Ontario councilman billed airport authority $185,000 for 72 trips

Ontario City Council member Alan Wapner submitted bills to the Ontario International Airport Authority for 72 trips totaling $184,997 between March 2021 and June 2026. California Public Records Act disclosures reveal the spending occurred while Wapner held a seat on the authority's board.

The airport authority reimbursement was the largest portion of his total travel expenses. Across five different agencies where he served, Wapner reported 132 trips over the same five-year period. The combined cost for this travel was $283,630. The other four boards paid a total of $98,632, which included $62,855 from the City of Ontario and $17,578 from Omnitrans.

The disparity in spending between Wapner and the other airport board members is stark. Wapner’s travel costs were 64 times higher than the combined reimbursements for the other four members. Board president Ron Loveridge received $2,865 for travel during the same period, while the remaining three members did not request any reimbursement.

Wapner’s itinerary included international destinations such as Hong Kong, Rio de Janeiro, Istanbul, Amsterdam, Frankfurt, Madrid, and the Bahamas. He also made repeated trips to Hawaii. In January 2023, he billed $8,939.40 for a 17-day conference in Maui, which included a $7,000 rental for a three-bedroom house in Lahaina. A trip to Rio de Janeiro in April 2026 cost $14,325, and a September 2025 visit to Hong Kong cost $12,701, with airfare accounting for $7,437 of that total.

Wapner defended the expenses in an email, stating that his travel was necessary to be effective in his position. He claimed the trips provided access to airline executives, concession operators, and federal officials who influence airport growth. Board president Ron Loveridge said the spending met the rules in place at the time but noted that commissioners were unaware of the trips because Wapner did not report back to the full board.

The airport board voted to change its bylaws on September 24. The new rules cap monthly stipends at $1,000 and limit members to one domestic conference per year and one international conference every other year. Spouse travel is no longer covered. On October 19, the board voted to create an internal auditing program that includes a full-time auditor.

The FBI searched Wapner’s home on July 28, along with the homes or offices of Supervisor Curt Hagman and attorney Frank Lizarraga. No charges were known to have been filed as of October 22. The City Council removed Wapner from all committee appointments, including the airport board. Wapner has withdrawn his planned mayoral run and is seeking another term on the council, where he has served since 1994.