In Gas Tax Karen Spiegel’s own words, she is a bookkeeper. She was in the middle of a contested bankruptcy at a Temple she served as the bookkeeper of. You can read the original filing here.

Some of the stuff in the filing I found fascinating were:

The Construction Lender (loan given in 2008) for the building attempted to sue and interfere in the Chapter 11 Bankruptcy suggesting that it may not have been as straightforward as a Chap 11 BK might appear. The BK was filed in 2011

The temple explored various options to raise fees on its’ members. (Sounds a lot like SB1 doesn’t it?) It included a 29% increase to regular members from $1200 – $1800 a year. (That looks like 50% to me, but these are Spiegel’s words in the filing) and a 64% increase on senior members from $750 a year to $1150 a year.

The temple owned “Timeshares in Mexico”.  (read the filings, they are fascinating)

The Temple owed the City of Corona $43K!!!

Spiegel provided accounting services to the temple for 15 years.

Now – add in Spiegel’s other issues, Such as the Tax Lien and FPPC Fines for screwing up paperwork and you have to wonder about this bankruptcy.

Then factor in the support of SB1, followed almost immediately with a request for the proceeds of it. She also supported a Massive Cap and Trade Tax Increase along with the disaster known as High Speed Rail.

Given that Spiegel enraged members of the community with the way she handled the project supposed to be built with the SB1 money to the point of trying to recall her… now we can really ask a lot of questions about this Non-Profit Bankruptcy. Did she take the advice of others? Who was involved in the BK decision?

It appears that the Temple (with Spiegel as their bookkeeper) filed a Chapter 11 Bankruptcy because they took out a construction loan and could not pay it back. Also remember, Spiegel was on the board as well. Ouch.

While I am not sure if Spiegel’s actions as Bookkeeper bankrupted the temple, it is clear that she should have been aware of the issues with the Temple long before the Chapter 11 was filed.

Now, one could draw the conclusion that Spiegel, a councilmember for 4+ terms in Corona should have some responsibility for the financial issues in the city. Her history of not playing well with others and lacksadasical handling of paperwork should also be of concern.

But – look at the over $43K the temple owed the City of Corona. Note that Spiegel was and is on the City Council, conflict of interest much? Where was the City Manager? Where was the City Attorney? How could a sitting councilmember be a party to a BK that costs the City of Corona $43K with no questions being asked. Perhaps people were afraid of Spiegel and did not speak up?

We have a tax lien, 5 FPPC fines and a bankruptcy of a local temple that occurred under her direct perview. Eric Linder looks like a much better choice for supervisor.