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West Covina council adopts censure of Councilmember Brian Gutierrez after extended public exchange
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Summary
After two hours of testimony and a lengthy presentation by Councilmember Brian Gutierrez disputing an outside investigation, the West Covina City Council voted 3–1–1 on March 17 to adopt a resolution of censure, directing city management to protect staff and follow up on investigation findings.
Mayor Letty Lopez Viado and the West Covina City Council adopted a resolution of censure against Councilmember Brian Gutierrez on March 17, following a contentious public comment period and a two-hour presentation by Gutierrez challenging the findings of an independent investigation.
The resolution follows an investigation report prepared by Jameli Employment Law (dated Feb. 26, 2026) into allegations of unprofessional conduct and communications by Gutierrez that staff members said they reasonably perceived as intimidating or retaliatory. Outside counsel Thomas O’Connell summarized the report and explained the council’s options before opening the floor for Gutierrez’s response and council deliberation.
Gutierrez used his allotted time to dispute the report’s conclusions, saying key documents and email chains were omitted and that his requests for financial oversight and public records were matters of transparency, not intimidation. He alleged the Jameli report “purposely lacks editorial evidence” and presented documents and audio/video excerpts (as he characterized them) to support his account. “The worst disease in the world today is corruption, and there is a cure, and that’s transparency,” Gutierrez said in his presentation.
Councilmembers questioned and discussed the presentation and the underlying report. Councilmembers Tony Wu and Rosario Diaz joined Mayor Lopez Viado in voting to adopt the censure; Mayor Pro Tem Contos abstained. The vote tally recorded was: Yes — Tony Wu, Rosario Diaz, Mayor Letty Lopez Viado; No — Councilmember Brian Gutierrez; Abstain — Mayor Pro Tem Contos. The resolution records the investigation’s sustained findings about certain communications and directs the city manager to take appropriate steps to protect staff and implement corrective measures.
Several members of the public had earlier urged either censure or restraint, and many speakers raised concerns about litigation costs and city governance. The council noted that some allegations made during the meeting involve other pending matters and that the city has referred some issues to the district attorney’s office, which has subpoena power and investigative authority.
The council’s action is purely legislative and symbolic: the resolution does not remove Gutierrez from office or alter his legal authorities. The motion’s sponsor said the censure was intended to formally condemn conduct that the investigation found was harmful to staff, and to require the city manager to implement protective measures moving forward.
Councilmember Gutierrez said he will continue to press for additional oversight and for the public release or review of materials he says were omitted from the investigation. The council’s action concluded late on March 17; the city manager told the council staff would follow the resolution’s directions to protect employees and pursue appropriate next steps.
