Albert Robles

Albert Robles is an American politician, is California's senior Latino elected official since November 1991 and the former Mayor of Carson, California. When first elected in 1991 he was California's youngest person to hold public office. A member of the Democratic Party, Robles was elected mayor in 2015 to fill a vacancy and re-elected in 2016. Previously, he was a member of the Carson City Council. Robles is also a seven-term board member for the Water Replenishment District of Southern California, although his dual elected offices are the subject of a legal challenge.

Not to be confused with Albert T. Robles.
Albert Robles
Robles in 2017
Former Mayor of Carson, California
Assumed office
2015–2020
Preceded byJim Dear
Succeeded byLula Davis-Holmes
Member of the Carson City Council
In office
2013–2015
Succeeded byJawane Hilton
Member of the Water Replenishment District of Southern California for the 5th Division
In office
1992–2018
Succeeded byVera Robles DeWitt
Personal details
Born1969
Political partyDemocratic Party
EducationUniversity of Colorado Boulder
UC Berkeley School of Law
University of Southern California

Education

Robles earned a dual Bachelors from the University of Colorado at Boulder, a Juris Doctor degree from the UC Berkeley School of Law[1] and a master's degree from the University of Southern California, where he was a USC Merit Scholarship recipient.

Career

Robles was first elected to public office in 1992 when he was 23 years old to the Water Replenishment District of Southern California Board of Directors, representing Division 5. In 1992 he was the youngest elected official in California. He is the youngest Director elected to the WRD board and has been re-elected to seven terms, most recently in 2016. In 2013, he was elected to the Carson City Council. He became mayor in 2015 to fill a vacancy created by the resignation of Mayor Jim Dear.[2] In 2016, Carson voters re-elected Robles, who received 55.2 percent of the vote over former Mayor Dear.[3]

Robles was a strong supporter for an NFL stadium to be built in Carson. During one press conference Robles wore a mashup jersey featuring the logos for both the Chargers and the Raiders.[4]

Robles represented former South Gate treasurer Albert T. Robles (no relation) during the appeal of the latter's earlier 2004 corruption conviction.[5]

2006 Vernon city elections

Robles was involved in the controversial 2006 elections in Vernon, California, the first elections held in that city since 1980. Robles represented the challengers in the city council election who moved into an abandoned building in the city so they could register to vote.[5][6][7] The Vernon city clerk accused Albert T. Robles of being involved in the scheme.[8] A court upheld the candidates' right to run in the election.[9] Afterwards, Leonis C. Malburg, the mayor of Vernon, was indicted and eventually convicted of conspiracy, perjury, and voter fraud.[10][11]

Campaign for Los Angeles County District Attorney

In 2008, Robles ran against Steve Cooley in the election for Los Angeles County District Attorney, receiving 20% of the vote coming in second among three candidates.[5] During the campaign, Robles faced misdemeanor charges filed against him by Cooley's office in November 2007. Robles was charged with printing a pair of political mailers without a return address and expending more than $100 cash in a political campaign. Robles accused Cooley of direct involvement in the charges brought against him because of a personal vendetta and to effect outcome of the election.[12] Cooley denied those allegations.[12] Although Robles lost to Cooley in June 2008, a jury found Robles not guilty of all charges after deliberating for only twenty (20) minutes[12][13] and he was re-elected in November 2008 to his seat on the Water Replenishment board.[14]

Controversies

In 2016, Los Angeles County prosecutors sued Robles to prevent him from keeping his seat on the Water Replenishment Board, claiming that a person cannot serve as mayor (or city council member) and water board member at the same time.[15]

Robles is the subject of a separate probe by county prosecutors over his city of residence. The Los Angeles Times reported that Robles is actually living in the Adams-Normandie neighborhood of Los Angeles, but he is claiming he resides at his parents’ home in Carson.[1][15]

Robles faced multiple campaign finance violations for failing to submit documents during the 2012 and 2016 elections.[16] He initially had been ordered to pay at least $85,000 in fines,[17] and agreed to pay $12,000 to settle the violations.[18]

Robles was also facing a state ethics inquiry after "failing to submit state-required disclosure statements for his political campaign finances and personal economic interests for both his elected jobs."[15] This also became part of the $12,000 settlement.

