Who is Andre Charles?
Andre Charles is some sort of political consultant for Democrat politicians and causes. That’s what he tells us on his rather uninformative website. What he does between elections is not mentioned. He is also the President of the North Orange County Democrats, and his name has surfaced in connection with the phony and perjurious Scott Markowitz candidacy in Fullerton last fall.
My current interest with Mr. Charles has to do with his activities in the same election. Why? Because he was paid $4000 by a political action committee sponsored by the United Food and Commercial Workers Local 324 – a union for grocery store employees. You may remember the name of this group: Working Families for Kitty Jaramillo.
“Working Families” worked hard for Jaramillo, funneling $60,000 through the national HQ in Washington to fund their support for Jaramillo. Charles got some of that gravy:
Well, there’s nothing wrong, so far. At least on the surface. He’s a Dem working for Dems and that’s his job, part time or otherwise. It probably seems a little strange that a grocery store worker’s union would be involved in a local, small-time election.
But of course that’s not the whole story. See, Working Families not only represents the guy trimming lettuce in the produce section of your supermarket; they also represent workers trimming another green growing thing, namely cannabis.
The real money motive in marijuana dispensaries comes from the legalized dope cartel itself, not the promise of the union dues of a few dozen workers; even the least cynical person must wonder a little exactly who ponied up that $60,000, laundered through the national HQ.
Anyway, I digress. The real issue here is not the disheveled Charles’s job, day or moonlight. It’s the fact that his better half is none other than Shana Charles, the bloviating and sanctimonious councilmember for District 3.
Let me synopsize: Mr. Charles is the financial beneficiary of four grand in marijuana lobby money to do something to prop up the campaign of Vivian Jaramillo, a vocal cannabis dispensary advocate. And his fellow beneficiary, Mrs. Charles, is in a position to agendize reopening the issue of legalized MJ in Fullerton and using it as a remedy for Fullerton’s budgetary woes. And she would also be able to influence the zoning regulations that make winners and losers in this business, to wit: the dispensary store owners and their immediate residential neighbors.
A few months ago the Kennedy Sisters – who scratch and peck out the Fullerton Observer – made sure to review the fall campaign financial activity of their enemies, Jung, Valencia, and Dunlap. They omitted investigation of the same for their failed darling, Jaramillo.
And they never once addressed the activities of Working Families during or after the election. The silence was deafening. Even if they had they would have glossed over the relationship of marijuana money and the spouse of a councilmember they hold dear.
When the defunct disaster known as Walk on Wilshire was in its oxygen tent, the Observer, Ahmad Zahra, and a few of their running dogs tried real hard to make a legal issue of campaign donors affecting council decisions. Hopefully the same solicitude for public probity will be applied, when appropriate, to Mrs. Charles, who was the direct beneficiary of a big monied interest that poured tens of thousands into a Fullerton political campaign.
I don’t recall which council meeting it was, but I’m sure one of the friends will remember when Shana Charles was lobbying the council (during a council meeting), excluding Valencia, to legalize cannabis in Fullerton. A little help from one of the friends, please?
The campaign only lasted a few weeks and he got $4000? For what, the dumb mailers and annoying walkers?
Looks like Derek & the Dopes got ripped off to me.
Curious, you should email her directly and ask for her stance on legal cannabis in Fullerton. Given her claim to be a champion of transparency, she should readily provide a straightforward answer. Right?
Check out the city’s video archives from the councils budget hearings in 2024.
Yeah, that couple makes sense….
You should be ashamed of yourselves. Doctor Charles is working hard for a healthier Fullerton!
The Ph D “doctor” needs to work hard on looking healthy herself first. Maybe it’s the lack of medical training that has her prioritizing wrong.
So is Shana Charles just another bleeding heart liberal or a proxy for MJ and other bad things for Fullerton?
That’s Shameless Charles, to you.
Where is her 700 form disclosing all of this?
Yeah, I’m sure Working Families is listed in the 0-10,000 category.
Uh oh.
Shameless hasn’t filed a Form 700 yet for this past year.
The name Shameless Charles is perfect. Why hasn’t anyone pointed the Form 700 fact out during public comments at a city council meeting? They are always criticizing Jung, Jamie, and Dunlap for everything they do. Isn’t this a violation of a law?
Where is the Fullerton Observer headline? Councilmember Dr. Shana Charles Has Illegally Not Filed Required Form 700. Councilmember Dr. Shana Charles Married To Democratic Party Chair.
No more pictures, I beg of you!!
Very sophomoric, moron.
Pink dresses cost money.
Her husband is the guy in charge of the local democrat party. And Jung and Jamie are the ones with the problem because they took donation money from Bushala? The office is supposed to be non-partisan. No wonder this city council is partisan. Her democrat party husband has a weighted opinion that outranks us.
Will bike lover and part time optometrist at Tapadia Eye Care, Anjali Tapadia, make a public comment on the clear conflict of interest of being married to a Democrat operative and someone who is financially benefitting from her relationship with campaigns and unions associated with them? Probably not.
The least comely couple I’ve ever seen, even for Fullerton.
Wasn’t that crazy bike lady stumping for the wasteful Walk On Wilshire too? Is she ever right or just righteous?
Pretty obvious the intentions of Shana Charles, and her cronies.
One of the spokes in the wheel of Fullertons regression.
Pretty sad to see my city of over 70 years tumble.
Well said Marlene! We have to stop Charles and her cronies!
What is Mr. Shana Charles’ involvement in the Markowitz scam? Shouldn’t the DA be charging him too? Are there others like Fullerton School Board Trustee Aaruni Thakur that need to disclose their involvement as well? Hearing a lot of things.
Both Charles’s were involved in the scam from it’s inception.
Exactly !
Action needs/must be taken.
TOTAL
CONFLICT OF INTEREST !