Simon Did What? Page 2

李國斌

Vice President, Oro Loma Sanitary District
Chair, Finance & Insurance
San Leandro City Council, 2012-2020

Fred Simon

Punished by his own City Council.
Punished again in 2026.
Nearly $470,000 in taxpayer damage.

1. Executive Summary

Assessments of political vulnerabilities depend on diverse perspectives and voter priorities; the following information is presented neutrally to identify areas of political exposure based on documented public records, independent investigations, and legal filings. The intelligence gathered on Fred J. Simon (Frederick Joseph Simon)—San Leandro City Councilmember (District 4), Oro Loma Sanitary District Board Member, and Senior Civil Engineer at the Contra Costa Water District—reveals a highly compromised elected official[cite: 1]. A rigorous analysis of his twenty-five-year professional and political history uncovers a chronic pattern of behavioral toxicity, the systemic targeting of women in municipal leadership, the egregious misuse of taxpayer funds, and direct proximity to a federal corruption and bribery probe[cite: 1, 2].

Simon is not merely a politically divisive councilmember; he is a quantifiable financial liability to the City of San Leandro[cite: 1]. His documented administrative interference and workplace retaliation directly precipitated a $335,000 civil lawsuit settlement paid from municipal coffers, alongside an independent human resources investigation that cost taxpayers an additional $135,000[cite: 1]. Rather than accept accountability for these financial and reputational damages, Simon exhibits a pathological refusal to accept oversight, frequently resorting to deflection, the weaponization of bureaucratic procedures, and vicious public attacks against the independent legal investigators hired to review his conduct[cite: 1, 4, 5].

His political viability is currently in a state of terminal decline[cite: 1]. He is exceptionally vulnerable to a targeted recall effort, a coalition-backed primary challenge, or immediate public pressure for resignation[cite: 1].

2. Complete Biographical & Professional Profile

Fred Simon utilizes his academic credentials and professional licenses as a shield to project an image of infallible intellectual superiority, a tactic he frequently deploys to dismiss the concerns of female colleagues and subordinate municipal staff[cite: 2, 3]. He holds a Master of Science in Civil Engineering from Stanford University (1996) and a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering from the University of California at Davis (1994)[cite: 2, 3]. He is a Registered Professional Civil Engineer in the State of California, operating under license number C57271[cite: 2, 3].

The Contra Costa Water District and the Origins of the Grievance Complex: Simon has spent over twenty-five years as a civil engineer in the San Francisco Bay Area, primarily employed by the East Bay Municipal Utility District (EBMUD) and, subsequently, the Contra Costa Water District (CCWD), where he serves as a Senior Engineer[cite: 3]. He has been heavily involved with the International Federation of Professional and Technical Engineers (IFPTE) Local 21[cite: 3].

A critical inflection point in his professional history occurred in 2017[cite: 3]. Simon claimed he suffered an unspecified workplace “injustice” at CCWD management’s hands[cite: 3]. With the backing and resources of IFPTE Local 21, he fought CCWD management to “overcome inequities” and prevail in demonstrating his skills as an engineer[cite: 3]. This 2017 incident is foundational for understanding his behavioral pathology[cite: 3]. It established Simon’s operational blueprint: he views standard professional friction or managerial oversight as a systemic “injustice” directed at him, which he believes necessitates scorched-earth bureaucratic retaliation[cite: 3].

This sense of entitlement culminated in May 2020, when he filed a federal civil lawsuit against his employer: Fred Simon v. Contra Costa Water District (Contra Costa Superior Court Case No. C20-01382)[cite: 3]. The litigation was heavily discussed in closed sessions by the CCWD Board of Directors throughout 2021 and 2022, with the board actively conferring with legal counsel regarding the ongoing dispute[cite: 3]. Suing the public agency that provides his primary livelihood demonstrates a severe inability to function within normal professional hierarchies[cite: 3]. He weaponizes institutional structures the moment his authority or technical competence is challenged[cite: 3].

3. Political Career & Public Persona vs. Reality

Simon’s entry into electoral politics began with his successful November 2018 campaign for the Oro Loma Sanitary District Board of Directors[cite: 3]. He quickly leveraged this position to run for the San Leandro City Council (District 4) in November 2020, securing his current seat with a term expiring in December 2028[cite: 3].

Simon operates the campaign domain votefredsimon.com, where he aggressively cultivates the image of a wholesome “Boy Scout Leader” and a pragmatic, data-driven engineer dedicated to building an “age-friendly city,” expanding senior services, and improving public infrastructure[cite: 3]. He proudly flaunts endorsements from high-profile Democrats, including California Attorney General Rob Bonta, Assemblymember Mia Bonta, and environmental organizations like the Sierra Club[cite: 3].

