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S.D. Council Rejects Private Prosecutor Request for Sunroad

San Diego's District Attorney Bonnie Dumanis has done an about-face, and agreed to prosecute a former San Diego city employee who became a Sunroad executive. The city council refused the mayor's reque

San Diego's District Attorney Bonnie Dumanis has done an about-face, and agreed to prosecute a former San Diego city employee who became a Sunroad executive. The city council refused the mayor's request to hire a special prosecutor. KPBS reporter Alison St John explains.

Sunroad tried to build an office tower near Montgomery Field higher than FAA guidelines. Sanders came under fire for permitting it. It's is one of the most damaging debacles in the Mayor's tenure

Sanders asked the city council to approve a special prosecutor to try former city employee Tom Story for allegedly lobbying City Hall illegally on behalf of Sunroad.

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City Council President Scott Peters questioned Sanders' motives.

Peters: Why is the mayor interested in spending up to a quarter million dollars cause you know the building is smaller, the budget is tight -- what is the interest of the city in pursuing this?

Shifting the blame for Sunroad to Story could deflect criticism from Sanders.

But the council defeated the mayor's request.

City Attorney Mike Aguirre was removed from the case by a judge and D.A Bonnie Dumanis earlier declined to prosecute the case.

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Alison St John, KPBS News.