Dirty Water: Calderon’s Cashed in on Relationships at Water Agency

The Montebello offices of California State Senator Ronald Calderon. Randy Economy Photo

By Brian Hews and Brian Hews

Records obtained by Los Cerritos Community Newspaper from Central Basin Municipal Water District via a public records request show that Tom Calderon, brother of California State Senator Ronald Calderon, and their company The Calderon Group, was paid in excess of $11,000 per month, over  $438,000, in “Government Consulting” fees between 2009 and 2013.

During that time, Tom Calderon was also serving as a Board of Director for a for-profit company called Water2Save based out of Solano Beach.

“Tom Calderon brings a quarter of a century experience in California on Governmental Affairs and Legislation on Water Issues. He founded the Calderon Group specializing in public affairs and political strategies. He has a broad spectrum of business relationships in both real estate development and water utilities. He was elected to the California State Assembly in 1998, where he became one of the leaders of the Moderate Democratic Caucus. He served as the Chair of Select Committee on Ground Water Contamination,” Calderon’s bio stresses.

According to their website, Water2Save is a “privately held water and energy conservation company. The company is a “new age” water utility revolutionizing the way water is managed and conserved for commercial and common area residential landscapes.”

Records show that in June 2009, Water2Save was granted a “Managed Landscape Program” contract by CBMWD, amounting to over $223,000 from 2009-Jan 2012.

On Tuesday, the owner of a company similar to Water2Save based in Oceanside, and who lost the bid against Water2Save, was interviewed by the FBI. No further details about the interview are available

On Tuesday, officials from the United States Attorney’s Office and the Federal Bureau of Investigation conducted a raid on Senator Ron Calderon’s office in the State Capitol.

Boxes of potential evidence were taken from Calderon’s office by armed investigators.

It was the first time in 25 years that the California State Capital was raided in a criminal investigation.

The Calderon’s have refused to talk to any members of the media since the raid took place.