IS FORMER STOCKTON MAYOR MICHAEL TUBBS NEXT?

With news that Newsom is under investigation by the FBI for possible crimes involving millions of dollars that were allegedly directed to his wife’s “nonprofit” business, we see a strong similarity with how Tubbs operated as mayor of Stockton. In fact the modus operandi appears to be very similar.

Between 2018 and 2020, Tubbs used his position as mayor to solicit approximately $5.29 million in behested payments for the Reinvent Stockton Foundation, which he founded using his mother Coco’s address.

During that same period, Michael Tubbs simultaneously served as Chair of the foundation while serving as Stockton’s mayor. He also voted on agenda items that involved interests in some of the donors.

In January 2024, the FPPC fined Tubbs for not filing eight behested-payment reports as required. The FPPC concluded Tubbs’ case consisted of reporting violations.

After losing reelection in November 2020, Tubbs was appointed by Governor Gavin Newsom as California’s Special Advisor for Economic Mobility and Opportunity.

IRS Form 990 filings show the Reinvent Stockton Foundation paid Tubbs $812,723 between 2021 and 2024. THIS SALARY IS PRESUMABLY BEING PAID WITH THE SAME FUNDS HE RAISED AS MAYOR.

The timeline has drawn additional attention because during part of this period, his partner Lange Luntao served as the Reinvent’s Executive Director while also serving as the president for Stockton Unified School District. SUSD participated in programs that helped identify students for Stockton Scholars, operated by Reinvent.

Meanwhile, Governor Newsom has publicly acknowledged reports that he and his wife Jennifer Siebel Newsom are subjects of a federal investigation for similar activities. Gavin was also fined $31,000 by the FPPC, like Tubbs, for the same reasons.

With investigators reportedly examining nonprofit-related activities connected to organizations that received behested payments, some are asking:

Is Michael Tubbs next?

Editorial note: 209 Times is in the process of reviewing previous city zoning decisions under Tubbs’ mayoral tenure and any possible intersection between Tubbs’ nonprofit fundraising.