Public records reveal candidate had a DUI, federal tax liens, suspended business licenses, debts, and more.
The Chula Vista City Council appointed Alonso Gonzales Jan. 31 to fill its District 3 vacancy, though it was revealed that the 46-year-old Gonzales neglected to disclose a number of shortcomings from his past on his candidacy application.
To start, Gonzalez was convicted of driving while under the influence in April 2011.
Chula Vista Mayor John McCann opposed the appointment of Gonzales due to this, noting that as someone who had a family member killed because of a drunk driver, he could not support someone with a DUI conviction under his belt.
Public records also revealed that Gonzales had a $44,300 federal tax lien filed against him in 2013 which he said was the result of early withdrawal of retirement funds to capitalize Pac Pro Real Estate Development, a real estate business he registered with the state in 2018, which had its license suspended in 2021.
In that same year, another business under Gonzalez, Sal & Sons LLC, later known as Imperial Auto Services, also had its license suspended in 2021.
Records also disclose a property owned by Gonzales and his father was repossessed in 2009 for default of their mortgage.
Seventeen candidates originally applied for the District 3 seat. Of those, ten were invited to interview for the post. Early in the process, councilmembers Andrea Cardenas, Jose Precaido and Carolina Chavez advanced another candidate, Devonna Almagro. The Democratic council members together form a majority block that dictate policy and appointments on the Chula Vista board.
Gonzalez’s appointment was the result of a 3-1 vote despite his past, which he will be hold until 2024. Mayor John McCann was the sole dissenter.
Several Chula Vistans had asked the city council to consider a public vote to fill the seat. Mayor McCann brought a motion for a special election but the board majority instead chose to appoint a candidate rather than hold a special election for public vote.
