One Airport Board Member Spent $185K While Others Spent Almost Nothing

Ontario City Council member Alan Wapner received $184,997 in travel reimbursements from the Ontario International Airport Authority for 72 trips between March 2021 and June 2026. The figures, obtained through California Public Records Act requests, show Wapner traveled to locations including Hong Kong, Rio de Janeiro, the Bahamas, and various European cities while serving on the authority's board.

The airport authority's spending on Wapner was 64 times greater than the combined travel costs of the other four board members. Board president Ron Loveridge was reimbursed for only $2,865 in travel during the same period, while the other three members did not seek any reimbursement. Wapner's total travel expenses across five different public agencies reached $283,630, with the airport authority accounting for the largest share.

Specific trips drew particular attention for their cost and duration. In January 2023, Wapner billed $8,939.40 for a 17-day conference in Maui, which included a $7,000 rental for a three-bedroom house in Lahaina. A trip to Rio de Janeiro in April 2026 cost $14,325 and was accompanied by his wife. An earlier trip to Hong Kong in September 2025 totaled $12,701, with airfare alone costing $7,437.

Loveridge stated that the spending complied with the authority's rules at the time and that the funds came from airport revenue rather than tax dollars. He noted that commissioners were unaware of the trips because Wapner did not report back to the full board. Wapner defended the expenditures in an email, calling the travel necessary for his effectiveness and stating that the trips provided access to airline executives and federal officials.

The airport board responded to the disclosure by changing its bylaws on September 24. The new rules cap monthly stipends at $1,000 and limit members to one domestic conference per year and one international conference every other year. Spouses can no longer be reimbursed for travel, and all trips require advance approval. On October 19, the board voted to establish an internal auditing program that includes hiring a full-time auditor.

The travel costs were revealed shortly after the FBI searched Wapner's home on July 28. Agents also searched the residences of Supervisor Curt Hagman and attorney Frank Lizarraga, as well as offices tied to businessman James Su. Subpoenas were issued to the airport and city hall, though no charges have been filed as of October 22. Wapner has been removed from all city committees and has dropped his planned mayoral campaign.

Wapner, who has served on the council since 1994, said the board was scapegoating him. He earned approximately $250,000 in meeting stipends from the authority over the past decade, nearly double the amount paid to Hagman. Catherine Lhamon of the University of California, Berkeley, described the situation as a definition of corruption, urging clear rules and public scrutiny of officials' finances.