As reported in my earlier post, there is a breaking news story tonight in San Diego concerning an unusual financial relationship between San Diego County Supervisor Bill Horn and his Chief of Staff Joan Wonsley. The essence is that Horn owns a big home Carlsbad, and that Wonsley lives in it with her children, and pays rent to her boss. But there is a serious of seemingly unusual irregularities with required paperwork surrounding such a relationship. I admit as I was watching the television story that I was caught a little off-guard when the reporter clearly implies that unnamed neighbors say that the Supervisor in fact stays at this home on occasion, which the Supervisor denies in the video.
Anyways, you can see the News 8 Video right here.
Or you can read a transcript of the broadcast that starts below, and then there is a link to the rest on the News 8 website.
News 8 Exclusive: County Supervisor Bill Horn in Financial Relationship with Chief of Staff
Last Updated:
03-22-06 at 7:03PM
There are questions tonight about a property deal involving the chairman of the county Board of Supervisors Bill Horn. Records obtained by News 8 show that Horn has received hundreds of thousands of dollars from his chief of staff Joan Wonsley.
Six bedrooms, five and a half baths, three garages and a swimming pool. County supervisor Bill Horn bought this home on Avenida La Cima in Carlsbad three years ago.
Today, it’s valued at more than $1.3 million.
Property records show Horn owns the house as a married man, as his sole and separate property. That’s because Horn’s wife of 39 years, Kathleen, signed away her ownership rights in the house when it was purchased in 2003.
Even so, supervisor Horn says he doesn’t live there.
Horn says Wonsley, 50, lives in the house under a private, rent-to-own agreement he signed with her.
Horn told News 8, “She’s got a lease purchase option on the property. She had sold her condo and wanted to move up.”
Wonsley, a divorced mother who declared bankruptcy in 1996, is 13 years younger than her boss.
She lives in Horn’s house with her 23-year-old daughter Brooke and two teenage sons.
Horn says Wonsley and her kids needed a place to live, so he provided it.
“I just happened to have something that was available that was in her price range, and she was willing to pay the price. And, she pays market rent I guarantee you,” Horn said in an interview with News 8.
Read the rest of the transcript here.