From: Weigand, Erik
To: Ronald Rubino; [email protected]; [email protected] Cc: Jurjis, Seimone; Harp, Aaron; Shumway, Lena
Subject: Police Headquarters Advisory Committee
Date: June 21, 2026 8:14:29 PM
Dear Mr. Rubino,
I have been reviewing our City Council agenda and noticed that of the 31 applicants to seek a citizen member position on the Police Headquarters Advisory Committee, you were recommended to serve by the subcommittee of Councilmembers Kleiman, Blom and Weber.
For the Council record, I would like to ask you some questions regarding your application, as well as your previous history with the County of Orange.
1. In your application, you listed “no” on the section that asks: “Have you ever been convicted of any crime or violation of any law or statute other than minor traffic violations?” A quick Google search of your name reveals many articles highlighting a falsifying records conviction related to Orange County’s 1994 bankruptcy. I can see that the Judge at the time stated if you were to complete 100 hours of community service and held good public standing for two years, you could come back in a year and the conviction would be removed from your records.
Seeing that this occurred, can you explain why you did not select “yes” in the application? I have reviewed applications from individuals who have applied for various Boards and Commissions. In the past, I’ve come across those who clicked “yes” and seen them state their records were expunged, yet they still let us know. Did any of this at all come up during your discussions with the subcommittee when you were interviewed?
2. In your application you specifically highlight your role at the County as the former Information Systems Director and besides the letters of recommendation attached to your application, you make no mention of your role as Director of Budget and Management. Was your role with Information Systems before or after your role as Director of Budget and Management? Did you remain employed at the County of Orange after your conviction in October of 1996? At what date did you end your employment with the County of Orange? The County declared bankruptcy in December of 1994 and all letters you provided, except one, are prior to that date.
Seeing that this committee will be tasked with finding a location of a new police station, with estimates stating costs will be approximately $150mm, you can see why one might be concerned with someone being on the committee who was the County’s Director of Management and Budget during the time of what was then the country’s largest Chapter 9 bankruptcy.
I’m concerned that the opportunity existed for you to clarify your past and to simply explain that the issue occurred and you handle the issue accordingly, yet you left this open for someone like me to question why you failed to tell us.
This is not necessarily a disqualification for the role but I feel like leaving this information out was intentional.
I’m hopeful you will reply back with some answers to these important questions prior to our meeting at 4pm on Tuesday.
Thank you.
Sincerely,
Erik Weigand
CC: Seimone Jurjis, Aaron Harp, Lena Shumway
Sent from my iPad
From: Ron Rubino
To: Weigand, Erik
Cc: Jurjis, Seimone; Harp, Aaron; Shumway, Lena
Subject: Re: Police Headquarters Advisory Committee
Date: June 22, 2026 1:30:26 PM
Attachments: Rubino record cleared.pdf
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Good morning, Councilman Weigand.
I am providing responses to your questions about my application for the Police Headquarters Advisory Committee.
Q1. In your application, you listed “no” on the section that asks: “Have you ever been convicted of any crime or violation of any law or statute other than minor traffic violations?” A quick Google search of your name reveals many articles highlighting a falsifying records conviction related to Orange County’s 1994 bankruptcy. I can see that the Judge at the time stated if you were to complete 100 hours of community service and held good public standing for two years, you could come back in a year and the conviction would be removed from your records.
Seeing that this occurred, can you explain why you did not select “yes” in the application? I have reviewed applications from individuals who have applied for various Boards and Commissions. In the past, I’ve come across those who clicked “yes” and seen them state their records were expunged, yet they still let us know. Did any of this at all come up during your discussions with the subcommittee when you were interviewed? RR: Attached is the OC Register story 11/24/1997 when Judge J. Stephen Czuleger accepted my change of plea to not guilty and expunged my misdemeanor charges. I had agreed to a no-contest plea on the condition that the District Attorney's Office and the court reconsider it 12 months after trial. The cost of defense and the need to secure employment required me to accept this approach, which delayed my being found not guilty of false charges. I was instructed by my attorney that, when filling out employment applications, I can answer that I have not been convicted of a felony or misdemeanor. When asked a direct question like yours, I always provide the full answer.
This was not discussed during my interview.
The bankruptcy was caused by the OC Tax Collector Treasurer and his Chief Deputy, who made poor investment decisions and prepared false reports. We now know they were lying to elected officials, County, City, and School officials, County department officials, and the public over a long period of time. The bankruptcy was caused by poor investment decisions, improper interest allocations, and false reporting by the Treasurer's office. Many lives were unfairly affected by the illegal actions of the elected County Treasurer, and the negative impact on my professional life was among the worst.
My trust in elected officials was forever changed by this experience, and it has made me an advocate of good government and communications practices in Newport Beach for the past 25 years. My service to the Eastbluff Homeowners Association Board of Directors since 2013 is validation of my integrity and commitment to good government.
