Ontario City Councilmember Alan Wapner is stepping away from serving on several city-appointed commissions and committees amid an ongoing federal investigation in which he has been targeted.
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In a letter addressed to the City Council and other city officials dated Monday, Aug. 10, Wapner said he was resigning from his appointments as the city’s representative to San Bernardino County Transportation Authority, Omnitrans and the Ontario International Airport Authority Board of Commissioners, where he serves as its president.
Wapner said those resignations, effective Saturday, Aug. 15, also will preclude him from continuing to participate with Metrolink, the Southern California Association of Governments, the National Association of Regional Councils, and the California Association of Councils of Governments, “ending more than two decades of regional service and leadership.”
A council majority had indicated Aug. 4 that it planned to remove Wapner from the positions at the next council meeting on Tuesday, Aug. 18.
“I want the record to be clear that these resignations are not because I am unwilling or unable to continue serving,” Wapner said in his letter obtained by the Southern California News Group. “The Mayor has made clear his intention to remove me from these appointments, and I have chosen instead to resign on my own terms.”
Additionally, in a text message Friday, Wapner said the “situation is causing a distraction for the city and the regional agencies I serve. So, I’ve stepped away from those external responsibilities as Mayor Pro Tem to focus entirely on serving Ontario and my campaign for re-election to the Council.”
Mayor Paul Leon, who is running for reelection in November, said in a statement Friday that “I had already made the decision to replace Councilmember Wapner on these appointments and communicated that directly to him and the community at the last council meeting. It was the right direction for Ontario, and as Mayor, I have a responsibility to make those choices when I believe they are in the best interests of our city.”
Wapner is a retired police sergeant who has served as a councilman for more than 30 years and had planned to run for mayor until news broke about the July 28 FBI raid at his home. Search warrants also were served at the home and Chino Hills office of San Bernardino County Supervisor Curt Hagman, and the homes and offices of Ontario civil attorney and businessman Frank Lizarraga and West Covina media company executive James Su.
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Federal subpoenas also were served at Ontario International Airport Authority and Ontario City Hall. Additionally, a warrant was served at a Beverly Hills mansion tied to the investigation. No arrests have been made.
While federal investigators remain tightlipped about the investigation, experts and local politicians are drawing parallels between this latest probe and ongoing efforts by federal authorities to curb Chinese government influence in the region.
During the Aug. 4 council meeting, Wapner said he did not believe he was a target in the federal investigation and did not know why the FBI served a search warrant at his home. He also said the subpoenas served at City Hall and the Ontario International Airport Authority did not reference him.
Wapner also said during the meeting that he was still running for mayor, yet three days later the city clerk’s office confirmed he had withdrawn from the race and that he instead submitted paperwork to run for reelection for his District 3 council seat. It also was confirmed that Councilmember Daisy Macias had filed paperwork to run for mayor.
On Aug. 3, Ontario Planning Commissioner Jonathan Hagman, who is Curt Hagman’s son, announced his withdrawal from the District 3 councilmember race so he could focus on his family.
In what appeared a permanent sign-off, Wapner said in his letter he was “especially proud” of his work to return Ontario International Airport to local control and of the relationships and accomplishments developed through his years of regional service.
“I regret that political considerations have brought this service to an end, but I leave these positions proud of what we accomplished on behalf of Ontario and the region,” Wapner said in his letter.
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