A Hews Media Group-Community News investigation has revealed that Hawaiian Gardens City Councilman Hank Trimble received $1,000 in campaign donations from recalled and disgraced former Hawaiian Gardens Councilwoman Kathy Navejas for his successful 2015 Council campaign.
The campaign documents were obtained via a public records request from the Hawaiian Gardens City Clerk’s office.
They show that Terryl Bruce, the wife of embattled Hawaiian Gardens Mayor Barry Bruce, was Mr. Trimble’s campaign treasurer, furthering the cozy relationship between Mr. Trimble and Mayor Bruce.
Ms. Navejas gave Trimble the donation last September and marked it as an individual with an address of 14449 Gleaners Rd. in Kingman, AZ.
An internet search reveals that the address is 30 miles east of Kingman, three miles off Interstate 40, a dirt road in an extremely desolate area.
The nearest gas station is 17 miles away, the nearest restaurant is 30 miles.
A Google map does show a building at the address, and Zillow lists the structure as a 2,960 square foot manufactured home.
The area is so isolated no Google or Bing street images are available.
The listing is the “principal address” for Angels Ranch Development Services, LLC, an Arizona company established on June 1, 2010. The registered agent on file is Ms. Navejas. No other information exists.
The campaign documents show that Hawaiian Gardens Mayor pro tem Rey Rodriguez gave $200 to Mr. Trimble’s campaign on Oct. 2, and Hawaiian Gardens-based Tacos San Pedro donated $500.
Trimble in Trouble Before
This is not the first time questions have surrounded a Trimble City Council campaign.
We exclusively reported in 2011 that Mr. Trimble’s wife Kathy registered to vote within the City of Hawaiian Gardens six months prior to that year’s November Hawaiian Gardens City Council election.
Ms. Trimble called her campaign committee “Trimble for City Council 2011–Supporting Honesty in Government.”
But in her ballot statement, mailed to all Hawaiian Gardens in the official “Sample Ballot Guide,” Ms. Trimble contradicted her residency status.
“As a longtime resident of Hawaiian Gardens, my family, husband and friends have always known me to be of service to our residents,” she said.
Ms. Trimble was backed by Ms. Navejas and Mayor Bruce but lost her election bid.
Now Mr. Trimble will come under fire from residents and others for accepting the largest single donation from Ms. Navejas, whom a majority of Hawaiian Gardens’ residents despise.
We first reported weeks ago that Ms. Navejas, along with Mayor Bruce and Mayor pro tem Rodriguez, wanted to hire former Hawaiian Gardens Police Chief Walter C. McKinney, a convicted felon, as the city manager.
Mr. Hews may be contacted at loscerritosnews.net
