By Mountain View

Town Crier Staff Report

Mountain View Mayor Mario Ambra could lose his political seat if found guilty of using his public position to allegedly influence city decisions from which he might have benefited financially.

A civil grand jury last week accused Ambra, 48, of public corruption. He pleaded not guilty Nov. 19 to four counts of corruption allegedly for attempting to force city employees to make land-use decisions in which he had an interest.

If convicted, Ambra will have to step down from office. He will not face a prison sentence.

City Attorney Michael Martello requested the investigation, which led to last week’s grand jury hearings.

He said over the past four years Ambra allegedly had bullied him and other city employees to use permit and code infractions to harass property owners near his family’s Rengstorff home into selling their land so he could purchase and develop them for a profit, according to grand jury transcripts in local media accounts.

Ambra allegedly tried to stop the development of a tow yard near his family’s property by pressuring city staff to deny the owner a use permit.

Ambra, a third-generation Mountain View resident, owns a construction paving company.

He was elected to his first city council term in 1996. He was re-elected in November 2000.

A trial date is scheduled for next month.