Sen. Ron Calderon, target of FBI raid, is part of a political dynasty
SACRAMENTO -- California state Sen. Ron Calderon, whose Capitol office was raided by the FBI on Tuesday, represents much more than just a chunk of the Los Angeles area.
He’s also part of a political dynasty stretching back three decades -- a member of his family has held a seat in the California Legislature every year since 1983.
Calderon (D-Montebello) was the last of his three brothers to arrive in the Capitol, winning an Assembly seat in 2002 and replacing his brother Tom.
IN DEPTH: Calderon targeted by FBI
In 2006 he moved to the state Senate, opening up his Assembly seat for his brother Charles, who had previously served in the Senate. Politics has been a family business for the Calderons – often, relatives wind up on campaign payrolls.
The dynasty expanded last year when Ian Calderon -- the son of Charles and the nephew of Ron -- was elected to the Assembly.
Ron Calderon chairs multiple Senate committees, including panels on insurance, film and television, international business and economy development.
His district includes Bell, Bell Gardens, Cudahy, Montebello and Whittier, among other cities.
He’s previously come under scrutiny for his handling of his legal defense fund, which was set up to cover costs stemming from a vote recount in 2006.
Calderon spent thousands of dollars from the fund on a fundraiser, golf and a private airplane service. The state’s ethics watchdog, the Fair Political Practices Commission, ended up adopting new rules to limit the use of such funds to attorneys’ fees and legal costs.
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