Airport Travel Costs: Councilman Billed Authority $185,000 Over Five Years

A detailed look at public records reveals a significant gap in how one local official managed travel expenses compared to his peers. The findings have raised questions about oversight and spending habits within regional governing bodies.

Alan Wapner, a member of the Ontario City Council, submitted claims to the Ontario International Airport Authority totaling nearly $185,000. These bills covered 72 trips taken between March 2021 and June 2026. Wapner served on the airport authority board until recently, a period during which he also held seats on four other agencies. Across all five positions, he reported a total of 132 trips, which averages to about 26 trips per year. The combined cost for his travel across all these boards was $283,630.

The disparity in spending is stark when compared to his colleagues. The amount Wapner billed the airport authority was 64 times higher than what the other four board members combined received for the same period. Board president Ron Loveridge was reimbursed only $2,865 for his travel expenses during those five years, while the other three members did not seek reimbursement at all. This contrast has highlighted a potential lack of standardization in how board members handle travel costs.

Wapner’s travel took him to various international destinations, including Hong Kong, Rio de Janeiro, the Bahamas, Istanbul, Amsterdam, Frankfurt, and Madrid. He also made repeated visits to Hawaii. In January 2023, a single 17-day conference trip to Maui cost $8,939.40, which included a $7,000 rental for a three-bedroom house in Lahaina. His wife accompanied him on several of these trips, such as a journey to Rio de Janeiro in April 2026 that totaled $14,325. Another notable expense was a September 2025 trip to Hong Kong, which cost $12,701, with airfare alone accounting for $7,437.

In an email defending his choices, Wapner stated that his travel was necessary to be effective in his role and that no trips were junkets. He argued that these travels allowed him to meet with airline executives, concession operators, and federal officials who influence airport growth. Board president Ron Loveridge noted that the spending met the rules in place at the time and that the funds came from airport revenue rather than taxes. However, Loveridge added that other commissioners were unaware of the frequency or cumulative cost of the trips because Wapner did not report back to the full board. Wapner also earned about a quarter of a million dollars in meeting stipends from the authority over the last decade, nearly double the amount received by Supervisor Curt Hagman.

Recent events have intensified the scrutiny surrounding Wapner’s financial activities. On July 28, the FBI searched his home in Ontario. Investigators also searched the residences or offices of Hagman, attorney Frank Lizarraga, and others connected to businessman James Su. Subpoenas were issued to the Ontario International Airport and Ontario City Hall, though it is not yet known what specific documents were sought. As of October 22, no charges have been publicly filed against those searched. In response, the City Council removed Wapner from all committee appointments, including the airport board. He has since withdrawn his planned mayoral bid but continues to seek another term on the council, where he has served since 1994.

The airport board has implemented new measures to prevent similar issues in the future. On September 24, the board approved bylaw changes that cap monthly stipends at $1,000. Members are now limited to one domestic conference per year and one international conference every two years, with each trip requiring advance approval. Additionally, spouses can no longer be paid for travel. On October 19, the board voted to establish an internal auditing program that includes a full-time auditor. Wapner suggested the board was scapegoating him, noting that travel was a budget line item that could have been questioned earlier. The total cost of his travel on other boards included $62,855 from the City of Ontario, $17,578 from Omnitrans, $12,574 from the Southern California Association of Governments, and $5,625 from the San Bernardino County Transportation Authority. Catherine Lhamon of UC Berkeley’s Edley Center on Law and Democracy described personal profit from public service as the definition of corruption and called for clearer rules and greater public scrutiny of officials.