Q2. In your application, you specifically highlight your role at the County as the former Information Systems Director, and besides the letters of recommendation attached to your application, you make no mention of your role as Director of Budget and Management. Was your role with Information Systems before or after your role as Director of Budget and Management? Did you remain employed at the County of Orange after your conviction in October of 1996? At what date did you end your employment with the County of Orange? The County declared bankruptcy in December of 1994, and all letters you provided, except one, are prior to that date.
RR: I served as an Assistant Director of the General Services Agency, and was promoted during this time to Director of Information Systems. This included management of the County's computer and telephone systems, as well as County emergency radio communications. The position in the County Administrative Office was after the GSA IS position. During the four years from 1990 to 1994, I was Director of Management & Budget, reporting to the County CAO. I resigned from County employment in April 1994 after 20 years to accept a position as a consultant in the private sector. This was prior to the County declaring bankruptcy.
Here is a summary of my complete County 20-year employment history:
Auditor-Controller's Office 1974 to 1982
General Services Agency Assistant Director 1982 - 1984
General Services Agency Information Services Director 1985 - 1990 County Administrative Office - Assistant Admin Officer, Management & Budget 1990 - 1994 Left County Employment April 15, 1994 for a private sector consulting position Bankruptcy & Trial Summary
Dec 6, 1994 County of Orange declares bankruptcy
April 27, 1995 OC Treasurer Tax Collector Robert Citron pleads guilty to six felony counts Dec 13, 1995 Grand Jury accuses two County supervisors, County Auditor-Controller, County Treasurer-Tax Collector and Assistant
Treasurer-Tax Collector of charges related to bankruptcy Dec 13, 1995 Grand Jury indicts Ron Rubino on 2 counts of aiding and abetting Sept 13, 1996 Rubino trial ends with a hung jury 10 - 2 in favor of acquittal Oct 1996: Judge Czuleger recommends a plea-bargaining agreement for a no-contest plea to misdemeanor charges and sentences Rubino to 100 hours of community service, with review and reconsideration in 12 months.
Nov 24, 1997 Judge Czuleger approves plea change to not guilty, dismisses all charges, and expunges Rubino's record.
I hope this fully answers all your questions. I hope the City Council will allow me to serve the community on the committee evaluating the Police Department Building at the Civic Center Park. I believe education, work experience, business ownership, experience in government processes, and community volunteering make me an excellent candidate.
Sincerely,
Ron Rubino
________________________________________
From: Weigand, Erik <[email protected]>
Sent: Sunday, June 21, 2026 8:14 PM
To: Ronald Rubino; Ron Rubino; [email protected] Cc: Jurjis, Seimone; Harp, Aaron; Shumway, Lena
Subject: Police Headquarters Advisory Committee
Dear Mr. Rubino,
I have been reviewing our City Council agenda and noticed that of the 31 applicants to seek a citizen member position on the Police Headquarters Advisory Committee, you were recommended to serve by the subcommittee of Councilmembers Kleiman, Blom and Weber.
For the Council record, I would like to ask you some questions regarding your application, as well as your previous history with the County of Orange.
1. In your application, you listed “no” on the section that asks: “Have you ever been convicted of any crime or violation of any law or statute other than minor traffic violations?” A quick Google search of your name reveals many articles highlighting a falsifying records conviction related to Orange County’s 1994 bankruptcy. I can see that the Judge at the time stated if you were to complete 100 hours of community service and held good public standing for two years, you could come back in a year and the conviction would be removed from your records.
Seeing that this occurred, can you explain why you did not select “yes” in the application? I have reviewed applications from individuals who have applied for various Boards and Commissions. In the past, I’ve come across those who clicked “yes” and seen them state their records were expunged, yet they still let us know. Did any of this at all come up during your discussions with the subcommittee when you were interviewed?
2. In your application you specifically highlight your role at the County as the former Information Systems Director and besides the letters of recommendation attached to your application, you make no mention of your role as Director of Budget and Management. Was your role with Information Systems before or after your role as Director of Budget and Management? Did you remain employed at the County of Orange after your conviction in October of 1996? At what date did you end your employment with the County of Orange? The County declared bankruptcy in December of 1994 and all letters you provided, except one, are prior to that date.
Seeing that this committee will be tasked with finding a location of a new police station, with estimates stating costs will be approximately $150mm, you can see why one might be concerned with someone being on the committee who was the County’s Director of Management and Budget during the time of what was then the country’s largest Chapter 9 bankruptcy.
I’m concerned that the opportunity existed for you to clarify your past and to simply explain that the issue occurred and you handle the issue accordingly, yet you left this open for someone like me to question why you failed to tell us.
This is not necessarily a disqualification for the role but I feel like leaving this information out was intentional.
I’m hopeful you will reply back with some answers to these important questions prior to our meeting at 4pm on Tuesday.
Thank you.
Sincerely,
Erik Weigand
CC: Seimone Jurjis, Aaron Harp, Lena Shumway
Sent from my iPad
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