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Did Mayor Vaus Break the Law?

BY HIRAM SOTO

Friday, October 29, 2021

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HAPPY FRIDAY, NEIGHBORS. We were not planning a newsletter today, but felt compelled to try to address the BIG question of the week: DID POWAY MAYOR STEVE VAUS BREAK FEDERAL LAW by failing to report more than $50,000 in charitable donations to the IRS?

Records show he did, according to a group of Powegians who announced an effort to recall him this week. They allege Vaus took money from companies that do business with the city through his Carols by Candlelight event — including money from SDG&E, Cox and EDCO — and failed to tell feds about it as required by law. Beyond the allegations, they point to his years-long record of erasing Poway’s “City in the Country” lifestyle with unchecked, unabated development.

It's spooky scary — especially on a Halloween weekend — to think Vaus might have hidden $$$ from companies that benefit directly from the overdevelopment of our city. It’s almost as scary as the 40 percent increase in water rates he and the rest of the City Council are planning to vote on this upcoming Tuesday.

Proponents, which include local activist Chris Olps, held a press conference behind the new three-story Poway Commons housing development. Here's what that development looks like from a neighbor’s front yard:

Vaus did not respond to media requests for interviews, but he did provide a response to the recall where he blasted the messengers. Coverage was swift. Here are some quotes from the stories:

• FOX5: “Vaus failed to report financial disclosures relating to fundraising for an event called Carols by Candlelight”

• ABC News: “A three-story currently being built called Poway Commons will tower over a neighborhood of single-family homes to the west”

• KUSI: Yes, even KUSI, Vaus’ “safe space,” ran a piece on it. Click here to download the clip (sorry, the station didn't post a link)

The lone individual that came to Vaus’s defense was Poway Chamber of Commerce President BRIAN PEPIN, a candidate for City Council who is a former lobbyist for a Sacramento developer who tried to build 50 homes on Metate Lane in 2017. He did this interview with KPBS reporter Kitty Alvarado.

Like Vaus, HE DIDN’T ADDRESS THE ALLEGATIONS and instead focused on the cost of the election. The Registrar of Voters estimates it would cost $30-$50k and would potentially take place during at the same time as the June primary elections.

Vaus and Pepin go way back. Pepin is also the president of the developer-funded San Diego County Lincoln Club — which manages a political PAC that supported Vaus’s failed campaign for Supervisor. Vaus appointed Pepin to Poway’s Budget Review Committee presumably to help him out with his campaign.

THIS IS A GOOD TIME TO POINT OUT WHY THE POWEGIAN EXISTS. It is precisely to connect these dots so voters can see how the powers that be set themselves up to stay in power and decide the future of Poway by themselves. WHERE IS THE CHIEFTAIN IN ALL OF THIS? Will they ask the hard questions or just quote what Vaus has to say and call it a day?

WE’LL END WITH THE IRONY OF IT ALL: While proponents get ready to raise money and rally volunteers to get the necessary 6k+ signatures to spark a recall for the June primary election, it’s worth remembering that Mayor Vaus got to the Poway City Council by leading a charge to recall City Councilwoman Betty Rexford in 2010. Only problem was his allegations against the Councilwoman Rexford turned out to be totally false.

Vaus can only hope the allegations against him are false too. Only he can prove otherwise if he decides to come forward.

But even then, it might be even harder to defend the rest of his record.

GOOD WEEKEND TO ALL!!