{{Short description|American politician}} {{About|a California politician from the City of Carson|the California politician from the City of South Gate with the same name|Albert T. Robles}} {{Infobox officeholder | image = Albert Robles, 2017.jpg | caption = Robles in 2017 | office = Former Mayor of Carson, California | party = Democratic Party | office1 = Member of the Carson City Council | office2 = Member of the Water Replenishment District of Southern California for the 5th Division | term_start = 2015–2020 | term_start2 = 1992 | term_start1 = 2013 | term_end1 = 2015 | education = University of Colorado Boulder <br/> UC Berkeley School of Law <br/> University of Southern California | term_end2 = 2018 | successor2 = Vera Robles DeWitt | predecessor = Jim Dear | successor1 = Jawane Hilton | successor = Lula Davis-Holmes | birth_date = {{birth year and age|1969}} }} '''Albert Robles''' is an American politician of the Democratic Party who has served as a local elected official 1992-2020 representing Carson, California, culminating as mayor of the city 2015-2020. When first elected in 1992 he was California's youngest person to hold public office. Prior to his appointment as mayor, he served on the Carson City Council. Robles has also served the Water Replenishment District of Southern California, at times concurrently with his service on the Carson city council. The concurrent service has been the subject of a legal challenge.
== Biography == Robles was born in the Mexican state of Sonora in 1969, but grew up in the city Carson, CA.
==Education== Robles earned a dual Bachelors from the University of Colorado at Boulder,{{Citation needed|date=April 2018}} a Juris Doctor degree from the UC Berkeley School of Law<ref name=":1">{{cite web|url=http://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-robles-residency-20150907-story.html|title=Does Carson's mayor, a leader in the city's NFL stadium push, live in Carson?|last=Fenno|first=Nathan|last2=Pringle|first2=Paul|date=September 7, 2015|website=Los Angeles Times|access-date=April 23, 2018|last3=Winton|first3=Richard}}</ref> and a master's degree from the University of Southern California, where he was a USC Merit Scholarship recipient.{{Citation needed|date=April 2018}}
==Career== Robles was first elected to public office in 1992 when he was 23 years old to the Water Replenishment District of Southern California Board of Directors, representing Division 5. In 1992 he was the youngest elected official in California. He is the youngest Director elected to the WRD board and has been re-elected to seven terms, most recently in 2016. In 2013, he was elected to the Carson City Council. He became mayor in 2015 to fill a vacancy created by the resignation of Mayor Jim Dear.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.dailybreeze.com/2016/10/11/albert-robles-is-best-choice-for-mayor-in-carson-endorsement/|title=Albert Robles is best choice for mayor in Carson: Endorsement|last=Editorial board|date=October 11, 2016|work=Daily Breeze|access-date=April 23, 2018|language=en-US}}</ref> In 2016, Carson voters re-elected Robles, who received 55.2 percent of the vote over former Mayor Dear.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.dailybreeze.com/2016/11/09/carson-mayor-albert-robles-city-council-incumbents-win/|title=Carson Mayor Albert Robles, City Council incumbents win|last=Mazza|first=Carson|date=November 9, 2016|website=Daily Breeze|access-date=April 22, 2018}}</ref>
Robles was a strong supporter for an NFL stadium to be built in Carson. During one press conference Robles wore a mashup jersey featuring the logos for both the Chargers and the Raiders.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.voiceofsandiego.org/topics/news/the-strange-road-to-a-football-stadium-in-kooky-little-carson/|title=The Strange Road to a Football Stadium in Carson|last=Dillon|first=Liam|date=July 27, 2015|website=Voice of San Diego|access-date=April 23, 2018}}</ref>
Robles represented former South Gate treasurer Albert T. Robles (no relation) during the appeal of the latter's earlier 2004 corruption conviction.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|url=http://www.latimes.com/local/la-me-little-al-robles-20130614-dto-htmlstory.html|title='Little' Al Robles' big job: Make his own name in politics|last=Sewell|first=Abbey|last2=Becerra|first2=Hector|date=June 14, 2013|website=Los Angeles Times|access-date=April 23, 2018}}</ref>
