Hews Media Group-Community News has learned of major campaign irregularities related to two Independent Expenditure Committees favoring two candidates who are attempting to exercise undue influence on the Commerce City Council elections on March 3.
Council candidates include current City Councilwoman Denise Robles, Sonya Rodriguez, John Soria, Hugo Argumedo, Oralia Reballo and John Diaz.
That is where the similarities of the candidates stop.
Mr. Diaz and Ms. Reballo have been the recipients of huge financial support from two Independent Expenditure Committees, the California League of Voters, based out of Whittier, and the Committee for Better Commerce, based out of Long Beach.
Earmarked Donations
Through Feb. 9, the Committee for a Better Commerce has collected $12,000 total, $6,000 each for Mr. Diaz and Ms. Reballo.
The committee has spent over $1,500 in support of each candidate using campaign mail pieces.
Two people, Brian and Tabitha Dror of Los Angeles, donated the $12,000. Records show that Brian Dror is a certified public accountant based out of Los Angeles and Tabitha Dror is a homemaker.
The 12 $1,000 donations were marked as “individual” on the campaign statements, a violation of Commerce’s Municipal Code.
The Commerce Municipal Code states, “no candidate for elective office and no controlled committee of that candidate may accept any campaign contribution that will cause the total amount contributed by any one person to the candidate in support of or opposition to a campaign….to exceed one thousand dollars per calendar year. For purposes of this chapter, contributions from husband and wife are considered separate and distinct contributions and may not exceed one thousand dollars each.”
According to the campaign documents, the Drors made 12 $1,000 donations on Feb 5; six $1,000 donations to Mr. Diaz, and six $1,000 donations to Ms. Robello.
The donation would place the committee and the Drors in violation of campaign finance laws.
Taking Sides
The California League of Voters’ documentation shows that the committee “opposes” both Mr. Argumedo and current Commerce Councilwoman Ms. Robles.
No other candidates were listed as opposed by the committee.
To date the committee has spent over $2,500 to oppose Ms. Robles and over $5,900 to defeat leading candidate and former Commerce Councilman Argumedo.
The only donor to the California League of Voters is Steve Craig, owner of the Citadel Outlets in Commerce.
Mr. Craig has donated an eye-opening $40,000 to the committee. The donation was given under his company name, Craig Realty.
Mr. Craig has also been a heavy financial supporter of current Commerce Mayor Tina Baca Del Rio, Mayor pro-tem Lilia Leon and Councilman Ivan Altamirano who have dominated Council meetings with their majority vote.
All three have endorsed both Mr. Diaz and Ms. Robello.
The newspaper published an article last week that showed Mr. Diaz and Ms. Reballo employed treasurer Yolanda Miranda, who has ties to ex-state Sen. Ron Calderon and his family.
Ms. Miranda was treasurer for Sen. Calderon who was indicted in a sweeping corruption case, accused of taking $100,000 in bribes. A legal defense fund was set up immediately after the indictment, Ms. Miranda was appointed treasurer of the fund.
Ms. Miranda was also the treasurer for Central Basin Municipal Water District Director Bob Apodaca, who recently was sued for sexual harassment. Mr. Apodaca settled the case for $670,000 using Central Basin funds. He has been implicated in two additional sexual harassment lawsuits.
Ms. Miranda’s company, Yolanda Miranda and Associates, also had a long association with former Bell Mayor George Cole, convicted in the now-infamous Bell scandal.
Mr. Hews may be contacted at Editor@cerritosnews.net
twitter: @cerritosnews
