Painful Verdict

When Republican Roger Hedgecock vaulted to the office of mayor of San Diego in a special election in May 1983, his future seemed all blue sky and candy. The former San Diego County supervisor had already earned a reputation as an innovative politician determined to help the community ward off urban sprawl, and as mayor he won approval for a new bay-front convention center and helped attract the 1988 Super Bowl to San Diego. So strong was the Hedgecock sentiment that last November voters awarded him a full four-year term as mayor, even though he had been indicted on conspiracy and perjury charges. His first trial ended in a hung jury last February. But last week a jury of eight women and four men pronounced the 39-year-old lawyer guilty of one count of conspiracy and twelve counts of perjury--convictions that, if upheld, would automatically expel him from office and bring him up to eight years in prison. Hedgecock resigned two days later.

The mayor admitted inexpressible "disappointment" and "anguish" at the verdict. The superior-court jury was sequestered almost seven days before reaching its verdict, largely because it found confronting the evidence a "painful experience," as Juror Karen Dyer put it. In the end, the panel concluded that Hedgecock had 1) conspired to allow some $360,000 in illicit funds to be channeled into his 1983 campaign, and 2) lied over and over to cover up the scheme. The prosecutor, Deputy District Attorney Charles Wickersham, said that what clinched the verdict was a check for $3,000 made out to Hedgecock by one of three co-defendants, as well as proof that a second co-defendant had given him $130,000 to remodel his home.

The telltale check was written by onetime Currency Trader J. David Dominelli, who is serving a 20-year federal term for fraud and income tax evasion. Dominelli's business partner and ex-girlfriend, Nancy Hoover, gave Hedgecock the money used on his house. Dominelli and Hoover are slated to be tried later, along with Political Consultant Tom Shepard, through whose firm hidden money passed to the Hedgecock campaign. Hedgecock's attorney, Oscar Goodman, said he will seek a new trial or, failing that, appeal the jury verdict. Hedgecock also faces legal action by California's Fair Political Practices Commission, which is trying to assess him $975,000 in fines for an unprecedented 400 campaign-law violations. Even after last week's verdict, Hedgecock was not without support. Said City Councilman Mike Gotch: "I think he's been an excellent mayor. I'm sorry that he has to go."