Stockton Councilmember Michele Padilla is facing a possible official censure from her fellow councilmembers after it came to light local candidates running for office were allowed to make political speeches at a community event she hosted last month that was paid for with city money.
Councilmembers Michael Blower and Brando Villapudua submitted an official letter to the city clerk’s office Friday requesting a censure hearing against Padilla be put on the agenda for the City Council’s next meeting on Aug. 20.
Earlier this month Padilla may have violated Stockton City Council policy by providing a platform during her annual community BBQ for local officials and candidates running for office in the upcoming November election to make speeches, some of whom addressed their campaigns and political opponents.
The event reportedly cost the city thousands of dollars, which has drawn ire from both the community and some of Padilla’s fellow councilmembers.
“Padilla used over $10,000 of council discretionary funds to host a community event that became political when she invited several political candidates onstage and allowed them to give political speeches,” Blower and Villapudua wrote in the letter. “This is a direct violation of the council policy that all council members are expected to adhere to.”
Members of the Stockton City Council are typically allocated discretionary funding in the city’s operating budget. The mayor receives $60,000 per year, while councilmembers each have access to $15,000. According to City Council policy, discretionary money can only be spent on resources that “will be a substantial benefit to the City and its residents” and not “religious or political in nature” or providing “personal benefit” to the member requesting the funds.
Padilla, who represents north Stockton, has previously denied doing anything inappropriate, emphasizing the event was a community BBQ featuring many festivities and giveaways for her constituents.
“Every expenditure of public funds for this event was reviewed by legal counsel from the city and approved,” Padilla wrote in a statement to Stocktonia last month. “This event was open to the public, and all community members, elected or not, had the opportunity to speak. I believe in upholding the First Amendment right to speech and do not censor community members.”
Padilla did not immediately respond to a request for comment Friday afternoon.
Stockton spokesperson Connie Cochran says the city would not have approved spending on an event where “any component” violated policies surrounding the use of taxpayer money by members of the City Council in connection with politics and/or campaigning. …
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