Stockton City Councilmember Michele Padilla gave an impassioned speech at Tuesday’s City Council meeting defending herself against accusations that she misused public money.
“I am not going to apologize for refusing to join the political cliqué, for standing up for what I believe is right,” Padilla said. “But let’s be clear, equity and fairness should apply to everyone. Sadly, what’s happening here tonight is anything but fair and just.”
Padilla, however, was met with stony silence from her fellow councilmembers, who ultimately opted to move forward with the censure process that was initiated against her earlier this month.
The District 1 councilmember hosted a community BBQ in July where local officials and candidates running for office in the upcoming November election were allowed to make speeches, some of whom addressed their campaigns and political opponents. The event reportedly cost more than $10,000 to host and was paid for with City Council discretionary funding, which councilmembers are barred from using for political events.
City officials later said Padilla’s expenses would not have been approved had it been known that any component of the event was political in nature.
Councilmembers Michael Blower and Brando Villapudua submitted an official letter to the city clerk’s office earlier this month filing a complaint against Padilla following reports of political activity at the city-funded event, requesting that a censure hearing be put on the Council’s next agenda.
Padilla described the news media’s coverage of the BBQ as slanted, noting there was no mention of the event’s success in helping and bringing the community together, and accused other members on the Council of conspiring against her. At one point, she specifically called out Councilmembers Dan Wright, Kimberly Warmsley and Blower for passing rash judgment “without even so much a call or a conversation.”
“This isn’t about ethics. This is about silencing someone who isn’t a member of their bought-and-paid political cliqué and agenda,” Padilla said. “I’m sorry I don’t want to join the Mickey Mouse Club — that’s not me.”
To censure one of its members, City Council must go through a multi-step process that includes the four remaining members — Mayor Kevin Lincoln, Vice Mayor Kimberly Warmsley and Councilmembers Wright and Susan Lenz — being given the option to squash the censure before it heads to an ad hoc committee investigation.
After Padilla was given the chance to defend herself at Tuesday’s meeting, Mayor Lincoln offered up time for additional comments from other councilmembers. But no one spoke.
Lincoln then called for a motion to block the censure process against Padilla from continuing. Once again, the dais remained silent.
Lincoln, Warmsley, Wright and Lenz would have needed to unanimously agree at the meeting to block the censure process against Padilla from moving forward. As the complainants and the accused, Blower, Villapudua and Padilla are initially barred from voting on the matter.
But this is just the beginning of the censure process, which could take weeks or months to complete.
The matter will now go to an ad hoc committee, made up of Lincoln, Lenz and Wright, who are tasked with reviewing the allegations, conducting whatever investigation is necessary, and preparing a report and recommendation to be reviewed by the full City Council. A date will then be set for a public hearing if the committee finds the complaint has merit. Padilla will also be afforded up to 30 days to review the allegations and evidence against her in order to prepare a defense.
Though Padilla did not receive support from her fellow councilmembers, a majority of the 10 or so speakers who stood up during public comment to speak on the issue sang the educator’s praises as a person, friend and city representative.
Stockton City Council Candidate Jason Lee, one of the political figures who spoke at Padilla’s BBQ, admonished the City Council for not worrying about more important things.
“I was moved by the community who were happy to have an event that was safe and for the kids,” Lee said of being at the BBQ. “So I got up there and I said, “Hey, there’s going to be a new day in November; in January, there’s going to be new energy. You’re actually going to have people that care about you and do … things.’”
“I’ll pay you $10,000 or whatever money that you think was paid from the taxpayers,” Lee later added.
In addition to Lee, speakers at Padilla’s event included current Stockton mayoral candidate former Vice Mayor Christina Fugazi, Stockton City Council candidate Mario Enríquez and San Joaquin County Supervisor candidate Mario Gardea.
One of the only candidates seen in video footage provided to Stocktonia last month to not explicitly mention they were running for local office was Fugazi, though she was shown wearing a campaign-style t-shirt. It was later confirmed that California State Assembly candidate Rhodesia Ransom also spoke, though she told Stocktonia last month she doesn’t recall saying anything that was political or related to her campaign.
In contrast, public commenter Andrew Abbott said that there’s been “a lot of bad news” coming out of Stockton lately, with most of it seemingly surrounding one councilmember — Padilla. He called for a public apology from Padilla and an agreement to cooperate with any future investigation.
“It’s on video, and unless we’re not to believe our eyes and ears. It’s definitely a violation of council policy and possibly felony misappropriation of public funds, which she still somehow denies,” Abbott said. “Stockton is a great place, but we have a long and sad history of political malfeasance behind us, and that’s where it should be behind us, not before us, right now.”