ST A TE OF CALIFORNI A
FAIR POLITI CA L PRA CT ICES CO MMI SS ION
1102 Q Street • Suite 3050 • Sacramento, CA 958 I 1
January 26, 2026
Steve Downs
Via email: [email protected]
Re: FPPC Complaint No. COM-01232026-00210; Steve Downs
Dear Steve Downs:
The Enforcement Division of the Fair Political Practices Commission enforces the provisions of the Political Reform Act (the "Act"). 1 The Enforcement Division received an anonymous complaint alleging that you may have violated the Act's conflict of interest and economic interests disclosure provisions. The complaint was filed against all those listed above.
The complainant alleges:
Conflict of Interest
General Rule (87100)
Rancho Mirage City Councilman Steve Downs has violated the Political Reform Act, codified in Government Code §§81000-91014. The specific violations include; 1.
Engaging in votes where there is a conflict of interest and 2. Filing false Forms 700 that omitted gifts and income received.
1. Conflict of Interest: Despite his business interests Steve Downs Never Recuses Himself Mr. Downs served on the City's Planning Commission from 2019 to 2021 and was appointed to the City Council in 2021. Since his 2019 appointment, he has never recused himself from voting as a Planning Commissioner, Council member, or during his time on the Riverside County Transportation Commission or other "outside" commissions.
Per official State Department of Real Estate filings, Councilman Downs is a current California real estate licensee (see attached). He is active with the Downs Team realty which lists Steve Downs on its webpage as being on, "The Downs Team. " Testimonials from clients on the Downs realty's webpage tab praise his services (see attached). His responsible broker Coldwell Banker's webpage confirms Mr. Downs has fifteen active listings, eleven of which are in Rancho Mirage (see attached). 1 The Political Reform Act is contained in Government Code sections 81000 through 91014, and all statutory references are to this code. The regulations of the Fair Political Practices Commission are contained in Sections l 8104 through I 8998 of Title 2 of the California Code of Regulations, and all regulatory references are to this source.
S '" \::i'"'-_ \\ ...u, t\ o .... \---.1,,,✓~ 010 /, ea / 'd -~ ~ c._ .. \-__.J C,0,._:;,,0v\ \'{\._Q_L,,-\ ~ ~ \?'0 "-l"-100-,()\('JL ._ --s (-..:,<::,.\v=,~.
Complaint No. COM-01232026-00210
Page2
As an active real estate broker, were there any votes, including but not limited to real estate developments, that were a conflict of interest requiring recusal under Government Code §87100?
This is not an innocent oversight, Mr. Downs is actively concealing his real estate business. On his bio on the City of Rancho Mirage webpage, he states he is, "Now retired from his real estate business, Steve concentrates his time on city council business and service ... on public boards and commissions." (see attached).
2. Form 700 filed by Steve Downs Omits Gifts & Income
Californ ia Form 700 Statement of Economic Interests filed by Mr. Downs on 3/8/2024 and 3/5/2025 has key omissions.
As shown above, Mr. Downs is active in real estate despite his bio on the city webpage which states in part that he is "no longer involved in real estate." (see attached). It is not believable for an experienced real estate agent with fifteen active listings has no income to report.
Form 700 Schedule C, which would publicly reveal his income from the Downs Team is left blank and not included. Schedule A-2 appears to be in conflict, as he identifies income received by the Steve & Geri Corp (former corporation of Steve and his wife Geri dissolved 6/14/24) as between $10,001 and $100,000.
Mr. Downs violated Government Code §89503 which prohibits gifts from any single source totaling more than $630 in a calendar year with gifts of $50 or more must be disclosed. Mr. Downs never reports any gifts or tickets or benefits he received.
Note that in 2024, the City allocated $200,000 to co-sponsor hosting the television show "Kelly and Mark" from a Rancho Mirage hotel. Mr. Downs boasted about the "great seats" he and his wife Geri received at that event. He did not perform any official or ceremonial function that day . The value of the tickets was never reported on Form 700 .
Mr. Downs is running for re-election this year, and the voters of Rancho Mirage deserve to know all the facts as soon as feasible .
At this time, we have not made any determination about the allegations made in the complaint.
We are requesting information, including documentation, about the allegations described above.
Please submit your response in writing within 14 days from the date of this letter to Vanessa Greer at vgreer@fppc .ca .gov. Upon receipt of your response, we will review the information to determine whether or not to investigate the allegations.
Sincerely,
Christopher Burton
Assistant Chief, Enforcement Division
CB:vg