NATIONAL CITY, Calif. — National City leaders addressed allegations that claim newly-reelected Councilmember Jose Rodriguez has repeatedly violated the city's code of conduct by using city resources for his political campaign and bullying community members.
According to a memo filed by Mayor Ron Morrison last month, Rodriguez has a "pattern of violations" with both the City Council policy and the Code of Fair Campaign Practices.
After a multi-hour discussion, National City leaders voted in favor to move forward with the prospective censure and will address it next week at a Special City Council meeting Dec. 10 where Rodriguez and councilmember Marcus Bush will be sworn into office.
"This has been on the burner for quite some time but this is the only avenue we have to discuss these types of issues," Morrison said Tuesday.
A censure does not fire or remove an elected official. It's an official way to say certain actions must stop. Only voters or a jury, if found guilty of a crime, can remove Rodriguez from office.
Here's a few of the issues addressed on Tuesday:
- Using public resources for his political campaign.
- Using city contractors and city-hired staff under his control for his 2024 campaign.
- Hiring people involved in his campaign to be city employees.
Among the allegations Morrison referenced were billing the city roughly $7,000 for a campaign turkey giveaway, charging the city $42,000 for two consultants that helped with issues related to his campaign and also hiring three part-time employees along with one paid intern to work for the city that were involved in the campaign that cost the city $37,000. He was also accused of bringing negative attention to a planning commissioner by sending photos of her home with a Trump flag.
Numerous community members spoke out for and against Rodriguez's censure, with one speaker saying his actions were an "abuse of power" and another saying he's helped National City when no other councilmembers did.
Numerous speakers cited Rodriguez' efforts to help flood victims.
Councilmember Marcus Bush acknowledged his good work in the community, but said it doesn't give him a right to do what he's accused of.
Bush also said he's concerned about Rodriguez voting in favor of Port of San Diego's desires when the agency donated to his political campaign. He said Rodriguez "voted against National City" in these circumstances.
After nearly two hours of public comment, Rodriguez acknowledged city officials and the public.
"This is a political hit piece yet again," Rodriguez said. "Some cannot accept the results of the election."
He said the accusations of him using city resources for his campaign was "him doing his job."
Nov. 19 meeting where proposal was first heard
Rodriguez was also accused by the mayor of creating a "hostile environment within the community in the form of bullying." The memo goes on to say Rodriguez has used the media to intimidate people, including a city commissioner to the point they felt their family was threatened.
Morrison said the censure discussion was the only option.
“I’ve had a number of requests from people saying that there’s been so many different things that have come up over these last couple of year period, but the only way we can legally address them or bring them out in public ... this is the only legal way to do that," Morrison said at a Nov. 19 council meeting.
The council wasn't supposed to discuss the allegations in depth at the Nov. meeting but it quickly became contentious.
Yamane didn't agree with Morrison's timing. She said this discussion should be held until the new year and said considering a censure is too harsh.
"There's never a good time to do something like this," Morrison said.
Councilmember Marcus Bush, who voted in favor of the discussion, said he has concerns that need to be addressed publicly.
Rodriguez said campaign violations shouldn't be addressed by using city resources and it should be taken up with the state's Fair Political Practices Commission.
"This is grossly utilizing city resources for your political gain at this moment," Rodriguez said to Morrison at the Nov. 19 meeting. "That is something that's a shame and continues to be a reoccurring theme throughout your 30-year tenure."
Bush said it's not political, it's about accountability.
But Rodriguez disagreed.
"The election is over, guys," he said. "We won by over 73 percent of the vote. Get over it."
Rodriguez was elected Nov. 5 to serve his second four-year term.