Former City Councilman Allegedly Violates Campaign Finance Rules in Bid to Reclaim Seat

(Photo credit: Darin Moriki/Bay Area News Group)

Failed former San Leandro City Councilman Ed Hernandez was recently reprimanded by departed City Manager, Fran Robustelli, for allegedly violating campaign finance rules. While this isn't the first time Hernadez has reportedly engaged in questionable behavior, it certainly is ironic coming from a guy who's spent years complaining about mismanagement at city hall. Here's the scoop from The San Leandro Advocate, courtesy of a confidential source:

***

"Dear Mr. Hernandez:

I write to inform you that the City received several complaints from residents who attended the Cherry Festival parade that you and volunteers related to your campaign for a City Council seat were engaged in campaign activities during the Cherry Festival parade. As I trust you are aware as a public official, under California law it is illegal to use public funds for any campaigns, whether to support or oppose ballot measures or candidates for office.

The Cherry Festival parade was a City sponsored event in which City funds were used. As such, campaigning during the Cherry Festival parade is prohibited. During the Cherry Festival the City designated an area within the boundaries of the Festival for free speech and campaign activities, and of course campaign and other free speech activities could have occurred on public streets and parks that were not designated for the Cherry Festival or the parade.

Therefore, and taking the complaints as true, in the future during City sponsored events I strongly urge you and your campaign’s volunteers to consider carefully where you are campaigning during or at City sponsored events. This includes utilizing (if available) the designated campaign and free speech areas during City events, and campaigning in places where campaign activities have the least time, place, and manner restrictions, such as on public sidewalks, streets, and parks."

***

Notably, Hernandez is an ally of current Mayor Juan Gonzalez who was implicated in the exact same scheme back in 2022. As reported publicly on social media, Gonzalez bullied the original chair of the San Leandro Historical Society to resign so that he could host their "The Gathering" event at the Cherry Festival as a fully-fledged campaign event. At least, until city staff were alerted that he was going to misuse public funds for personal/political gain and told him to stop immediately. According to city staff, Gonzalez tried to claim that he was only helping to expose a loophole and that the city should be thanking him for it. Gonzalez never explained why he believed attempting to break campaign finance law was a public service.

Well, it looks like Hernandez tried taking a page out of that crooked playbook and instead got his hand caught. It's unclear whether this will result in prosecution and/or fines by the California Fair Political Practices Commission. However, at the very least, it should give voters pause as Hernandez vies to reclaim his lost seat in San Leandro's City Council District 2 election.

Take note and take care.