Towing contract for the city of Irwindale comes under fire

By SHEL SEGAL
The towing contract for the city of Irwindale has come under fire by a local towing company after a former mayor was fined in August for receiving illegal campaign donations from another towing company, according to a published report.
Jan Qualkenbush of Azusa-based Jan’s Towing said in a recent interview he believes the contract process was “tainted.”
This comes as former Irwindale Mayor David “Chico” Fuentes was given a $2,000 fine by the state’s Fair Political Practices Commission as it learned that “Fuentes’ son solicited and accepted a donation from Baldwin Park-based Royal Coaches & Towing while the company was in contract negotiations with the city. The FPPC ruled a donation to Fuentes’ son is considered a donation to Fuentes, who was serving as mayor at the time. The legal limit for donations by a company to a public official is $420,” the report said.
Qualkenbush’s complaint is currently being looked at by the city of Irwindale, said City Attorney Fred Galante.
Jan’s Towing had been the exclusive towing provider for the city for around 10 years, Qualkenbush said, adding he thought the contract would once again be renewed once again by the Irwindale City Council two years ago.
“However, the council unanimously voted to split the contract with Jan’s Towing and Royal Coaches & Towing, against the police chief’s recommendation. Fuentes recused himself from the vote,” the report said.
Irwindale Police Chief Dennis Smith said he felt the towing contract should just go to one company.
“An exclusive tow operator would be the most efficient option to best serve the needs of the Irwindale Police Department and the service to our motoring community,” Smith wrote in a memo to the council.
Smith also said, according to city documents, that Jan’s Towing should get the exclusive contract.
The FPPC determined Fuentes was involved in discussions that determined the city should share its contract with more than one company, the report said.
(Shel Segal can be reached at ssegal@beaconmedianews.com and followed via Twitter @segallanded).