Local Official's Travel Tab Raises Questions About Oversight

Residents of Ontario are facing tighter rules on how local officials spend public money following a detailed look at one councilman's travel records. These changes mean fewer perks for board members and stricter limits on where they can go, directly affecting how the local government operates. The shift comes after an audit revealed significant spending by a long-serving official.

Records released under the California Public Records Act indicate that Alan Wapner billed the Ontario International Airport Authority $184,997 for 72 trips between March 2021 and June 2026. This amount stands out because the other four board members combined for only $2,938 in reimbursements during the same period. The disparity has drawn attention to how travel expenses are approved and monitored.

Wapner’s trips took him to destinations like Hong Kong, Rio de Janeiro, and Hawaii. One notable expense was a 17-day conference trip to Maui in January 2023, which cost $8,939.40 and included a $7,000 rental for a three-bedroom house. His wife joined him on several journeys, including a trip to Rio de Janeiro in April 2026 that cost $14,325. Wapner defended these choices in an email, stating that his travel was necessary to be effective in his position and that none of the trips were junkets.

Board president Ron Loveridge said the spending followed the rules at the time, but other commissioners were unaware of the frequency or total cost. He noted that the funds came from airport revenue rather than tax dollars. However, the lack of transparency has led to calls for clearer guidelines. Catherine Lhamon of UC Berkeley’s Edley Center on Law and Democracy emphasized that personal profit from public service defines corruption, urging for more public scrutiny.

The scrutiny intensified after the FBI searched Wapner’s home on July 28, along with other locations tied to local officials and a businessman. As of last Thursday, no charges had been filed. In response, the City Council removed Wapner from his committee appointments, including the airport board. He has since dropped his planned mayoral run and is seeking another term on the council, where he has served since 1994.

To address these concerns, the airport board approved new bylaws on September 24. These rules cap monthly stipends at $1,000 and limit members to one domestic conference annually and one international conference every other year. Spouses' travel can no longer be paid for, and a new internal auditing program with a full-time auditor was created in October. Wapner criticized the board for scapegoating him, arguing that travel was a standard budget line item that members could have questioned earlier.