Filings show Fullerton’s police and firefighter associations have spent more than $150,000 on city elections since 2020 — including maximum donations to one of the officials now facing removal

A mass text message has been sent to Fullerton residents urging them not to sign recall petitions against Council Member Jamie Valencia. The message claims that a special election could waste between $800,000 and $1 million of taxpayer money, but it does not provide a source for this claim. Neither the Fullerton City Clerk’s office nor the Orange County Registrar of Voters has confirmed this estimate. The message is backed by the “Fullerton Police Officers Association Issues Committee,” though no such committee appears in state campaign finance records.

In 2024, the Fullerton Police Officers’ Association donated $5,500 to Valencia, which is the maximum allowed under state law. The Fullerton Firefighters Association also contributed another $5,500. Together, these two unions provided about a quarter of the $46,777 Valencia raised for her campaign.

The text arrived unsolicited and featured bold characters and police and fire emojis. It states,

“OPPOSE THE COSTLY FULLERTON RECALL – SUPPORT 🚔 POLICE / 🚒 FIRE – DO NOT SIGN THE PETITION. Your Fullerton Police Officers and Firefighters strongly oppose the recall of Council Member Valencia. Council Member Valencia has stood by public safety and supported efforts to keep you and your family safe! A special recall election could waste $800,000 to $1 million of your tax dollars! This funding should go toward essential city services, emergency response, and critical public safety resources. Stand with Fullerton Police Officers and Firefighters and pledge to NOT SIGN the costly recall petition. Can we count on you to OPPOSE this unnecessary and expensive recall? Reply YES / NO – Paid for by the Fullerton Police Officers Association Issues Committee.”

This messaging style is not new. In November 2021, the Fullerton Police Officers Association sent a similar alert criticizing other council members regarding budget cuts, which they described as “defunding” the police.

“Public Safety Alert: While violent crime continues to overwhelm Fullerton, Mayor Whitaker & Council-Member Dunlap continue their attempt to DEFUND your Fullerton PD.”

By any ordinary definition, both officials were police supporters; they were weighing a proposed 5 percent budget reduction during a fiscal crunch. Both publicly objected to the union’s framing.

The $800,000 to $1 million figure is significant, but it lacks a reliable source. In comparison, the last recall in Fullerton in 2012 cost between $129,000 and $160,000 because it was combined with a statewide primary election. Whether this potential recall will result in a standalone election, which is more costly, is still undecided.

The disclaimer identifies the text as being paid for by the “Fullerton Police Officers Association Issues Committee.” However, this committee is not registered in state financial records. This group may be newly formed and has not yet filed paperwork. The message also claims that Fullerton firefighters oppose the recall, but the police committee funded it solely, leaving the firefighters’ involvement unclear.

Both the Fullerton Police Officers Association and the Fullerton Firefighters Association have their own political action committees. They use funds collected from member dues and public donations.

The money: cycle by cycle

All figures below come from Form 460 and 496 filings as compiled by the Fullerton Observer from city and state disclosure records.

2020 cycle

FPOA PAC contributions:
– $2,000 — Fred Jung, District 1
– $2,000 — Andrew Cho, District 1 (the opposing candidate in the same race)
– $1,000 — Nick Dunlap, District 2
– $500 — Chuck Sargent, District 2 (the opposing candidate in the same race)
– $5,000 — Izzy Claustro for OC Superior Court Judge
– $10,000 — Yes on Measure S (city sales tax)

Funding both sides of the same council race is a recognized influence strategy: whoever wins, the union has a relationship.

Firefighters Association PAC:
– $18,198 — independent expenditure supporting Aaruni Thakur, District 4 (mailers, website development, broadcast ads, video filming, voter data, email blasts, consulting)
– $18,198 — independent expenditure supporting Fred Jung, District 1 (same package)
– $1,000 — direct contribution to Thakur
– $10,000 — Yes on Measure S

Two independent expenditures of $18,198 each dwarf what most Fullerton council candidates raise in total.

2022 cycle

FPOA PAC independent expenditures:
– $38,150 in digital ads supporting Arnel Dino, District 3
– $20,232 in digital ads supporting Ahmad Zahra, District 5

That is $58,382 in outside spending in a single municipal election — money spent independently of the candidates, with no contribution limits.

Firefighters Association PAC: $4,900 direct contributions each to Shana Charles and Ahmad Zahra, plus $975 each in banners as independent expenditures.

2023–2024 cycle

Jamie Valencia, District 4 (first-time candidate, no prior public record) — total contributions of $46,777, of which:
– $5,500 — Fullerton Firefighters Association Local 3421
– $5,500 — Fullerton Police Officers Association PAC

The two public safety unions supplied roughly 24 percent of her entire campaign at the maximum permitted level.

Nick Dunlap, District 2:
– $5,500 — FPOA PAC
– $3,000 — Fullerton Firefighters 3421

Fred Jung, District 1:
– $2,500 — FPOA PAC
– $2,500 — Fullerton Fire Association PAC

Firefighters PAC, 2023: $5,500 to Josh Newman for State Senate.

All contribution figures are as reported in public campaign disclosure filings. Readers can verify them directly at ocvote.gov/campaign-finance-info and cal-access.sos.ca.gov.

Fullerton residents have repeatedly argued since 2011 that institutional self-interest is the problem when the institution’s employees help select their own employers.