ASUO Vice President Eddy Morales had no role in the ASUO Executive recommendation for ASUO Legal Services’ budget, several ASUO officials said. The recommendation could have presented a conflict of interest for Morales because Legal Services Director Ilona Koleszar is representing Morales in court.
Morales is charged with assault and criminal mischief in connection with a Sept. 12 incident.
ASUO spokeswoman Taraneh Foster said Morales had no role whatsoever in the recommendation.
“Eddy hasn’t even looked at the Legal Services budget because he wanted to make sure that there wasn’t a conflict of interest,” Foster said. “There’s nothing shady going on.”
Although Morales is said to have removed himself from the Legal Services budget process, ASUO Student Senate Ombudsman Mike Sherman said a vice president typically has some role in budget recommendations.
“They work closely with the financial coordinator and the controllers to develop those recommendations,” he said. “If the controllers have any issues or concerns, the vice president or financial coordinator can help them out a lot.”
ASUO Controller Sunil Karia said he created Legal Services’ budget recommendation alone, with no help from Morales and only a little help from fellow controller Sara Henderson.
The ASUO Programs Finance Committee approved Legal Services’ 2004-05 budget at a Jan. 13 meeting, allocating $190,295. The budget is an 8.3 percent increase from 2003-04.
“I never felt any pressure from Eddy or any of them,” said PFC member Colin Andries, who acted as a liaison between PFC and Legal Services.
The increased budget will be used to pay for cost-of-living raises for Legal Services employees and to provide health insurance for Legal Services Assistant Director Linda Miller, Karia said.
Andries said many University employees in positions similar to Miller’s receive benefits. The insurance accounts for $3,780 of the increase, Karia said.
Morales, who will be in court Feb. 24, could not be reached for comment.