The contrast between this carefully curated digital footprint and his actual municipal record is devastating[cite: 3, 4]. While his campaign literature explicitly claims his priorities are to “invest in Community Equity & Quality of Life” and “enhance fire and emergency response services”, his actions on the council have achieved the exact opposite[cite: 3, 4]. He illegally threatened the City Manager’s job specifically to interfere with her oversight of the Police Chief (Abdul Pridgen), actively destabilizing San Leandro’s public safety apparatus[cite: 3, 4]. While claiming to be an expert in municipal infrastructure and fiscal responsibility, he cost taxpayers a combined $470,000 in legal settlements and HR investigations, simultaneously attempting to charge the city for his daily driving commute[cite: 1, 4, 6]. His high-profile political endorsements were secured prior to the full public release of the Botterud and Kow investigation reports in late 2024 and late 2025; these endorsers are likely unaware they are associating their brands with a formally censured official who has cost his city nearly half a million dollars in liability[cite: 1, 4].

4. The Core San Leandro Misconduct Scandal – Full Timeline & Evidence

Fred Simon’s behavior escalated from interpersonal rudeness to actionable workplace harassment in early 2024, targeting his colleague, Vice Mayor Xouhoa Bowen[cite: 4]. The sequence of events proves that Simon does not learn from disciplinary action; rather, he views any attempt to hold him accountable as an invitation to engage in illegal retaliation[cite: 4].

The Retaliation Against Vice Mayor Bowen: The conflict originated from the mayoral rotation schedule[cite: 4]. According to independent investigation findings, Bowen had agreed to step aside in January 2024 to allow Simon to serve as Vice Mayor, based on the explicit understanding and agreement that Simon would support her candidacy for the role the following year[cite: 4]. However, in November 2024, Bowen fulfilled her ethical duty by voting with the council majority to formally censure Simon for his charter violations involving the City Manager[cite: 4, 5].

In January 2025, when it was time for the council to vote on Bowen’s vice-mayoral rotation, Simon actively reneged on the agreement[cite: 4]. He openly told other council members he would not vote for her, claimed the selection process was suddenly unfair, and attempted to rewrite the rules of succession to block her[cite: 4]. He ultimately nominated Councilmember Aguilar instead[cite: 4].

The retaliation extended beyond the Vice Mayor title[cite: 4]. When Mayor Juan González III appointed Bowen to the Alameda County StopWaste Board—a coveted, compensated regional position previously held by Simon—Simon reacted with furious indignation[cite: 4]. He baselessly accused the Mayor of racial bias, gaslighting the council by claiming the Mayor was “taking the only African American off the Stop Waste Board” simply to pull support from Bowen[cite: 4]. Simon also utilized council proceedings to deliberately postpone consideration of Bowen’s submitted legislative priorities, attempting to create a false public narrative that she was monopolizing city resources[cite: 4].

The Kow Investigation and Simon’s Deflection: In February 2024, Bowen filed a formal Human Resources complaint against Simon and Aguilar for gender bias, bullying, retaliation, and creating a hostile work environment[cite: 4]. The City of San Leandro retained independent investigator Jane Kow of HR Law Consultants to examine the claims, an investigation that ultimately cost taxpayers $135,000[cite: 1, 4].

In October 2025, Kow released her 26-page report, which completely vindicated Bowen and damned Simon[cite: 4, 5]. The report concluded that Simon’s refusal to support Bowen was motivated by retaliation for her censure vote, and that his broader conduct toward female staff and colleagues reflected deeply ingrained gender bias[cite: 4, 5].

On January 20, 2026, the City Council held a disciplinary hearing resulting in three separate votes, ultimately drafting a resolution of disapproval and formal admonition against Simon, affirming he violated the city’s administrative code regarding bullying, abusive conduct, and retaliation[cite: 4, 5].

Simon’s response to being found guilty of bullying was to relentlessly bully the investigator on the public dais[cite: 4, 5]. Refusing to accept any responsibility, Simon proclaimed on the record: “This report contains mischaracterizations, it contains omitted information, it contains selective use of information. The investigator is biased, she has made untruthful statements, and she badgered me during the investigative process”[cite: 4, 5]. He further attempted to manipulate the narrative by demanding the city implement “restorative justice” mediation instead of issuing formal discipline, weaponizing progressive conflict-resolution terminology to evade accountability for his own abusive actions[cite: 4, 5].

