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Phoenix CEO's e-mail suggests offer to buy Gilbert councilwoman's vote

CEO resigns over 'accidental' note

by Parker Leavitt - Aug. 6, 2012 09:49 PM

The Republic | azcentral.com

The CEO of a Phoenix-based energy company says he has resigned from his post after "accidentally" offering a Gilbert councilwoman campaign help in exchange for her vote on the company's proposal to put solar panels on town streetlights.

Four days after the Town Council rejected a contract with Green Global by a 4-3 vote, CEO Mike Hoffman on Monday sent an e-mail asking Councilwoman Jenn Daniels to reconsider.

In exchange, Hoffman offered to "take out full page ads" on Daniels' behalf, put the company's logistics division in Gilbert and give her credit for the jobs created. The e-mail was sent to Daniels' official town account, which is subject to public-records laws and regularly reviewed by The Republic.

"What I want is to help you get elected by allowing you to lead," Hoffman wrote. "Would be a nice image -- Jenn Daniels is then GOOD on the Environment, A Job Creator, Fiscal Leader and a Tax Cutter. ... That's a real conservative."

Daniels did not respond to Hoffman's e-mail and immediately reported it to Town Attorney Susan Goodwin.

"No one can buy my vote, and I have turned this over to the town attorney," Daniels said.

Goodwin could not immediately be reached for comment.

Hoffman said he later recalled the e-mail and never meant to send it.

"It was keyboard therapy, so it wasn't really meant to be sent," Hoffman said. "I meant to put it away somewhere and it got sent, so I've recalled that and apologized to Jenn Daniels."

After being contacted by The Republic, Hoffman decided to resign his post due to the "terrible mistake."

"You've really hung me out to dry," he told The Republic.

Daniels is among three incumbents on the Town Council seeking re-election this year. Daniels, Vice Mayor John Sentz and challenger Jared Taylor are competing for two council seats, while Mayor John Lewis faces a challenge from former Mayor Steve Berman.

"You are the only Council person at risk in the next election, the other NO votes are not at immediate risk," Hoffman wrote in his e-mail to Daniels.

The proposed contract with Green Global was narrowly rejected last Thursday. Daniels and Councilmen Jordan Ray, Eddie Cook and Victor Petersen voted against the contract, while Lewis, Sentz and Councilman Ben Cooper voted for it.

"In Gilbert, we are open for business and welcome opportunities, but no member of this council can be bought or paid for," Ray said. "Each of us will make decisions based on what we believe is best for Gilbert."

In addition to his offer to Daniels, Hoffman's e-mail lamented his loss due to the rejection of his proposal and blasted the council for "political Kabuki."

Hoffman wrote that he invested $75,000 of his own money into the project and found the council's vote "devastating." Hoffman also described himself as a "hard-core conservative active in my local (Northwest) Valley Tea Party."

Green Global's proposal included installing "solar sleeves" and meters on 1,150 light poles in Gilbert, presumably driving down electricity use and pouring renewable energy into the grid. Officials estimated the partnership would have saved taxpayers about $230,000 over 15 years.

The company pitched its services to town officials for more than a year and was awarded a pilot program last summer.

The pilot program outfitted 10 light poles in Gilbert's Page Park with the Green Global technology, which allows municipalities to brighten or dim streetlights individually, turning on gradually around dusk and dimming in the morning.

While Green Global also has operated projects in Phoenix and Tempe, Hoffman has said he considered the Gilbert pilot its "flagship program."