Robles was also the subject of a sexual harassment suit brought by another Water Replenishment District director after losing a re-election campaign for the position in 2014. The former appointed director was the daughter of former CA Lieutenant Governor, Congressman, and Assemblyman Mervyn Dymally, but Robles denied the allegation.[19] The judge in the case dismissed the unverified action with prejudice.

Robles was scrutinized due to his alleged intent for potential pension spiking.[20]

References
  1. Fenno, Nathan; Pringle, Paul; Winton, Richard (September 7, 2015). "Does Carson's mayor, a leader in the city's NFL stadium push, live in Carson?". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved April 23, 2018.
  2. Editorial board (October 11, 2016). "Albert Robles is best choice for mayor in Carson: Endorsement". Daily Breeze. Retrieved April 23, 2018.
  3. Mazza, Carson (November 9, 2016). "Carson Mayor Albert Robles, City Council incumbents win". Daily Breeze. Retrieved April 22, 2018.
  4. Dillon, Liam (July 27, 2015). "The Strange Road to a Football Stadium in Carson". Voice of San Diego. Retrieved April 23, 2018.
  5. Sewell, Abbey; Becerra, Hector (June 14, 2013). "'Little' Al Robles' big job: Make his own name in politics". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved April 23, 2018.
  6. "Incumbents win disputed Calif. election". The Boston Globe. Associated Press. October 20, 2006. Retrieved April 23, 2018.
  7. Block, Melissa (April 27, 2006). "A Political Tempest in an L.A.-Area Industrial City". NPR. Retrieved April 23, 2018.
  8. Becerra, Hector (February 12, 2006). "Vernon Shoo-Ins Shoo Outsiders". Los Angeles Times. ISSN 0458-3035. Archived from the original on July 2, 2015. Retrieved April 23, 2018.
  9. Ellis, Steven M. (January 14, 2009). "Court Sides With Voters in Challenge by City of Vernon". Metropolitan News-Enterprise. Retrieved April 23, 2018.
  10. LA Times: "Vernon's ex-mayor and his wife are convicted of voter fraud"; 5 December 2009
  11. LA Times: "Justice comes to Vernon, The former longtime mayor of the 'exclusively industrial' city loses a court fight and is convicted of voter fraud"; 9 December 2009 . (accessed 17 July 2015)
  12. Scruby, Airan (October 22, 2008). "Jury finds water board member Albert Robles not guilty". Whittier Daily News. Retrieved November 18, 2010.
  13. Scuby, Airan (January 17, 2008). "Water official going on trial over campaign fliers". Whittier Daily News. Retrieved November 18, 2010.
  14. Sprague, Mike (November 5, 2008). "Robles keeps water board seat". Whittier Daily News. Retrieved November 18, 2010.
  15. Lin, Rong-Gong II; Vives, Ruben (January 27, 2016). "County prosecutors are trying to stop Carson's mayor from also serving on a water board". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved April 23, 2018.
  16. Sprague, Mike (October 10, 2016). "Carson Mayor Albert Robles faces more state campaign finance accusations". Daily Breeze. Retrieved April 23, 2018.
  17. Peth, Erin V.; West, Galena; Castillo, Bridgette (July 6, 2016). "Memoradum To: Chair Remke, and Commissioners Audero, Casher, Wasserman and Wynne" (PDF). California Fair Political Practices Commission. Retrieved April 23, 2018.
  18. Winton, Richard (December 19, 2016). "Carson mayor agrees to pay $12,000 in fines to resolve campaign finance law violations". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved April 23, 2018.
  19. Hamilton, Matt (May 13, 2015). "Carson mayor accused by daughter of Mervyn Dymally of sexual harassment". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved April 23, 2018.
  20. "Former Carson mayor could add millions to his pension if water district hires him to 6-month job". December 17, 2020.
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