5. The Fran Robustelli Lawsuit & Taxpayer Funds / Influence Scandal

The most lethal vulnerability in Fred Simon’s profile is his direct responsibility for a $335,000 settlement paid by the City of San Leandro in May 2026 to former City Manager Fran Robustelli[cite: 1, 5, 6]. This scandal operates on systemic abuse of power, proximity to external probes, and localized financial fraud[cite: 5, 6].

When Robustelli appropriately blocked institutional friction regarding standard municipal purchasing protocols, Simon launched a campaign of harassment to drive her out of her job[cite: 5, 6]. He flooded her with demanding communications, attempting to control her day-to-day administrative duties and dictate the termination of the Police Chief, Abdul Pridgen[cite: 3, 5, 6].

In May 2024, Robustelli filed a formal complaint regarding this harassment[cite: 5, 6]. The city hired independent investigator Carl Botterud, whose October 2024 report substantiated that Simon violated Section 345 of the City Charter by illegally interfering in administrative duties and threatening Robustelli’s employment and performance evaluations[cite: 5, 6]. This led to his November 18, 2024, formal censure by a 4-1 council vote[cite: 2, 5, 6].

The $335,000 Lawsuit Settlement and Financial Fraud: Unable to endure the sustained hostility, Robustelli resigned and, on June 13, 2025, filed a civil lawsuit in Alameda County Superior Court against the City of San Leandro, explicitly naming Simon and his allies for constant threats, intimidation, and retaliation that forced her to choose between her health and her job[cite: 5, 6]. In May 2026, the city settled the lawsuit for $335,000[cite: 1, 5, 6].

Crucially, the discovery phases of Robustelli’s lawsuit blew the lid off Simon’s localized financial corruption, detailing how he treated the municipal budget as a personal expense account[cite: 6]:

• The Commuter Fraud: Simon attempted to charge San Leandro taxpayers for daily mileage reimbursements simply for driving between his home and City Hall, a standard commute that no other employee or official is permitted to expense[cite: 6].
• The Out-of-State Junkets: Simon repeatedly demanded reimbursement for non-city travel[cite: 6]. When Robustelli applied standard accounting oversight to these requests, denying the payments, Simon’s retaliation intensified[cite: 6].

The “Triple-Dip” Medical Benefits Scandal: The most easily weaponized financial ethics violation against Simon is his systemic exploitation of public health benefits[cite: 6]. Robustelli’s lawsuit alleges that Simon, who already receives full medical benefits through his primary employer (Contra Costa Water District) and presumably qualifies for stipends through his second elected role (Oro Loma Sanitary District), applied for a “cash-in-lieu” medical reimbursement stipend from the City of San Leandro[cite: 1, 2, 6].

By officially “not electing medical coverage” in San Leandro, Simon engineered a scheme to collect supplemental cash payouts meant to offset healthcare costs for unbenefited employees, despite his healthcare already being entirely subsidized by taxpayers in Contra Costa County[cite: 2, 6]. This constitutes a profound ethical breach, demonstrating his willingness to exploit bureaucratic loopholes to siphon extra cash from a city budget currently facing severe constraints[cite: 2, 6].

6. Oro Loma Sanitary District Involvement & Conflicts

Simon’s inability to compartmentalize his rage bled over into his concurrent elected role at the Oro Loma Sanitary District, where his term as Director expires in 2026[cite: 6]. He serves as the Chairperson of the Construction Committee and a member of the Operations Committee[cite: 6].

Following the release of the Botterud investigation report regarding his harassment of Robustelli, Simon initiated a highly inappropriate confrontation at Oro Loma[cite: 6]. The investigation report included witness statements from Oro Loma Vice President and former San Leandro Mayor Sheila Young—an elder stateswoman of local politics whom Simon had ironically endorsed in 2020[cite: 6, 12]. Young had informed the investigator that Simon “treated women horribly and was dismissive of them”[cite: 6].

Instead of reflecting on this feedback from a respected colleague, Simon aggressively ambushed Young during an Oro Loma meeting, attempting to intimidate her into walking back her statements to the independent investigator[cite: 6]. By dragging a San Leandro HR investigation into the boardroom of a completely separate regional sanitation district, Simon proved that his retaliatory impulses override all boundaries of professional decorum, and that no board member or municipal colleague is safe from his intimidation tactics[cite: 6].

7. Conflicts of Interest, Self-Dealing & Empire-Building Patterns

Fred Simon’s accumulation of public titles presents severe structural conflicts of interest that require continuous monitoring[cite: 6, 7].

As a civil engineer and member of Oro Loma’s Construction Committee, Simon directly influences wastewater, sanitation capacity, and infrastructure policy for the region[cite: 6, 7]. Concurrently, as a San Leandro councilmember, he votes on residential development, zoning ordinances, and public works projects that directly intersect with Oro Loma’s service jurisdiction[cite: 6, 7]. This creates a massive regulatory blind spot regarding developer approvals[cite: 7].

