Compton treasurer candidate delinquent on child support, bankruptcy payments
City of Compton residents have rejected long-time City Treasurer Doug Sanders and will seek to replace him on June 1 during the city’s General Election. The top two candidates have strong professional backgrounds, while one candidate is dodging questions surrounding his personal financial shortcomings.
Compton Unified Board Trustee Satra Zurita has served the city’s students for sixteen years, and is seeking the treasurer’s seat campaigning on transparency and points to the Compton Unified School District finances as proof she understands fiscal policy, and the importance of timely reporting to the public and governmental entities.
“I have a proven track record of ensuring transparency in the school district’s finances, and want to bring my expertise to the city,” said Zurita. “The district has a balanced budget every year, and are always in compliance in regulatory reporting.”
She points to the district’s website, which details all financial reporting, along with the board’s implementing new policies and procedures which resulted in increased revenue for the district’s students.
“We upgraded our attendance software, which netted us additional funds for our students,” said Zurita.
Zurita proudly served city residents, working for the city of Compton, until her retirement early this year.
“As a Senior Analyst I was responsible for a wide range of duties, which included developing and monitoring departmental budgets,” said Zurita. “I am qualified for the position and believe the residents know based on my more than 28 years of service to the Compton Community, beginning with Meals on Wheels.”
The city of Compton has received scathing reports of employee’s embezzling taxpayer funds, late reporting to the state of California and misuse of taxpayer funds, earmarked for street repairs, and a state audit revealing that the city controller’s office failed to properly account for reimbursements on the city’s credit cards.
Brandon Mims, served as the city’s interim deputy controller, and was unable to increase transparency in the department, during his time in City Hall.
“I’ve worked in the city for seven years,” says Mims. “Accuracy, accountability and responsiveness are important to me.”
“It’s critical to account for funds coming into the city so we don’t find ourselves in a $113 million deficit,” said Mims.
Mims has also acknowledged he is under a “gag order” and unable to publicly discuss why he his no longer employed with the Water Replenishment District.
Mayor Aja Brown has rejected the community’s assertions that the city is facing a $113 million debt, that was accumulated during Mims’ time serving in the controller’s office. Mims was also employed when a city employee embezzled close to $4 million from the treasurer’s office.
Debt accrues when the city is spending more than they are taking in and with the constant turnover in the controller’s office, no one was ringing the alarm on the city’s overspending.
Mims’ position on “accuracy and accountability” is questionable.
Court records show he has filed for bankruptcy, and is currently in arrears for his child support.
“The most critical part of being a publicly elected City Treasurer is being accountable to the residents that voted you in,” said Mims.
Mims has refused to be accountable to voters by declining all interview requests related to clarifying how he will ensure the city’s funds aren’t handled in the same manner he handles his personal finances.
Voters have until June 1 to cast their ballot for city treasurer.
People who live in glass houses, shouldn’t throw stones!!!!
I can’t believe all the negativity being said about the candidates. People need to focus whether they are qualified to do the job or not. But all this ill propaganda will soon go away. June 1st 2021 is the day of decision.
Voting is actually taking place now. Have you received your ballot?
Spoken like a true unbiased individual! thumbs up!!!
How much are u all getting paid to smear Mims? Like we don’t see what ur doing… please…
I have no clue who put together that website but are you saying that the bankruptcy documents are false ?
Why is 2Urban Girls so one sided!
They smear the names of some and shield the wrong doings of others.
Hi Ken!
What are we “shielding” exactly?
You’re not discussing how Satra Zurita still owes the City money from the last time she ran (for City Clerk). If she can’t manage her money well enough to pay the City back a few hundred, how can she manage millions?
Call Akita’s office and ask her. Isn’t that HER job to collect fees from candidates and based on what was discussed during the council meeting, she wasn’t the only person owing the city clerks office.
But she is the only one running for treasurer right now, the others who may owe are irrelevant at this point.
and who is Akita?
2UrbanGirls is trash.
I don’t like Smear Campaigns. One of the candidate is on the school board and our enrollment is down in our schools. We are waiting for a new school to be built as of now we don’t know when that is going to happen. Stop digging up dirt on other people.
Enrollment is down across LA County. A candidate seeking to control the city’s money, shouldn’t have issues with his own finances.
It’s like I mentioned in another comment I made to you, 2urbangirls, “If you haven’t had some personal life, financial situations in your lifetime, PLEASE write a book and tell us how you did it”!!! Further more, I’m a little disappointed with 2urbangirls. I would think a publication such as yours would be more unbiased and fair to any candidate running, but I see that is not the case. Although time has fogged the mind of most residents of Compton about the Zurita’s there are those of us who are not blinded by the humble smiles and all the pinkness. She has to run a smear campaign to hide the fact she has only preschool qualifications compared to her opponent.
Well I can read and although Brandon holds a bachelors and masters degree, neither are in finance. Calling himself a “public finance manager” means he acquired his “finance” skills on the job. His opponent has been approving multi million dollar budgets on the school board for over a decade, while his job was to pay the city’s bills and if I’m correct the city is in the midst of a $113 million deficit (his words) and hasn’t discussed how he’s going to fight the corruption he saw on a daily basis working in city hall. Did he alert the authorities? How does a councilwoman allege an employee was committing time card fraud and they didn’t bring charges against them or fire them? Especially if there’s “evidence” floating around of them walking past the time clock?
There you go again, being biased. What better way of getting knowledge if not on the job along with DEGREES with an “S”. And his opponent approved multi million dollar budgets on the school board for over a decade! UUMM Now you see why she really don’t need to be City treasurer, our schools have been inadequate for over a decade.
Was she aware of what she was approving or didn’t know how??? Something to think about voters!!!
Have your kids attended a school in CUSD?
Yes! And when my child was promoted and had to attend the next level in my area, I visited that school, took a tour, and the very next day I hit the pavement in search for a more kid friendly, better equipped school, with more to offer. Our students in our city deserve better. And FYI, I was a PTA parent.
Enrollment is down? Waiting for a new school to be built and don’t know when its going to happen? Well here is the answer to statement #1: Enrollment is down across the County of Los Angeles and State of California. #2 Compton school district gives a full accounting for funds being used for the construction of the new compton high school and a timeline. the timeline might be off considering everything has been shutdown for the last year for covid. here is a link: https://www.compton.k12.ca.us/newcomptonhs and just for gags if you didn’t hear the news, Compton Early College was ranked among the top 100 public high schools in California by U.S. News and World Report. here is the link: https://cechs-compton-ca.schoolloop.com/
We are not just speaking about this year. How many years has our school district been substandard under the present school district OIC’s (Satra’s watch). Only one school out of many was mentioned being in the top 100 and we are suppose to be proud of that? LOL!!! Give Me a Break!!! I wouldn’t be surprised if it is not a charter school within the district (Compton Early College)??? Something to think about voters!!
How many years have our school district been substandard? Thats a good question for the teachers. The Teachers are responsible for the education in the classroom. Compton Early College is a partnership with Compton College and Compton School District no charter.
PARTNERSHIP?? Close enough!!! You made the point!
Thank u!!!