Local Politics: Board Travel Spending Scrutiny Intensifies After FBI Search

Residents of Ontario now face a board that enforces stricter limits on how members spend public funds for travel and conferences. These changes follow a detailed review of records showing that one long-serving official received nearly $185,000 for 72 trips over a five-year period. The new rules, approved in late September, cap monthly stipends at $1,000 and require advance approval for international events. This shift aims to provide clearer oversight on how taxpayer and airport revenue dollars are utilized by public officials.

Records obtained via the California Public Records Act reveal that Alan Wapner billed the Ontario International Airport Authority for these extensive journeys between March 2021 and June 2026. His travel included destinations such as Hong Kong, Rio de Janeiro, Istanbul, and multiple visits to Hawaii. One notable expense was an $8,939.40 charge in January 2023 for a 17-day conference in Maui, which included a $7,000 rental for a three-bedroom home. Another trip to Rio de Janeiro in April 2026 cost $14,325 and was accompanied by his wife.

The financial impact was significant when compared to his colleagues. The airport authority reimbursed Wapner 64 times more than the total travel expenses of the other four board members combined. Board president Ron Loveridge received only $2,865 for his travel during the same span, while the other three members did not seek reimbursement. Wapner defended his expenses in an email, stating that his travel was necessary to interact with airline executives and federal officials who influence airport growth. He maintained that none of the trips were purely recreational.

The scrutiny of these finances coincides with a federal investigation. The FBI searched Wapner’s home in Ontario on July 28, along with the residences of other local figures, including Supervisor Curt Hagman and attorney Frank Lizarraga. Subpoenas were issued to city and airport offices, though the specific scope of the inquiry remains private. As of Thursday, October 22, no formal charges have been filed against those whose homes were searched. The city council has since removed Wapner from all committee appointments, including his seat on the airport board, and he has withdrawn from a planned mayoral run.

In response to the controversy, the airport board voted on October 19 to establish an internal auditing program staffed by a full-time auditor. The new bylaws also prohibit spouses from being covered by travel expenses and limit members to one domestic and one biennial international conference. Wapner described the board’s actions as an attempt to make him a scapegoat, arguing that travel costs were a standard budget line item that could have been questioned earlier. He has served on the city council since 1994 and is now seeking another term.

Beyond the airport authority, Wapner received travel reimbursements from four other agencies where he held seats. The City of Ontario paid $62,855, Omnitrans paid $17,578, the Southern California Association of Governments paid $12,574, and the San Bernardino County Transportation Authority paid $5,625. These payments bring his total travel expenses across all boards to $283,630. Experts have called for greater transparency to prevent personal profit from public service, a practice often associated with corruption.