A former Denver Landmark Preservation Commission member accused of violating the city's ethics code says she didn't do anything wrong.

Elizabeth Schlosser said at a hearing Thursday that she recused herself from voting on a proposed historic designation of a property that she wanted to buy for preservation purposes.

"In an abundance of caution, I recused myself," she said.

The Board of Ethics is investigating whether Schlosser had a conflict of interest and used her public office for personal gain when she offered to buy the property for about half the asking price while it was being considered for landmark status.

Schlosser recused herself from voting on the proposal about two weeks before making the offer.

Schlosser, a longtime preservationist who ran for mayor in 2003, told the ethics board she didn't intend to profit from the deal.

"I was more worried about losing a fortune," she testified. "These community preservation projects can be quite expensive. . . . You do it for the community."

The ethics board said that deliberations would begin Monday.