City Official Claims Nearly $185,000 for Airport Travel

Local officials in Ontario, California, have long relied on travel to maintain relationships with airline executives and federal partners. Recently released records have now put a specific price tag on that work for one long-serving council member.

According to documents obtained through the California Public Records Act, Alan Wapner was reimbursed $184,997 by the Ontario International Airport Authority for 72 trips between March 2021 and June 2026. Wapner served on the authority's board until recently, and the airport board's spending on his travel was 64 times higher than the combined travel costs for the other four board members.

The volume of travel extended beyond just the airport. Across five different agencies where he held a seat, Wapner reported 132 trips over the same five-year span, averaging about 26 trips per year. These agencies collectively spent $283,630 on his travel. The other four boards he served on paid out a combined $98,632, with the City of Ontario accounting for the largest share at $62,855.

The destination list includes international stops like Hong Kong, Rio de Janeiro, Istanbul, and Amsterdam, as well as repeated visits to Hawaii. A 17-day conference trip to Maui in January 2023 cost the airport $8,939.40, which included a $7,000 rental for a three-bedroom house in Lahaina. His wife joined him on several journeys, including a trip to Rio de Janeiro in April 2026 that totaled $14,325.

Wapner defended the spending in an email, stating that the travel was necessary for him to be effective in his position and that none of the trips were junkets. He argued that the trips gave him access to key decision-makers affecting the airport's growth. Board president Ron Loveridge noted that the spending met the rules in place at the time and that the money came from airport revenue rather than tax dollars. However, Loveridge added that other commissioners were unaware of the frequency or cumulative cost because Wapner did not report back to the full board.

The scrutiny has intensified following an FBI search of Wapner's home on July 28. Agents also searched the homes of other local figures, including Supervisor Curt Hagman, and subpoenas were sent to city hall and the airport. As of October 22, no charges have been filed against those searched. Wapner has dropped his planned mayoral run and is now seeking another term on the council, where he has served since 1994.

In response to the findings, the airport board approved new bylaws on September 24. These rules cap monthly stipends at $1,000 and limit members to one domestic conference a year and one international conference every other year. Spouses can no longer be paid for travel, and the board voted in October to create an internal auditing program with a full-time auditor. Wapner described the changes as scapegoating, while legal scholars have called for clearer rules to ensure public service does not become a source of personal profit.