A conflict of interest did creep into an effort to seek out qualifying companies to bid on the latest round of retail and dining contracts at Los Angeles International Airport, officials said Monday.
As a result, a process that narrowed the field to four qualifying concession companies will now be tossed aside, and the process restarted, the airport said.
The conflict stemmed from Kelly Martin, who served as the lead city lawyer at LAX until she was transferred to another department earlier this year. Her husband works for a law firm that represents the company, which is owned by real estate developer Rick Caruso. Airport and city officials said they have not yet examined whether additional conflicts could arise if Caruso ultimately wins an airport concession contract, and then decides to run for mayor of Los Angeles in 2013.
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