William G. Bonelli
Encyclopedia
William G. Bonelli was a California politician who became a powerful member of the state Board of Equalization and fled to Mexico to avoid arrest on a corruption indictment.
. Bonelli moved to Los Angeles
in 1912, entered the University of Southern California
and received his bachelor of arts degree in 1916. He served in the Aviation Section of the U.S. Army
in 1918-19 and remained in the Reserve as a pilot until 1934.
Bonelli obtained his master of arts degree from Occidental College
in 1923 and his law degree
from Southwestern Law School in 1924; he was admitted to the California Bar in 1925.
He was a large promoter of the Southern California aircraft industry and the Santa Clarita Valley
. He purchased Hoot Gibson
's rodeo venue in 1937 in Saugus, California
and ran rodeos until in 1939 a quarter-mile dirt track
was built; it was renamed Bonelli Ranch Stadium. It hosted a myriad of events, showcasing the popular midget cars
and hot rods (roadster
s). Later, the track was expanded to one-third mile. In 1954, the surface was paved and the name changed to Saugus Speedway
. The paved track brought on the transition to stock car
s, which was the primary format through 1995, when the track was closed.
Bonelli had two sons, Robert, of Phoenix, Arizona
, and William Jr. of Saugus, California
. He died November 21, 1970, in Mexico.
for seven years, until 1929.
Bonelli was elected to represent Los Angeles City Council District 14
in the May 1927 primary, winning the majority of votes over seven other candidates. He did not run for reelection in 1929, instead choosing to challenge John C. Porter in the mayor's race, which Porter won.
The youngest member at age 36 and a newcomer on the incoming 1927 City Council, Bonelli was chosen for the position of president of the council after it was determined that none of the other nominees — Charles J. Colden
. Howard W. Davis
and Frank L. Shaw
— could attain a majority of votes. He was named on the 56th ballot of a council caucus.
Bonelli, who was seen as an opponent of the George E. Cryer administration, declared in his inaugural address after being elected president that the council should "use its efforts to prevent the police department from being swayed from its duty by 'outside control.'" Nevertheless, when Bonelli himself was running for mayor in 1929, he was criticized for sending an appeal for votes and an attack on Chief James E. Davis
and the Police Commission in letters bearing his office title to two thousand members of the department.
As a council member, he was a supporter of a $6 million bond issue that would develop a city-owned airport on any one of the three sites — Mines, Vail and Sesnon — then under consideration.
from the 54th District, and from 1934 to 1938 was director of the State Department of Professional and Vocational Standards.
He was then appointed to the State Board of Equalization
, the state agency that approved liquor licenses. A series of articles in the Los Angeles Mirror in 1953 accused Bonelli of a long involvement in kickbacks on liquor licenses, bribery and criminal associations.
Bonelli hired journalist Leo Katcher
to ghost-write Billion Dollar Blackjack: The Story of Corruption and the Los Angeles Times (1954), in which Bonelli, as the ostensible author, defended himself and attacked the Chandlers. He also sued the Mirror for $1.15. million for libel; it had run front-page stories calling him the Liquor Czar. Facing an impending grand jury
indictment, Bonelli found exile in Mexico
where he spent the rest of his life. He tried numerous times to have the court case moved from Los Angeles County
to San Diego County
because he said he could never get a fair trial in Los Angeles County because it was under the control of the Times.
He had a running battle with the Los Angeles Police Department
and Harrison Gray Otis's and Harry and Norman Chandler
's Times — which he likened to "a black-jack, a bludgeon, a weapon to be used in behalf of their friends and against their enemies." In his book he accused the Times of all manner of malfeasance, from king-making and union-busting to subverting laws, violating civil rights and "aligning class against class, race against race, in an attempt to make bigger profits for themselves."
Bonelli was indicted by a Los Angeles grand jury
in November 1939, along with six others, on charges of soliciting bribes in a $10 million "annual liquor license pay-off scandal." He fled to Mexico to avoid arrest.
Biography
Son of a pioneer American family of Swiss-English descent, he was born in Kingman, ArizonaKingman, Arizona
Kingman is located in a desert climate on the edge of the Mojave Desert, but its higher elevation and location between the Colorado Plateau and the Lower Colorado River Valley tempers summer high temperatures and contributes to winter cold and rare snowfall. Summer daytime highs reach above 90 °F ...
. Bonelli moved to Los Angeles
Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles , with a population at the 2010 United States Census of 3,792,621, is the most populous city in California, USA and the second most populous in the United States, after New York City. It has an area of , and is located in Southern California...
in 1912, entered the University of Southern California
University of Southern California
The University of Southern California is a private, not-for-profit, nonsectarian, research university located in Los Angeles, California, United States. USC was founded in 1880, making it California's oldest private research university...
and received his bachelor of arts degree in 1916. He served in the Aviation Section of the U.S. Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
in 1918-19 and remained in the Reserve as a pilot until 1934.
