Public Record Timeline: 2011–2026

After years of legal battles led by Wapner, the City of Ontario assumed ownership and management of Ontario International Airport from the City of Los Angeles. Wapner became president of the newly empowered Ontario International Airport Authority board. Federal investigators would later scrutinize how the airport was managed under his leadership.

SBC Sentinel, July 28, 2026

Public campaign finance records show contributions to Wapner's campaigns from entities and individuals later identified in connection with development projects and regional contracts. These records are documented in Wapner Watch's campaign finance research and are available for independent review through the California Secretary of State's Cal-Access system.

California Secretary of State Cal-Access; Wapner Watch campaign finance research

Additional public records document the ongoing relationship between the El Prado Golf Course contract, associated entities, and campaign contributions. See the full Lizarraga deep file for the complete documented record.

Wapner Watch El Prado / Lizarraga research

Alan Wapner announced his candidacy for Ontario mayor in the November 2026 election. His campaign became the subject of public-records research examining campaign finance, contributor relationships, and endorsements. The mayoral campaign was ongoing at the time of the July 28, 2026 federal search of his home.

Ontario news reporting, 2026

Following the search of his home, Wapner issued a public statement. He has not been charged with any crime. His statement is his attributed response to the federal search, not an independently established conclusion regarding the investigation.

Daily Bulletin, San Bernardino Sun, July 28–29, 2026

A majority of the Ontario City Council signaled its intention to remove Wapner from his seats on the San Bernardino County Transportation Authority, Omnitrans, and the Ontario International Airport Authority. Mayor Paul Leon stated he had decided to replace Wapner on the regional appointments.

HeySoCal / Ontario News Press, August 8, 2026

In a statement to the Southern California News Group, Wapner said the situation surrounding the investigation was causing a distraction for the City of Ontario and the regional agencies he served, and that he intended to focus on his City Council duties and District 3 reelection campaign. Mayor Paul Leon stated that he had already decided to replace Wapner on the regional appointments and believed doing so was in the City's best interests. These statements are Wapner's explanation of his decision, not independently established conclusions regarding the federal investigation. Wapner has not been charged with any crime.

San Bernardino Sun / SCNG, Joe Nelson, August 14, 2026

The Ontario City Council had been scheduled to vote on removing Wapner from his seats on the San Bernardino County Transportation Authority, Omnitrans, and the Ontario International Airport Authority. A council majority had signaled on August 4 its intention to take that action at this meeting. Wapner submitted his resignation letter on August 10 — before the scheduled vote — stating that Mayor Paul Leon had made clear his intention to remove him and that he chose to resign on his own terms. His resignations became effective August 15.

San Bernardino Sun / SCNG, August 14, 2026; HeySoCal / Ontario News Press, August 8, 2026

WHAT HAPPENED: Ontario residents reported campaign signs associated with Alan Wapner and Larry Trinidad at locations along Riverside Drive and at or near City and HOA/community property, including Westwind Park, Creekside Park, Creekside West, and Creekside East. Resident-submitted photographs document Alan Wapner and Larry Trinidad campaign signs at the photographed locations. Wapner Watch submitted a written complaint to Ontario Community Improvement / Code Enforcement requesting inspection of the reported locations. WHAT IS VERIFIED: Ontario Development Code Section 8.01.020.K governs political signs and prohibits placement on public property or within public rights-of-way (§K.5(i)) and on private property without owner permission (§K.5(g)). Resident-submitted photographs document the presence and physical placement of the pictured signs. Wapner Watch's written complaint was submitted on September 21, 2026. WHAT REMAINS UNVERIFIED: Property ownership and right-of-way status of each photographed location; whether property-owner or HOA authorization existed; who physically installed the signs; whether installation was directed or authorized by either campaign; prior City enforcement outcomes; whether any FPPC rule is implicated. WHY THIS MATTERS: Ontario's Development Code requires property-owner authorization for signs on private property and prohibits signs on public property and within public rights-of-way. The reported signs appeared during an active election period. Residents have requested City review. The City's determination of ownership, authorization status, and compliance will establish whether a violation occurred. Wapner Watch subsequently located City facility, property/GIS and government right-of-way resources allowing readers to independently examine the reported locations. These records identify certain City facilities — 3151 E. Riverside Drive as Creekside Park and 2455 E. Riverside Drive as Westwind Community Center/Park — but do not, without precise geolocation, establish that a photographed sign was within a prohibited area. See the full record at /ontario-campaign-sign-compliance.

Wapner Watch complaint, September 21, 2026; resident-submitted photographs, September 21, 2026; City of Ontario Development Code, Chapter 8, Section 8.01.020.K; City of Ontario Creekside Park facility record; City of Ontario Westwind Community Center/Park facility record; City of Ontario Engineering Department (right-of-way resources)