Ontario councilmember resigns from city positions amid FBI investigation.
Ontario City Councilmember Alan Wapner has announced his decision to resign from several city-appointed commissions and committees amidst a federal investigation in which he is implicated. In a letter submitted on August 10 to the City Council and other city officials, Wapner outlined his resignation from key roles, including his position as the city representative on the San Bernardino County Transportation Authority, Omnitrans, and as president of the Ontario International Airport Authority Board of Commissioners. His resignations take effect on August 15.
Wapner’s decision also precludes his ongoing involvement with Metrolink, the Southern California Association of Governments, the National Association of Regional Councils, and the California Association of Councils of Governments. This development marks the end of over two decades of regional leadership, which he described as a significant period in his public service career. The council majority had previously indicated on August 4 that they planned to remove him from these roles at an upcoming council meeting.
Wapner clarified in his letter that his resignations were not due to any inability or unwillingness to continue serving. He stated that the mayor had expressed intentions to replace him, prompting Wapner to resign voluntarily in order to define the circumstances on his own terms. Furthermore, Wapner conveyed through a subsequent text message that the ongoing investigation had become a distraction, which influenced his choice to relinquish his external responsibilities while concentrating on his council duties and his reelection campaign.
Ontario Mayor Paul Leon, also in the midst of a reelection campaign, confirmed that he had already decided to replace Wapner and communicated this intention to the community during the last council meeting. He emphasized his responsibility to make decisions that serve the best interests of the city.
Wapner, a retired police sergeant with over 30 years of experience as a councilman, initially aimed to run for mayor. However, the landscape changed dramatically following a July 28 FBI raid on his residence, which was part of a broader investigation impacting other local officials, including San Bernardino County Supervisor Curt Hagman and various business executives linked to Ontario.
Despite ongoing federal inquiries, details remain scarce. Analysts and political observers have drawn connections between this investigation and federal initiatives aimed at addressing foreign influence, particularly from China, in Southern California.
Despite his earlier assertion during an August 4 council meeting that he did not believe he was the target of the investigation, Wapner ultimately opted to withdraw from the mayoral race just days later. He has since refiled for reelection for his District 3 council seat, which coincides with the entry of fellow Councilmember Daisy Macias into the mayoral race. In a show of personal reflection, Wapner expressed his pride in his contributions, particularly regarding the return of the Ontario International Airport to local control, while lamenting the circumstances that led to the premature conclusion of his service on these various boards.