Bonelli obtained his master of arts degree from Occidental College
Occidental College
Occidental College is a private, coeducational liberal arts college located in the Eagle Rock neighborhood of Los Angeles, California. Founded in 1887, Occidental College, or "Oxy" as it is called by students and alumni, is one of the oldest liberal arts colleges on the West Coast...
in 1923 and his law degree
Juris Doctor
Juris Doctor is a professional doctorate and first professional graduate degree in law.The degree was first awarded by Harvard University in the United States in the late 19th century and was created as a modern version of the old European doctor of law degree Juris Doctor (see etymology and...
from Southwestern Law School in 1924; he was admitted to the California Bar in 1925.
He was a large promoter of the Southern California aircraft industry and the Santa Clarita Valley
Santa Clarita Valley
The Santa Clarita Valley is the valley of the Santa Clara River in Southern California. It stretches through Los Angeles County and Ventura County. Its main population center is the city of Santa Clarita. The valley was part of the Rancho San Francisco Mexican land grant...
. He purchased Hoot Gibson
Hoot Gibson
Hoot Gibson was an American rodeo champion and a pioneer cowboy film actor, director and producer.-Early life and career:...
's rodeo venue in 1937 in Saugus, California
Saugus, California
Saugus is a neighborhood in Santa Clarita, California. Saugus was one of the four communities that merged in 1987 to create the city of Santa Clarita. Saugus is named after Saugus, Massachusetts, the hometown of Henry Newhall, upon whose land the town was originally built...
and ran rodeos until in 1939 a quarter-mile dirt track
Dirt track racing
Dirt track racing is a type of auto racing performed on oval tracks. It began in the United States before World War I and became widespread during the 1920s and 30s. Two different types of racecars predominated—open wheel racers in the Northeast and West and stock cars in the South...
was built; it was renamed Bonelli Ranch Stadium. It hosted a myriad of events, showcasing the popular midget cars
Midget car racing
Midget cars, also Speedcars in Australia, are very small race cars with a very high power-to-weight ratio and typically use four-cylinder engines.-Cars:Typically, these cars have 300 to 400 horsepower and weigh...
and hot rods (roadster
Roadster
A roadster is a two-seat open car with emphasis on sporty handling and without a fixed roof or side weather protection. Strictly speaking a roadster with wind-up windows is a convertible but as true roadsters are no longer made the distinction is now irrelevant...
s). Later, the track was expanded to one-third mile. In 1954, the surface was paved and the name changed to Saugus Speedway
Saugus Speedway
Saugus Speedway is a 1/3 mile racetrack in Saugus, California on a site. The track hosted one NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series event in 1995, which was won by Ken Schrader...
. The paved track brought on the transition to stock car
Stock car racing
Stock car racing is a form of automobile racing found mainly in the United States, Canada, New Zealand, Great Britain, Brazil and Argentina. Traditionally, races are run on oval tracks measuring approximately in length...
s, which was the primary format through 1995, when the track was closed.
Bonelli had two sons, Robert, of Phoenix, Arizona
Phoenix, Arizona
Phoenix is the capital, and largest city, of the U.S. state of Arizona, as well as the sixth most populated city in the United States. Phoenix is home to 1,445,632 people according to the official 2010 U.S. Census Bureau data...
, and William Jr. of Saugus, California
Saugus, California
Saugus is a neighborhood in Santa Clarita, California. Saugus was one of the four communities that merged in 1987 to create the city of Santa Clarita. Saugus is named after Saugus, Massachusetts, the hometown of Henry Newhall, upon whose land the town was originally built...
. He died November 21, 1970, in Mexico.
Academia
He was associate professor of political science at Occidental CollegeOccidental College
Occidental College is a private, coeducational liberal arts college located in the Eagle Rock neighborhood of Los Angeles, California. Founded in 1887, Occidental College, or "Oxy" as it is called by students and alumni, is one of the oldest liberal arts colleges on the West Coast...
for seven years, until 1929.
Los Angeles
See also List of Los Angeles municipal election returns, 1927 and 1929.Bonelli was elected to represent Los Angeles City Council District 14
Los Angeles City Council District 14
Los Angeles City Council District 14 is one of the 15 districts of the Los Angeles City Council. It is a primarily Latino district in Boyle Heights and Northeast Los Angeles...
in the May 1927 primary, winning the majority of votes over seven other candidates. He did not run for reelection in 1929, instead choosing to challenge John C. Porter in the mayor's race, which Porter won.
The youngest member at age 36 and a newcomer on the incoming 1927 City Council, Bonelli was chosen for the position of president of the council after it was determined that none of the other nominees — Charles J. Colden
Charles J. Colden
Charles J. Colden was a 20th century California politician who served in the Los Angeles City Council and the U.S. Congress.Charles J. Colden was a 20th century California politician who served in the Los Angeles City Council and the U.S. Congress.Charles J...
