Rating:

0.0 (0 votes)

Nogales Mayor Octavio Garcia-Von Borstel is under review with the State Attorney General's office. Members of his own city council ordered it in January after an audit was completed.

Reports say it showed within the past 15 months almost $20,000 dollars charged on his city issued credit card. Thursday night, Von Borstel spoke exclusively with News 4, defending the accusations.

"I'm not going to be a mayor that sits behind a desk," Von Borstel said.

He says he has been an active mayor and defends every charge on his city credit card as a means of promoting Nogales and strengthening outside relationships.

"There was an outcome and there was a positive result out of those travels," he said.

Reports reveal expenditures from Mexico, San Diego, Chicago, Scottsdale and more, including a hotel charge for a pornographic movie at the Mondrian in Scottsdale. Von Borstel says that has since been fixed.

"I did not order any movie as a matter of fact. When I did realize that expenditure had been applied to my invoice, I denied to sign the invoice," he said.

All the trips, he says, brought historic opportunities and accomplishments to the city, like a $280 million dollar grant to expand the Mariposa port of entry. He says that took several trips to Washington and Mexico to secure. But at January's council meeting, some members including Vice Mayor Arturo Garino disagreed.

"Whatever you do with the people's money is because you are bringing two fold back to this community and I don't see anything that was brought back with this," Garino said.

"Some people questioned the car. Some people questioned other expenses. The whole thing started basically that the city manager...in over a year, I kept asking for this information...and he never gave it to me.

Councilman Nubar Hanessian says he hassled City Manager Jaime Fontes repeatedly for the expense receipts. Fontes responded to News 4 about accusations that he helped cover up Von Borstel's spending.

"As a manager, you try and provide what is requested and you deal as respectfully and cooperatively as you can with members of the body politic that you work for," Fontes said.

"We could have been discussing this a year ago and it would not have been so many, so many things to question," Hanessian said Thursday.

"My office has been very transparent, has complied with all the rules and regulations and has provided information," Von Borstel stated.

News 4 has obtained documents filed by the mayor before any questions over his spending were brought up. In it, Von Borstel submitted a request to the Arizona Attorney General's office for a review of Vice Mayor Arturo Garino. Now, the Mayor believes his investigation is retaliatory tactics by Garino. Garino could not be reached for comment.

The Arizona Attorney General's office says they are reviewing Von Borstel's spending.