city treasurer does not directly handle investments, which is done by a full-time treasury manager.

Roy has said he retired from a career in the aviation industry and that he’s certified by the California Municipal Treasurers Association. He claimed on his 2020 election website that earnings on the city’s investments have exceeded their benchmarks since he was first elected to a partial two-year term in 2018.

At least two council members said the person holding the position should have a deeper financial background.

“It’s tough to be a watchdog if you don’t know what your watching,” Keim said.

Councilmember Christopher Rodriguez agreed, saying he would like to set higher minimum qualifications and education requirements for city treasurer candidates.

Mayor Esther Sanchez advised caution, saying the discussion veered toward “character assassination” and that it was largely based on a single incident at the library that took place a year ago.

“We have a one-page memo that is very vague,” Sanchez said. “I was hoping this would be more generic, more objective ... especially while there is an investigation going on.”

Previous Oceanside city treasurers have done a good job with little or no financial background, she said. She compared the position to that of city council members, who often are elected with no financial background but routinely make decisions about multimillion-dollar projects.

The council voted 4-1, with Sanchez opposed, to have staffers return later this year with a proposal to establish minimum educational and professional experience standards for the position.

The City Council placed a measure on the ballot in 2020 that, if approved, would have allowed the city manager to appoint the city treasurer and city clerk. Applicants would be interviewed and vetted based on their qualifications and experience.

Oceanside voters defeated the measure by a 3to-1 margin.

Victor Roy