‘Sexy’ Steve’s saga continues
By Joe Piasecki 08/02/2007
It's been a crazy couple of weeks for Pasadena City Councilman Steve Haderlein.
Not only is he out nearly $2,200 after refunding the city for costs associated with a political mailer that he allegedly sent illegally at taxpayer expense, the veteran city official and La Salle High School teacher may still be part of a Fair Political Practices Commission probe over the matter — which oddly enough has propelled him to local sex-symbol status, according to the latest Internet blog about city politics.
Steve Haderlein's District of Sexy (www.sexystevehaderlein.blog-spot.com) launched July 20, the day after former Pasadena Mayor Bill Paparian said in the Weekly that the postcard Haderlein used city funds to mail to his constituents was in violation of state law and FPPC regulations.
According to city records, Haderlein submitted a personal check for $2,199.48 to Finance Director Steve Stark on July 23. It covered mailroom labor costs associated with the 7,852 postcards as well as a printing cost of $423 and a postage expenditure of $1,383.88.
FPPC spokesman Roman Porter was unable to say much about the situation other than that “staff is aware of the issue and they are looking into it.” Porter took time to explain in general that making restitution on a potential violation wouldn't necessarily stop an investigation from happening or make fines go away.
The fictional Haderlein doppelganger who operates the District of Sexy site, however, has a lot more to say; as does former Pasadena mayoral candidate Aaron Proctor, who has admitted to having what he calls “a man-crush” on the buttoned-down Republican and announced the existence of the “sexy” Haderlein blog on his Web site, www.proctorformayor.com.
“I think it was during the Senior Center Forum in the thick of Election 2007 that I discovered Steve's gorgeousness,” Proctor — who after taking 11.2 percent of the vote earlier this year in his race against Mayor Bill Bogaard has taken to calling himself “Pasadena's second choice for mayor” — wrote in an email Monday.
“He's such a quasi-dork, but he's got a cool voice and could totally be a ladies man if he so desired. He's also tall as hell. I was like, ‘Damn, if you made a politician with Steve's looks and my charisma, that would be one elect-able dude.' I bet all the girls are licking their lips on the way to civics class.”
Haderlein could not be reached for comment about the site and also did not attend Monday's Pasadena City Council meeting.
A District of Sexy blog entry Tuesday, however, attempted to explain this absence: “There was a huge sale on leopard print Speedos and summer is rapidly coming to a close,” it reads. Then, referring to that troublesome political mailer again, the entry goes on to say, “Ladies, have I got a postcard for you.”
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