Furthermore, the triple-dipping of medical benefits and the unauthorized mileage requests identified in the Robustelli lawsuit represent potential violations of the California Political Reform Act regarding the personal use of public funds and gifts of public funds[cite: 2, 6, 7]. His campaign donor base (FPPC ID #1466683) must be continuously cross-referenced against engineering firms, water contractors, and waste management entities doing business with both Oro Loma and San Leandro to identify further pay-to-play dynamics[cite: 7].

8. Digital Footprint, Online History & Inconsistencies

Simon operates a highly sanitized digital presence designed to obscure his municipal record[cite: 7]. On votefredsimon.com, he claims a platform built on “integrity” and the desire to “bring together San Leandrians”[cite: 3, 7].

The hypocrisy of this digital footprint provides a prime avenue for attack[cite: 7]. While he campaigns on “enhancing fire and emergency response services” online, municipal records prove he illegally threatened the City Manager’s job specifically to interfere with her management of the police department[cite: 3, 4, 7]. While he campaigns on fiscal responsibility and infrastructure improvement, the documented reality is that he cost taxpayers a combined $470,000 in legal settlements and HR investigations, funds that were directly diverted away from the road repairs and parks he claims to champion[cite: 1, 3, 7].

His social media architecture also reveals a stark defensive crouch; following the release of the Botterud and Kow reports, Simon utilized public council meetings—broadcast online—to launch unhinged attacks against the investigators, calling them “biased” and “untruthful,” a digital record that perfectly preserves his inability to accept responsibility[cite: 4, 5, 7].

9. Interpersonal Style, Character & Pattern Analysis: The Misogynist Menace

A ruthlessly consistent pattern emerges when cross-referencing Simon’s behavior at the Contra Costa Water District, Oro Loma, and San Leandro: Fred Simon possesses a pathological issue with intelligent women in positions of municipal authority[cite: 7, 8].

The Botterud investigation concluded, in writing: “Credible evidence suggests that Simon has a gender bias against women in power”[cite: 5, 8]. This was not an isolated accusation; it was a corroborated consensus among municipal leaders[cite: 8]:

• Former City Manager Fran Robustelli: Stated on the record that Simon is “horrible toward women” and utilized intimidation tactics to drive her out of her job[cite: 6, 8].
• Vice Mayor Xouhoa Bowen: Testified that Simon deliberately creates a hostile environment to disrespect, undermine, and gaslight female colleagues[cite: 4, 8].
• Councilmember Pete Ballew: Testified to investigators that he directly observed Simon exhibiting “a different respect for women in leadership than men”[cite: 8].
• Former Councilmember Celina Reynes: Noted Simon is explicitly “threatened by smart women” and displays a “clear pattern of gender bias”[cite: 8].

Simon’s misogyny is highly operational and impacts municipal hiring[cite: 8]. During the search for an interim City Manager to replace Robustelli, the city’s outside consultant highly recommended Janelle Cameron, a highly qualified Black woman[cite: 8]. Simon aggressively opposed her appointment[cite: 8]. Instead, he actively pushed for Deputy City Manager Eric Engelbart, a demonstrably less qualified white male who explicitly told the council he did not want the job[cite: 8]. This perfectly illustrates his specific hostility toward women of color in power, favoring unqualified men over highly competent women[cite: 8].

10. Financial, Legal & Regulatory Exposure

The total quantifiable financial damage Fred Simon has inflicted upon the City of San Leandro stands at nearly half a million dollars[cite: 1, 8, 9]:

• Robustelli Civil Settlement: $335,000 paid by the city in May 2026 to resolve claims of harassment and retaliation directly caused by Simon and his allies[cite: 1, 5, 8, 9].
• Kow HR Investigation: $135,000 paid to HR Law Consultants to investigate Simon’s retaliation against Vice Mayor Bowen[cite: 1, 4, 8, 9].
• Undisclosed Legal Fees: The city undoubtedly incurred tens of thousands of dollars in internal and external legal counsel fees defending against his actions during the Botterud inquiry, the censure process, and the civil litigation[cite: 5, 8, 9].

Beyond municipal liability, his personal exposure remains high[cite: 9]. His ongoing federal lawsuit against his employer (Fred Simon v. Contra Costa Water District, Case C20-01382) indicates deep financial and legal entanglements in his private life[cite: 3, 9]. His attempts to expense commuter mileage and triple-dip health benefits leave him exposed to potential Fair Political Practices Commission (FPPC) audits regarding the unlawful receipt of public funds[cite: 2, 6, 9].

