Ontario Councilman Billed Airport Authority $184,997 for 72 Trips

Ontario City Council member Alan Wapner claimed $184,997 from the Ontario International Airport Authority for 72 trips between March 2021 and June 2026. The figures, released via the California Public Records Act, show Wapner served on the authority’s board until recently. His reimbursement total is 64 times the amount received by the other four board members combined during the same period. Board president Ron Loveridge received $2,865 for his travel, while the remaining three members requested no reimbursement.

The airport-funded trips covered destinations including Hong Kong, Rio de Janeiro, the Bahamas, Istanbul, Amsterdam, Frankfurt, and Madrid. Wapner also made repeated visits to Hawaii. In January 2023, he billed $8,939.40 for a 17-day conference trip to Maui. This charge included a $7,000 rental for a three-bedroom house in Lahaina. His wife accompanied him on several journeys, such as a trip to Rio de Janeiro in April 2026 that cost $14,325. A September 2025 visit to Hong Kong cost $12,701, with airfare accounting for $7,437 of that total.

Wapner defended the expenses in an email, stating that the travel was necessary for him to be effective in his position. He insisted that none of the trips were junkets and argued that they provided access to airline executives, concession operators, and federal officials. These individuals make decisions that directly affect the airport's growth. Loveridge said the spending complied with authority rules at the time. He noted that commissioners were unaware of the trips because Wapner did not report back to the full board. Loveridge also pointed out that the funds came from airport revenue rather than tax dollars.

Beyond the airport authority, Wapner reported 132 trips across five agencies where he held seats. These organizations spent a combined $283,630 on his travel over the five-year span. 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. Wapner also earned approximately $250,000 in meeting stipends from the airport authority over the past decade. This amount is nearly double the stipends paid to Supervisor Curt Hagman.

The FBI searched Wapner’s Ontario home on July 28. Agents also searched the homes or offices of Hagman, attorney Frank Lizarraga, and others connected to businessman James Su. Subpoenas were issued to Ontario International Airport and Ontario City Hall. The specific items sought by investigators are not publicly known. As of October 22, no charges have been filed against the individuals whose properties were searched. The City Council removed Wapner from all committee appointments, including the airport board. He has dropped a planned mayoral run and is seeking another term on the council, where he has served since 1994.

On September 24, the airport board approved bylaw changes to restrict future spending. Monthly stipends are now capped at $1,000. Members are limited to one domestic conference per year and one international conference every other year, each requiring advance approval. Spouses' travel can no longer be paid for by the authority. On October 19, the board voted to create an internal auditing program that includes a full-time auditor. Wapner described the board's actions as scapegoating him. He stated that travel was a budget line item that members could have questioned.

Catherine Lhamon of UC Berkeley's Edley Center on Law and Democracy said that personal profit from public service is the definition of corruption. She called for clear rules and public scrutiny of officials. The new bylaws and auditing program are now in effect for the Ontario International Airport Authority board.