By Emilie St. John
Contributing Writer
COMPTON — The City Council voted 4-0 May 26 to censure one of their colleagues over allegations of credit card abuse.
Mayor Emma Sharif and District 3 Councilman Jonathan Bowers placed a resolution on the City Council agenda requesting District 2 Councilman Andre Spicer be censured for, “conduct unbecoming of a Compton official” for misusing the city’s Cal-Card and making purchases outside of what is permitted by the city’s Cal-Card Policy.
The mayor first requested the city manager’s office look into censuirng Spicer once his credit card usage was released to the public last December.
Acting City Manager Jerry Groomes placed the resolution on the agenda, which included the copy of an investigative report by RWG Law to determine if Spicer’s purchases were consistent with the city’s adopted credit card use policy.
According to the resolution, Spicer violated the city’s Cal-Card purchasing policy by using the card “for multiple charges not directly related to either travel or training, including paying for supplies and entertainment for city events he helped produce,” and for a number of charges that he did not recall.
Based on the report, there were five expenditures with no receipts tallying $701.29, 12 items that were identified as unknown tallying $1,097.72, and 20 expenditures identified as falling out of policy adding up to $5,994.97. In addition, the report said Spicer “did not remember what they were for, and there were no receipts to help substantiate city-related usage.”
Attached to the resolution are the investigative findings of the credit card use and letters drafted on city letterhead asking the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office and the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department to investigate the matter.
Spicer said believes the charges he made were in accordance with the city’s usage guidelines. When presented with his credit card statements, he acknowledged not knowing the validity of some of the charges and offered a nearly $600 reimbursement for some expenditures.
The report indicates that at the time Spicer was interviewed about his credit card usage, his Cal-Card was in his possession.
Spicer was absent from the City Council meeting but did release a statement on his social media accounts attributing the council’s actions to a “political attack” due to the timing of the resolution.
“My three colleagues have never moved this swiftly to address the real issues facing the city,” Spicer wrote. “But somehow censorship became their top priority.”
Residents spoke in favor of the resolution during public comment, with some being glad the credit card usage came to the public’s attention and said they applauded the City Council for taking action.
“Thank you for finally listening to the residents and protecting us and our tax dollars,” Gilda Blueford said. “It was the residents that drove this; we started contacting the district attorney’s office, and it was only applicable that you follow suit.”
“I have been speaking on this censure for months, and I am glad to see the council finally taking action,” Fidel Marquez said.
The city’s acting attorney Isaac Young said that the council action revisited the May 19 Cal-Card policy discussion and talks specifically about the findings made by the independent investigator.
“Based on that independent report, it indicates Councilman Spicer violated the purchasing policy on a number of occasions,” Young said.
He went on to explain that the report says he used the card for multiple charges not directly related to either travel or training, and that too few receipts were available to substantiate non-travel-related expenses and/or city-related usage.
“This resolution does four things,” Young said. “First, it would censure Councilman Spicer, revoke his Cal-Card rights, turn over the investigative report and invoices to law enforcement officers, and report the same to the district attorney’s office.”
Before the vote, Young stated that any member of the council could make any modifications to the resolution before a vote would be taken.
Councilman Bowers requested adding Spicer’s removal from all boards, commissions and committees along with stripping him of his mayor pro tem title.
The resolution passed 4-0 with the requested modifications by Councilman Bowers.
Spicer is currently running for mayor on the June 2 ballot.
“I will not be intimidated, silenced or distracted from continuing to fight for the residents of Compton,” Spicer said.
Emilie St. John is a freelance journalist covering the areas of Carson, Compton, Inglewood and Willowbrook. Send tips to her at emiliesaintjohn@gmail.com.