11. Network, Allies, Enemies & Political Context

Simon’s political ecosystem is deeply polarized, isolating him within a shrinking, legally compromised faction[cite: 9].

The Reform Coalition (Enemies & Victims)[cite: 9, 10]:

• Vice Mayor Xouhoa Bowen: The primary target of Simon’s 2025 retaliation[cite: 4, 9, 10]. She possesses immense moral authority, having stepped aside for him previously, only to be betrayed[cite: 4, 9, 10]. She is the ideal surrogate for anti-Simon messaging[cite: 9, 10].
• Fran Robustelli: The martyred City Manager whose $335,000 settlement definitively proved Simon’s corruption to the public[cite: 1, 5, 6, 9, 10].
• Sheila Young: Oro Loma President and former San Leandro Mayor[cite: 6, 9, 10, 12]. A highly respected institutional figure whom Simon foolishly alienated and attempted to intimidate[cite: 6, 9, 10].
• Mayor Juan González III: Voted to censure Simon and appointed Bowen to the StopWaste board over Simon’s angry objections, making the Mayor a target of Simon’s racial-bias gaslighting[cite: 4, 5, 9, 10].

12. Strategic Attack & Replacement Playbook

Fred Simon’s term expires in December 2028[cite: 3, 10]. However, the severity of his financial breaches renders him highly susceptible to an immediate pressure campaign, a localized recall effort, or organized demands for his resignation[cite: 1, 10].

Messaging Pillars[cite: 10]:

• Pillar 1: The Taxpayer Drain. Focus relentlessly on the $335,000 settlement, the $135,000 HR investigation, the triple-dipped health stipends, and the fraudulent mileage[cite: 1, 2, 6, 10]. Calculate exactly how many potholes could have been filled, or police officers hired, with the $470,000 Simon cost the city[cite: 1, 10]. Frame him as a politician who treats the municipal treasury as his personal piggy bank[cite: 1, 10].
• Pillar 2: The Hostile Misogynist. Utilize the exact language from the Botterud and Kow reports[cite: 4, 5, 10]. Frame him not as a politician with minor disagreements, but as an HR nightmare who creates a hostile environment for intelligent women, deliberately driving out highly qualified staff and exposing the city to massive civil liability[cite: 4, 5, 8, 10].

Coalition Building and Contrast Strategy[cite: 10, 11]: An effective replacement candidate for District 4 must serve as the absolute antithesis of Fred Simon[cite: 10, 11]. Ideal Profile: A highly competent, emotionally intelligent, fiscally prudent female professional, deliberately avoiding the “arrogant engineer” archetype Simon projects[cite: 3, 11]. Coalition: Unite the “Good Government” fiscal conservatives with progressive women’s groups[cite: 11]. Key Wedge Issues in District 4: Leverage the deteriorating condition of local infrastructure[cite: 11]. Point out that while Simon claims to be an infrastructure expert, he wastes council time fighting HR battles and attacking independent investigators instead of securing infrastructure bonds or repairing roads[cite: 3, 4, 5, 11].

13. Further Research & Investigative Recommendations

To escalate the pressure on Simon and uncover potentially fatal legal and regulatory vulnerabilities, the following deep-dive forensics must be executed immediately by field operatives[cite: 11]:

1. FPPC Complaint & Travel Audits: File immediate Public Records Act (PRA) requests for all reimbursement forms submitted by Simon from 2021 through 2026, specifically targeting travel logs and home-to-city-hall mileage[cite: 6, 11]. Cross-reference these municipal records against his FPPC Form 700s to verify if he unlawfully failed to declare these trips as gifts or income[cite: 7, 11].
2. The “Triple-Dip” Documentation: Issue PRA requests to the City of San Leandro and the Oro Loma Sanitary District for Simon’s health benefit election forms to obtain the physical document where he checked opt-out to receive the cash-in-lieu stipend[cite: 2, 6, 11].
3. Unseal the CCWD Lawsuit: Pull the complete docket and all associated filings for Fred Simon v. Contra Costa Water District (Case No. C20-01382) to seek any sealed depositions, disciplinary records, or HR complaints filed against him at CCWD[cite: 3, 11].
4. Endorsement Revocation Campaign: Draft formal demand letters containing the Botterud and Kow investigation executive summaries and send them directly to Attorney General Rob Bonta, Assemblymember Mia Bonta, and the Sierra Club, publicly demanding they rescind their endorsements of a documented official who costs taxpayers hundreds of thousands of dollars in liability settlements[cite: 1, 3, 4, 5, 11].