Chinese Developer Sinks Thousands in Late Cash to Carol Chen’s Reelection Campaign

Cerritos City Councilwoman Carol Chen.

Cerritos Councilwoman also loans herself $34,000

By Brian Hews and Brian Hews

Cerritos City Councilwoman Carol Chen has received $23,000 in late contributions in her efforts to win reelection with $5,000 coming from the developer of three large shopping, residential, and retirement projects in Artesia.

Zion Enterprises and Zion Enterprises, LLC, of San Clemente gave Chen’s campaign a check for $5,000 on January 23, according to campaign documents filed at the Cerritos City Clerk’s Office.

According to their company website, Zion Enterprises LLC says that they “develop incredibly diverse products, from commercial medical office buildings, to big box anchored retail sites, to residential senior condominiums.”

Zion Enterprises built three projects in Artesia including the Artesia Oasis Plaza a retail shopping center that was completed and sold in 2004 and anchored with Ranch 99 Market that is geared for the local Chinese-American community, Grace Court, a residential development, and Artesia Senior Housing.

Company contacts on the business website “Manta” list the managers/contacts of Zion as Joanne Tang and Charles Zhang. Along with being listed as a contact at Zion, Charles Zhang is also the CEO of Aseptic Solutions based in Corona, Ca., a beverage bottler who also lists real estate investments on their company profile.

Calls about the donation into both companies went unanswered.

Chen also brought in $2,000 from Lily Chao, a Realtor with Presidential Realty in Cerritos; $1,000 from Quick Service Towing in Anaheim; $1,000 from Royal Garden Restaurant on South Street in Cerritos; and $2,500 from Jack Wang, the President of Allstate Floral and Craft, Inc.

Chen also loaned herself more than $34,000 loans to pay for her reelection campaign.Chen operates and owns a company called “Elevation Investments” which according to her filings with the California Secretary of State is based at 13125 Espinheira Drive in Cerritos.

It is also registered with the city at a different address on 183rd.

Other candidates donations remained virtually the same with very small “late contributions.” George Ray and James Kang each have over $50,000 in donations with KY Ma at $35,000.