===2006 Vernon city elections=== Robles was involved in the controversial 2006 elections in Vernon, California, the first elections held in that city since 1980. Robles represented the challengers in the city council election who moved into an abandoned building in the city so they could register to vote.<ref name=":0" /><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://archive.boston.com/news/nation/articles/2006/10/20/incumbents_win_disputed_calif_election/|title=Incumbents win disputed Calif. election|agency=Associated Press|date=October 20, 2006|website=The Boston Globe|language=en|access-date=April 23, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.npr.org/templates/transcript/transcript.php?storyId=5367154|title=A Political Tempest in an L.A.-Area Industrial City|last=Block|first=Melissa|date=April 27, 2006|work=NPR|access-date=April 23, 2018|language=en}}</ref> The Vernon city clerk accused Albert T. Robles of being involved in the scheme.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://articles.latimes.com/2006/feb/12/local/me-vernon12/2|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150702152409/http://articles.latimes.com/2006/feb/12/local/me-vernon12/2|url-status=dead|archive-date=July 2, 2015|title=Vernon Shoo-Ins Shoo Outsiders|last=Becerra|first=Hector|date=February 12, 2006|work=Los Angeles Times|access-date=April 23, 2018|language=en-US|issn=0458-3035}}</ref> A court upheld the candidates' right to run in the election.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.metnews.com/articles/2009/giro011409.htm|title=Court Sides With Voters in Challenge by City of Vernon|last=Ellis|first=Steven M.|date=January 14, 2009|website=Metropolitan News-Enterprise|access-date=April 23, 2018}}</ref> Afterwards, Leonis C. Malburg, the mayor of Vernon, was indicted and eventually convicted of conspiracy, perjury, and voter fraud.<ref name=convicted>[https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2009-dec-05-la-me-vernon5-2009dec05-story.html LA Times: "Vernon's ex-mayor and his wife are convicted of voter fraud"]; 5 December 2009</ref><ref name=justice>[https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2009-dec-09-la-ed-vernon9-2009dec09-story.html LA Times: "Justice comes to Vernon, The former longtime mayor of the 'exclusively industrial' city loses a court fight and is convicted of voter fraud"]; 9 December 2009 . (accessed 17 July 2015)</ref>
===Campaign for Los Angeles County District Attorney=== In 2008, Robles ran against Steve Cooley in the election for Los Angeles County District Attorney, receiving 20% of the vote coming in second among three candidates.<ref name=":0" /> During the campaign, Robles faced misdemeanor charges filed against him by Cooley's office in November 2007. Robles was charged with printing a pair of political mailers without a return address and expending more than $100 cash in a political campaign. Robles accused Cooley of direct involvement in the charges brought against him because of a personal vendetta and to effect outcome of the election.<ref name="notguilty">{{cite web|url=https://www.whittierdailynews.com/2008/10/22/jury-finds-water-board-member-albert-robles-not-guilty/|title=Jury finds water board member Albert Robles not guilty|last=Scruby|first=Airan|date=October 22, 2008|website=Whittier Daily News|accessdate=November 18, 2010}}</ref> Cooley denied those allegations.<ref name="notguilty"/> Although Robles lost to Cooley in June 2008, a jury found Robles not guilty of all charges after deliberating for only twenty (20) minutes<ref name="notguilty"/><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.whittierdailynews.com/2008/01/17/water-official-going-on-trial-over-campaign-fliers/|title=Water official going on trial over campaign fliers|last=Scuby|first=Airan|date=January 17, 2008|website=Whittier Daily News|accessdate=November 18, 2010}}</ref> and he was re-elected in November 2008 to his seat on the Water Replenishment board.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.whittierdailynews.com/2008/11/05/robles-keeps-water-board-seat/|title=Robles keeps water board seat|last=Sprague|first=Mike|date=November 5, 2008|website=Whittier Daily News|accessdate=November 18, 2010}}</ref>
