Stockton Councilmember Michele Padilla has been officially censured by her fellow councilors for using city money to fund a community barbecue where candidates running for office were allowed to give political speeches.
Padilla gave an impassioned speech during a censure hearing at Tuesday’s Stockton City Council meeting, defending herself against accusations that she violated council policy by hosting an event in July that was deemed political in nature using her council discretionary funding. The event cost the city about $10,000 for Padilla to host.
The District 1 councilor fought back tears and described the accusations against her as “a malicious, clear attack” on her character and an attempt to misrepresent her intentions in holding an event that was beneficial to her constituents.
“I had no intention, no motivation. There was no promotion, no endorsement, no ask of political activity for any specific candidate,” Padilla said. “I truly feel that no taxpayer funds were misused, and any suggestion otherwise is just a desperate attempt to undermine myself for political gain.”
However, the council ultimately voted 5-0 to accept an ad-hoc committee’s finding that there was “sufficient evidence” Padilla had indeed violated council policy “because discretionary funds were used at an event where political activity occurred rendering the event political in nature.” ..
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Cassie Dickman 