County Attorney David Brickey has decided to not to file any charges against Summit County Councilwoman Claudia McMullin after Park City resident Christian Hague lodged a complaint against her for allegedly getting financial favors because of her position.
“I don’t believe there is proof of any criminal activity by Ms. McMullin,” Brickey wrote in a letter to Lieutenant Jason Bradley of the Heber City Police Department, who conducted an investigation into the validity of Hague’s claims. The Heber City Police Department took over the investigation because of a potential conflict of interest between McMullin and the Summit County Sheriff’s Office, which is overseen by McMullin as a council member.
“It was completely expected,” McMullin said after she received the news. “I didn’t do a damn thing wrong. I thought I would be 1,000-percent exonerated.”
Hague could not be reached for comment.
McMullin has been the owner of Hugo Coffee inside the Park City Visitor Information Center at Kimball Junction since the beginning of the year, taking over the Silver Bean Coffee shop location after the latter decided not to renew its lease with the Park City Chamber/Bureau.
Hague brought up his charges at the Summit County Council’s meeting on Aug. 20 and filed a complaint on Aug. 25. He alleged that because of her position, McMullin was allowed to pay less than fair market value for the space and that other special privileges were extended to her.
In an email to County Council on Aug. 26, he accused them of “circulating the wagons to protect Claudia McMullin despite her questionable use of Summit County property for her Hugo Coffee shop without paying the county any rent.” He added: “What do you think of her duplicity? When will you protect the public trust by stopping McMullin? Is her comradery (sic) that important that you are willing to destroy the public trust? Think about it.”
In his investigation, Bradley found that there are no restrictions on a councilmember’s business relationship with a third party — the Chamber — which does business with the County.
Hague’s allegation that McMullin was receiving free or discounted rent in exchange for favorable influence on the Council decisions pertaining to the Chamber was shown to be unfounded, Brickey said. “During the course of the investigation no information has been discovered that any type of preferential treatment has been extended to [the Chamber] by Ms. McMullin. In fact, what was confirmed was that Ms. McMullin is paying the same monthly rent that prior tenant paid.”
Brickey wrote, “Once again, this claim of criminal misconduct is without merit as there is no evidence to indicate any improper conduct by Ms. McMullin.”
“I feel vindicated,” McMullin said. “I’m a small businesswoman trying to make a buck.”