Following an investigation, San Diego’s District Attorney’s Office has declined to file criminal charges against former city white-collar union leader Judie Italiano, a D.A. spokesman said.
Italiano resigned as longtime general manager of the Municipal Employees Association in May after the union investigated her personal use of the union’s credit cards. The issue was the same as one that sparked a controversy, which Italiano survived, in 2006.
New MEA head Michael Zucchet said the union has been paid back its funds with interest and auditors and the District Attorney’s Office reviewed the union’s actions.
Zucchet, the subject of our Q&A this week, said Italiano’s separation from MEA was difficult.
“The breach of trust because of what had happened three years earlier was really palpable and hit our membership hard as a significant breach of trust,” Zucchet said. “To answer your question, her last few days here when that was discovered and investigated and disclosed to the members, it was like a body blow to them.”
— LIAM DILLON