Another Baldwin Park elected official busted
No week is complete without a Baldwin Park elected official gracing the pages of the newspaper. This week, it is Dolores Holguin, whose political career is now over.
Holguin was convicted yesterday to a felony count of misusing public funds. She was facing up to four years in prison. Instead, she will not serve any time in prison but she will never be able to serve as an elected official again.
Former water director pleads guilty to abusing public funds
Holguin 'barred' from public office
By Jennifer McLain, Staff Writer
Article Launched: 10/16/2008 11:59:23 PM PDT
POMONA - A former Valley County Water District member is barred for life from holding public office after pleading guilty Thursday to misusing $6,200 in public funds.
Dolores Holguin, who in 2007 was honored by State Sen. Gloria Romero, D-Los Angeles for her service, was also ordered by a Pomona Superior Court judge to pay back the $6,200 and to serve 200 hours of community service and two years of probation.
She was the first woman and first person of Latino descent to serve on the board.
"This case serves as a message that public officials are supposed to exercise the utmost care when spending the public's money," said Deputy District Attorney Edward Miller.
Holguin, 59, did not return calls for comment, but has previously denied any wrongdoing and believed the allegations were purely political. She already has paid restitution.
Valley County serves water to nearly 65,000 residents in West Covina, Irwindale and Baldwin Park, where the district's headquarters are located.
"The district is very pleased with the outcome," said the Valley County's attorney Keith Lemieux. "This closes a bad chapter in the district's history."
Holguin's expenses included "inappropriate" local dinners, meals on trips where she already received stipends, cell phone bills, and a district-funded lawsuit brought on her behalf seeking the removal of fellow Valley County board member Al Contreras.
The allegations against Holguin began in 2006, when Valley County filed a civil lawsuit alleging she improperly billed the district for more than $15,000 in cell phone, meal and medical expenses.
An internal report alleged that Holguin pocketed nearly $4,700 in medical reimbursements from the district while she was already receiving coverage through her employee's union.
The case was settled this year, and she was ordered to pay $11,300 to the district.
In November 2007, Holguin was censured from the board, and then she lost re-election to her seat, which she held for 12 years. She was replaced by Jonathan Contreras, son of Upper San Gabriel Valley Water District Director Al Contreras.
"Stories like this are never positive for the public perception of elected officials," Al Contreras said. "But the public can be reassured that she is out of here and will not return to public office."
Despite the allegations swirling around Holguin, she was honored in 2007 by Sen. Majority Leader Gloria Romero as Woman of the Year for inspiring a piece of legislation preventing elected officials from simultaneously holding conflicting elected positions.
Among the directors forced to resign because of Romero's bill was Al Contreras, who also held a seat on the Valley County board. Holguin sued Contreras, and the district paid for it, which the District Attorney later said was illegal.
Romero did not return a call seeking comment.
Throughout the past two years, Holguin called allegations "political," and said she would eventually be vindicated. She also said expenses were approved by the board and denied any wrong doing.
"Other board members and management of the water board are guilty of the same conduct, and now it remains to be seen if they too will be prosecuted," said Holguin's attorney, Glen Jonas. "If they are not prosecuted, than the message is as long as you keep your political power, you don't have to worry about being prosecuted."
Current board members deny Jonas' and Holguin's accusations.
"She continues to lie," said Valley County President Marianna Lake. "She has lied from the beginning. It is about time for her to pay for what she's done."
jennifer.mclain@sgvn.com
(626) 962-8811, Ext. 2477
www.insidesocal.com/sgvgov
Technically isn't someone being "convicted" of a crime, different than them "pleading" a deal?
This issue came up earlier this week. According to Jane Robinson, spokeswoman for the District Attorney's office, if someone pleads guilty or no contest than it is a conviction.
A plea of guilty can still constitute a "conviction" under the law. It depends on the nature of the deal and the offense she is pleading guilty to. Sometimes, a sentence will be stayed pending completion of probation and when probation is successfuly completed the conviction will be dismissed.
I would love to hear the dirt this lady has on Ms. Lake and Mr. Sano who now run this dept. They both have BK on their personal records and are really good buddies with the gay/crook Lozano security guard mayor. I know their is a connection to all of them besides being losers. If you can't run your personal finances you surely can't run a big business without screwing up and also pocketing a little side money. Love to hear from you.
What's up with my city?! Bejarano is a womanizing drunk, Lozano is a crook, Garcia is a loud mouth, the othe Garcia lives outside of the city, and Pacheco....well he is suspiciously quiet.
Looks they are all taking a page out of the Roger Hernandez playbook.
I am seriously moving out of this city. I grew up here and went to school here and have never seen my city in such a mess!
Even former councilman Rip Van Wrinkle, or whatever the hell his name was, is a crook!
GOD help us!
You can always tell when meddlin, peabrain tuttle ugly head rears up. Tuttle, we all know your going to try to discredit your way into the mayors office. But you will fail as you have so many other times in the past and in your life. And as far as being a crook. You just haven't been caught yet.
Your leaving. GOOD! Get down the road toad. We don't need you here. You probably foreclosed and are headed back to your mama's tit.
What's up with my city?! Bejarano is a womanizing drunk, Lozano is a crook, Garcia is a loud mouth, the othe Garcia lives outside of the city, and Pacheco....well he is suspiciously quiet.
Looks they are all taking a page out of the Roger Hernandez playbook.
I am seriously moving out of this city. I grew up here and went to school here and have never seen my city in such a mess!
Even former councilman Rip Van Wrinkle, or whatever the hell his name was, is a crook!
GOD help us
Holguin deserved MUCH more than what she received. She has created trouble since she first began. There was NO WAY she should have been the Woman of the Year for Gloria Romero. It should say a lot about the Senator. One of the things she was honored for is the Water Treatment plant. If you look back at the records, Holguin voted NO each time anthing came up. During the final vote, she had no choice but to sign. Ms. Lake knows what Lozano is about. It was Holguin who was aligned with him. Hernandez of WC was also a part of that group as well. Baldwin Park still has hope with those individuals such as Rubio (school board & the one on city council) and White.
Your leaving. GOOD! Get down the road toad. We don't need you here. You probably foreclosed and are headed back to your mother's tit.
Baldwin Park seems to have a very bad history of elected officials who abuse their elected positions.
What the heck is wrong with these people who sware to up hold the law? You just can't trust anyone any more. Baldwin Park has been cursed.