Citizens for Ethical Leadership is an independent community organization of Stockton taxpayers, small business owners, and families. We believe serving on the Stockton City Council is a public trust—not an excuse to skirt ethics rules, abuse tax dollars, or manufacture City Hall drama. We provide non-partisan oversight to hold Councilmember Michele Padilla accountable to District 1.

Stockton’s Source of Turmoil

Michele Padilla promised transparency, but delivered chaos. In office, she has fueled staff turnover, launched baseless attacks, and repeatedly violated council standards rather than delivering real results for our neighborhoods.

Abusing the Public Purse

Padilla used over $10,000 in taxpayer funds intended for community programs to stage a campaign event for political allies. A City Council investigation substantiated these ethics violations, triggering formal censure proceedings. Stockton families deserve leaders who respect the law and protect our tax dollars.

Our Objectives

• Exposing Misuse of Public Funds: Documenting the abuse of city discretionary funds for self-promotion and partisan campaigning.

• Demanding Ethics & Accountability: Holding Padilla accountable for policy violations, council censures, and disruptive interference with city operations.

• Restoring Honest Leadership: Equipping voters with verified facts and public records to demand serious, law-abiding representation at City Hall.