Groundbreaking for Burien's long-awaited Town Square earlier this month heralded the advent of construction on a project city leaders hope will energize local business activity.

Yet even before work begins, discord along Southwest 152nd Street, which runs past the Town Square site, threatens to fracture the downtown business community.

The focus of this unrest is Debra George, executive director of the Discover Burien Association, organized in 2002 to promote both the city and its businesses.

But some downtown restaurant owners say that since last spring, George has been engaged in a conflict of interest through an involvement with The Mark restaurant that has her competing with them.

They contend that their business and occupancy taxes, sales taxes and business license fees subsidize George as she competes with their restaurants because the city pays Discover Burien over $80,000 a year to provide promotional and other services.

George denied last week that she has a conflict of interest by working at The Mark, maintaining that she is careful to separate her activities there from her official duties with Discover Burien.

Burien City Councilman Gordon Shaw said, however, "My feeling is she can work one place or the other, but not both. Others say she can't work at Discover Burien any more....

"I will work very hard to end the (city) funding (for Discover Burien) unless the conflict of interest issue is resolved."

City Councilwoman Rose Clark was not as adamant.

"I think we should work things out with Discover Burien," Clark said. "There might be a little problem but it is our challenge to solve the problem and not destroy the organization....

"Think of all the festivals Debra has brought, and all of those festivals have brought people and some of that spills over and helps Burien business."

Even before The Mark opened its doors in Olde Burien in April, George was actively involved with the business.

Because Chris Mark, a principal of The Mark, is "my close personal friend, I have chosen to spend my free time helping out at the restaurant when I can," George said.

"Not only am I involved in Chris's business, I have been involved in many other businesses in Burien.

"I feel this is not a conflict because my job at Discover Burien is more as a resource for business and information. My job is not marketing individual businesses or running individual businesses."

George said despite the fact some people think she is general manager of The Mark, "I really don't have a title.... Chris and I work together to run that restaurant in any way we can ... When I'm there I do whatever I can to assist...."

She also denied having a financial interest in The Mark.

Some downtown business owners say George has the right to work wherever she wants after hours, and praise her work with Discover Burien.

"Debra George is the best thing that's happened to Burien," Jim Hughes, owner of Sal's Deli, said when complaints about her involvement with The Mark surfaced.

Others strongly disagree.

Michele Smith, proprietor of Vino Bello Wine Shop, said, "I found out two weeks ago that one of my main wine distributors was chosen by Debra George to supply The Mark's entire glass pour list, making her the decision maker for The Mark and in direct competition with my business.

"Her interest is to sell wine at The Mark and not to promote my wine business."

Lindsay White, who with her husband, Carlo, owns Primo, an Italian restaurant, said, "Small businesses need the support of a community organization that represents all businesses equally ... Discover Burien is not doing that."

"When we first opened, Debra did give us a helping hand," said Mick Purdy, owner of Mick Kelly's Irish Pub.

"My problem is with the current situation. I find it highly unethical that the public face of Discover Burien has such an intimate relationship with a competing business.

"Whether she would take advantage of that (involvement) to promote The Mark over other businesses is debatable," he observed. "What isn't debatable is that the possibility exists for her to do that."

George, who has said she needs to supplement her approximately $50,000-a-year salary, added that Discover Burien directors allow her to do other work and prefer that she do so in the city.