Skip to content
Advertisement

Carson mayor may face recall on conflict-of-interest charges

Advertisement
Alber Robles (170311)
Alber Robles

A recall petition has been launched against Carson Mayor Albert Robles alleging unlawful residence in another city, holding two incompatible elected offices, and sexual harassment.

As well, Robles is being accused of “promoting a racial war” against Carson residents.

In September, Robles faced a civil complaint from the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s office for holding seats in two overlapping elective offices, citing potential conflicts of interest. During this period, he held an elected position with the Water Replenishment District of Southern California in addition to his municipal office.

In April, prosecutors sent public records requests to the city of Carson seeking information related to its dealings with several water entities. Robles said the complaints were related to oil interests, including Occidental Petroleum, which has proposed drilling more than 200 wells near Cal State Dominguez Hills;  he and four other councilmembers voted to enact a 45-day moratorium against drilling.

In the past, local politicians faced with allegations that they have held incompatible offices responded differently than Robles. George Cole, a former councilman in Bell, resigned his seat on the Central Basin Municipal Water District to avoid prosecution. Maywood Councilman Sergio Calderon once sat on the same water district board as Robles, but resigned his seat after legal council suggested he vacate the seat to avoid a conflict-of-interest lawsuit.

Robles has said repeatedly that he has no plans to leave either of his elected positions. “If the D.A. wants to remove me or Occidental Petroleum wants to remove me, then let them try. I will not be bullied,” Robles said, adding that there is no conflict of interest in his two public offices. He said the replenishment board does not sell water to Carson and that the city and the water district do not conduct business with one another.

A politician in Los Angeles County can legally hold two public offices. However, Jessica Levinson, a Loyola Marymount University law school professor, said the conflict-of-interest laws  involving “incompatible” offices are designed to keep politicians from “serving two masters.”

“Experts don’t have to prove that a conflict of interest happened, only that it could happen,” Levinson explained.

The Fair Political Practices Committee confirmed in September that it is also investing Robles because he failed to file his annual state-mandated financial disclosure document by the April deadline. Robles reportedly apologized for the error, citing a busy workload. “Every year I file late, but I always turn it in,” Robles said. Robles reportedly earns $30,500 a year as mayor and another $38,000 for his work with the water replenishment district.

Advertisement

Latest