. Howard W. Davis
Howard W. Davis
Howard W. Davis was a member of the California State Assembly for two years and of the Los Angeles City Council for 16 years. He was indicted on charges of accepting bribes to influence his actions as a city official but was cleared on one count and never tried on the others, which were...
and Frank L. Shaw
Frank L. Shaw
Frank L. Shaw was the first mayor of a major American city to be recalled from office, in 1938. He was also a member of the Los Angeles City Council and then the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors...
— could attain a majority of votes. He was named on the 56th ballot of a council caucus.
Bonelli, who was seen as an opponent of the George E. Cryer administration, declared in his inaugural address after being elected president that the council should "use its efforts to prevent the police department from being swayed from its duty by 'outside control.'" Nevertheless, when Bonelli himself was running for mayor in 1929, he was criticized for sending an appeal for votes and an attack on Chief James E. Davis
James E. Davis (police)
James Edgar Davis was Chief of Police of the City of Los Angeles Police Department from 1926–1931 and from 1933-1939. During his first term as Police Chief, Davis emphasized firearms training. Under Davis, the L.A.P.D. developed its lasting reputation as an organization that relied on brute force...
and the Police Commission in letters bearing his office title to two thousand members of the department.
As a council member, he was a supporter of a $6 million bond issue that would develop a city-owned airport on any one of the three sites — Mines, Vail and Sesnon — then under consideration.
State
In 1931 he was elected to the California State AssemblyCalifornia State Assembly
The California State Assembly is the lower house of the California State Legislature. There are 80 members in the Assembly, representing an approximately equal number of constituents, with each district having a population of at least 420,000...
from the 54th District, and from 1934 to 1938 was director of the State Department of Professional and Vocational Standards.
He was then appointed to the State Board of Equalization
State Board of Equalization (California)
The State Board of Equalization is a public agency charged with tax administration and fee collection in the state of California in the United States. The areas of authority of the Board fall into four broad areas: sales and use taxes, property taxes, special taxes, and acting as an appellate body...
, the state agency that approved liquor licenses. A series of articles in the Los Angeles Mirror in 1953 accused Bonelli of a long involvement in kickbacks on liquor licenses, bribery and criminal associations.
Bonelli hired journalist Leo Katcher
Leo Katcher
Leo Katcher was an American reporter, screenwriter, and author. In 1956, he was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Story for The Eddy Duchin Story, but he did not win....
to ghost-write Billion Dollar Blackjack: The Story of Corruption and the Los Angeles Times (1954), in which Bonelli, as the ostensible author, defended himself and attacked the Chandlers. He also sued the Mirror for $1.15. million for libel; it had run front-page stories calling him the Liquor Czar. Facing an impending grand jury
Grand jury
A grand jury is a type of jury that determines whether a criminal indictment will issue. Currently, only the United States retains grand juries, although some other common law jurisdictions formerly employed them, and most other jurisdictions employ some other type of preliminary hearing...
indictment, Bonelli found exile in Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
where he spent the rest of his life. He tried numerous times to have the court case moved from Los Angeles County
Los Angeles County, California
Los Angeles County is a county in the U.S. state of California. As of 2010 U.S. Census, the county had a population of 9,818,605, making it the most populous county in the United States. Los Angeles County alone is more populous than 42 individual U.S. states...
to San Diego County
San Diego County, California
San Diego County is a large county located in the southwestern corner of the US state of California. Hence, San Diego County is also located in the southwestern corner of the 48 contiguous United States. Its county seat and largest city is San Diego. Its population was about 2,813,835 in the 2000...
because he said he could never get a fair trial in Los Angeles County because it was under the control of the Times.
He had a running battle with the Los Angeles Police Department
Los Angeles Police Department
The Los Angeles Police Department is the police department of the city of Los Angeles, California. With just under 10,000 officers and more than 3,000 civilian staff, covering an area of with a population of more than 4.1 million people, it is the third largest local law enforcement agency in...
and Harrison Gray Otis's and Harry and Norman Chandler
Norman Chandler
Norman Chandler was the publisher of the Los Angeles Times from 1945 to 1960, and largely responsible for the success of the newspaper.-Education:...
's Times — which he likened to "a black-jack, a bludgeon, a weapon to be used in behalf of their friends and against their enemies." In his book he accused the Times of all manner of malfeasance, from king-making and union-busting to subverting laws, violating civil rights and "aligning class against class, race against race, in an attempt to make bigger profits for themselves."
Bonelli was indicted by a Los Angeles grand jury
Grand jury
A grand jury is a type of jury that determines whether a criminal indictment will issue. Currently, only the United States retains grand juries, although some other common law jurisdictions formerly employed them, and most other jurisdictions employ some other type of preliminary hearing...
in November 1939, along with six others, on charges of soliciting bribes in a $10 million "annual liquor license pay-off scandal." He fled to Mexico to avoid arrest.