==Controversies== Robles faced multiple campaign finance violations for failing to submit documents during the 2012 and 2016 elections.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.dailybreeze.com/2016/10/10/carson-mayor-albert-robles-faces-more-state-campaign-finance-accusations/|title=Carson Mayor Albert Robles faces more state campaign finance accusations|last=Sprague|first=Mike|date=October 10, 2016|website=Daily Breeze|access-date=April 23, 2018}}</ref> He initially had been ordered to pay at least $85,000 in fines,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.fppc.ca.gov/content/dam/fppc/documents/Stipulations/2016/July/53%20-%20Memo%20to%20Commission%20Assignment%20to%20ALJ%20-%20Albert%20Robles.pdf|title=Memoradum To: Chair Remke, and Commissioners Audero, Casher, Wasserman and Wynne|last=Peth|first=Erin V.|last2=West|first2=Galena|date=July 6, 2016|website=California Fair Political Practices Commission|access-date=April 23, 2018|last3=Castillo|first3=Bridgette}}</ref> and agreed to pay $12,000 to settle the violations.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-ln-albert-robles-fines-campaign-20161219-story.html|title=Carson mayor agrees to pay $12,000 in fines to resolve campaign finance law violations|last=Winton|first=Richard|date=December 19, 2016|website=Los Angeles Times|access-date=April 23, 2018}}</ref>
Robles was also the subject of a sexual harassment suit brought by another Water Replenishment District director after losing a re-election campaign for the position in 2014. The former appointed director was the daughter of former CA Lieutenant Governor, Congressman, and Assemblyman Mervyn Dymally, but Robles denied the allegation.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-ln-carson-mayor-sexual-harassment-suit-20150513-story.html|title=Carson mayor accused by daughter of Mervyn Dymally of sexual harassment|last=Hamilton|first=Matt|date=May 13, 2015|website=Los Angeles Times|access-date=April 23, 2018}}</ref> The judge in the case dismissed the unverified action with prejudice.{{Citation needed|date=April 2018}} In 2016, Los Angeles County prosecutors sued Robles to prevent him from keeping his seat on the Water Replenishment Board, claiming that a person cannot serve as mayor (or city council member) and water board member at the same time.<ref name=times16/>
Robles is the subject of a separate probe by county prosecutors over his city of residence. The ''Los Angeles Times'' reported that Robles is actually living in the Adams-Normandie neighborhood of Los Angeles, but he is claiming he resides at his parents’ home in Carson.<ref name=":1" /><ref name="times16">{{cite web|url=http://www.latimes.com/local/california/la-me-robles-da-20160127-story.html|title=County prosecutors are trying to stop Carson's mayor from also serving on a water board|last=Lin|first=Rong-Gong II|last2=Vives|first2=Ruben|date=January 27, 2016|website=Los Angeles Times|access-date=April 23, 2018}}</ref>
Robles was also facing a state ethics inquiry after "failing to submit state-required disclosure statements for his political campaign finances and personal economic interests for both his elected jobs."<ref name=times16/> This also became part of the $12,000 settlement.{{Citation needed|date=April 2018}}
Robles was scrutinized due to his alleged intent for potential pension spiking.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.dailybreeze.com/2020/12/16/former-carson-mayor-could-add-millions-to-his-pension-if-water-district-hires-him-to-6-month-job|title=Former Carson mayor could add millions to his pension if water district hires him to 6-month job|date=December 17, 2020}}</ref>
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== *[http://ci.carson.ca.us/Government/Mayor.aspx Official Carson, CA Mayor Attorney Albert Robles Biography] *[http://www.wrd.org/content/albert-robles Official Water Replenishment District of Southern California Division 5 Bio] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180302103836/http://www.wrd.org/content/albert-robles |date=2018-03-02 }}
{{Portal bar|Biography|California|Politics|United States}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Robles, Albert}} Category:Living people Category:California Democrats Category:1969 births Category:Mayors of Carson, California