Former Poway City Councilman Tony Blain, who was set to be removed from his seat by voters in November following allegations of vote trading and clashes with his colleagues, pleaded not guilty Monday to criminal charges that include perjury and soliciting bribes.
Blain, who once represented Poway’s 2nd Council District, resigned Nov. 5, one day after special election results indicated district voters overwhelmingly favored his recall.
The San Diego County district attorney’s office filed five criminal charges against him last October, including felony charges of perjury, asking for a bribe by a member of a legislative body, soliciting a bribe and destruction or removal of public records, plus a misdemeanor charge of petty theft pertaining to the removal of a campaign sign.
Additional details on the criminal allegations were not discussed during a brief arraignment held Monday afternoon in the Central Courthouse in San Diego.
Blain, 59, whose legal name is Arthur Anthony Blain IV, will be allowed to remain out of custody on his own recognizance, provided he makes all his court appearances and does not violate any laws. He’s due back in court in late March.
Proponents of Blain’s recall said he engaged in bribery attempts and vote trading, and also used his position on the council to silence his critics.
Last February, the City Council voted 4-0 to censure Blain, the first such act in the city’s 45-year history. He was censured a second time in July.
The city also filed a lawsuit against Blain, alleging he had destroying public records and failed to comply with the California Public Records Act.
The lawsuit alleged Blain conducted city business on private email accounts, through text messages, and on the encrypted Signal app, then deleted some of those messages.
Blain previously described the recall effort as “political backlash … designed to block me from fully participating in council meetings and to punish me for asking the tough questions taxpayers deserve to have answered.”