HomeMy WebLinkAbout8/14/2026 Item 5b, Rowley
Sandra Rowley <macsar99@yahoo.com>
Sent:Friday, August
To:Advisory Bodies
Subject:Personnel Board, Re: Leak of Confidential Information
Dear Members of the Personnel Board,
Request you reconsider the 3-person Board's July 27th recommendation that there is insufficient evidence for the City
Council to agendize/consider the Complaint and Request for Censure regarding Mayor Stewart's leak of confidential
information to a Cal Poly staff member. The confidential nature of the Grand Jury report she received was clearly stated
on the cover sheet, i.e., sharing the report before it was released to the public was forbidden, and a copy of the applicable
penal code section was included. Despite these warnings Mayor Stewart decided to share the report. It was a deliberate
act, not an unintentional "slip of the tongue."
During my career I was privy to confidential information. Disclosing said information had consequences far greater than
just being censured. Censure does not include the loss of one's job or the imposition of a fine. It is, instead, a public
affirmation that certain behavior is unauthorized and unacceptable.
If the Board does not recommended that this matter to go before the City Council, what message will be sent to future
mayors and council members?
a. That the oath of office has no meaning?
b. That communicating confidential information to unauthorized personnel has no consequences, i.e., is acceptable?
c. That serving on the City Council carries no duty to the City or to their constituents to maintain confidentiality when
required?
d. That a relationship with an outside agency, company or person can take precedence over ethical and unlawful
behavior?
Bottom line: This matter should be referred to the City Council. It is serious, and the evidence shows it was intentional
and subsequently covered-up until exposed by a public records request.
Thank you for your time and your reconsideration of this important matter.
Sincerely,
Sandra Rowley
SLO Resident
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