OCEANSIDE : Mamaux Files Claim Over His Dismissal

Former City Manager John Mamaux has filed a $1.3-million claim against the city and three council members, alleging that he was wrongfully fired in January after refusing to perform what he considered to be unethical acts.

Council members Melba Bishop, Nancy York and Don Rodee are also named in the five-page claim, filed with city officials Tuesday, which alleges that the three conspired to terminate the 59-year-old city employee.

Mamaux claims that he lost his $107,000-a-year job when he refused requests by the council members to promote three firefighters to management posts without regular competitive testing and to purchase properties that involved possible conflicts of interest.

The veteran civil servant, who has served as a Carlsbad councilman, city manager and school trustee, did not return telephone calls Wednesday. But his attorney, Paul Dean of Escondido, said the claim involves the loss of income and retirement benefits as well as punitive damages.

“They way we see it, John Mamaux was fired, among other things, for his refusal to go along with the promotion of three firefighters without some kind of testing and equal competition,” Dean said.

Bishop, York and Rodee did not return telephone calls Wednesday.