Hawaii Vacations : Anaheim Is a Reluctant Prize Winner

Most winners of a free Hawaiian holiday might be on the plane before they’ve had time to think twice, but one unexpected winner of four trips grappled Tuesday with the dilemma of whether to accept the prizes at all.

The winner was the City of Anaheim, and the Maui vacations--chartered air fare, hotel rooms, meals and drinks included--were a prize for being a good customer of an electrical supply company.

After debating whether taking the prizes from Amfac Electrical Supply Co. might “tarnish the image of the city in any way,” the Anaheim City Council on Tuesday voted 3 to 2 to accept them.

About 215 city employees who have contributed suggestions to the city since April 1, 1984, will take part in a drawing for the four-day, three-night Memorial Day weekend packages, the council decided Tuesday. To avoid any conflicts, the council agreed to exempt members from the Purchasing Department, which was involved with the purchases from Amfac.

When Anaheim was informed that it was one of the winners of an Amfac contest open to all its customers, city officials didn’t know what to do with the prize.

“Frankly, this is the first time in 30 years in government (that) I’ve had anyone say: ‘Here are four free tickets,’ ” City Manager William O. Talley said.

Councilman E. Llewellyn Overholt Jr.--who along with Councilman Ben Bay voted against accepting the contest prizes--said he has “a gut feeling and I can’t describe it (that) this type of promotion may not be in the best interest of the City of Anaheim.”

“Don’t label me as a Scrooge,” Overholt told his colleagues.

Bay said he had “a problem with the basic principle involved” in accepting a gift from a vendor--”although I admire attempts to rationalize it.” Bay suggested that the council offer the trips to a “worthy cause,” which in turn could auction them off, but the council turned down that option.

City Atty. Jack White said he saw no problem regarding liability with the city’s involvement in the contest, which began Oct. 1 and ends this month. Talley told the council members that they would be given advance notice if a similar program is offered again by one of the city’s vendors.

In this case, the city’s purchasing agent, Diane Hughart, said she did not know of the contest until last November, when she received a “congratulations-you-have-won” phone call. After months of discussion, city officials recommended that the trips be offered in a drawing for the employees who participated in the Employee Involvement Program, which rewards city employees--sometimes with cash prizes--for suggesting money-saving ideas.

Drawing for Prizes

Concerned that unconditionally accepting the gift might “tarnish the image of the city,” Mayor Don Roth asked that Hughart and her department be excluded from the drawing--which will be held March 19, Anaheim public information officer Sheri Erlewine said.

Amfac regional Vice President James E. Gowey said the city won the first trip with the purchase of $15,000 worth of electrical products. The city won the three other trips for three additional purchases of about $5,000 each. Amfac, a division of Amfac Distribution Corp., will give the vacations to the Anaheim employees and 356 other customers, Gowey said. The city did about $100,000 worth of business with the company last year, he said.

Councilwoman Miriam Kaywood called the Hawaiian trips “a nice extra” for the employees who have contributed suggestions to Anaheim.