The president of the state Mexican American Political
Association says the organization will pursue legal action against
a local group he alleges has fraudulently claimed to be a Hollister
chapter.
Hollister – The president of the state Mexican American Political Association says the organization will pursue legal action against a local group he alleges has fraudulently claimed to be a Hollister chapter.
MAPA president Nativo Lopez, who’s based in Los Angeles, believes the local group headed by Hollister’s Henry Sumaya has acted as “impostors” for claiming membership in the organization, he said Wednesday.
The state organization plans to pursue litigation against Sumaya’s group for using the name and “committing fraud” by raising money in the name of MAPA, Lopez said. It’s unclear how much money the group raised while not maintaining official charter status.
“It’s illegal, absolutely,” Lopez said. “They’re not authorized to use the name of MAPA, especially to solicit funds.”
Lopez didn’t say what type of legal action he’s pursuing. But he did say it will attempt to halt the local group from using the MAPA name and from soliciting money on the organization’s behalf. Lopez also wants the group to return any money it has received from donors.
Sumaya and others involved in the local group, including his brother Louie, acknowledge they have not received an official charter as a chapter in 2004. They were last chartered in 2003, and most recently have supported the effort to recall District Attorney John Sarsfield.
The group has tried in recent months to communicate with the state organization about obtaining another charter – but has received no response, Louis Sumaya said. Lopez denied that claim, saying nobody from the local group has contacted his office.
The Sumayas say the group has been recognized as a chapter for more than 40 years. They endorsed political candidates and tried to educate and advise Spanish-speaking residents on local issues, such as elections.
“As far as I’m concerned, we are (a chapter),” Sumaya said.
Sarsfield confirmed he received a complaint from Lopez alleging Sumaya’s group has wrongfully used the MAPA name. Sarsfield has not decided whether to take action, he said.
“We haven’t done anything yet,” Sarsfield said. “When we do, if we do, and I want to emphasize if, it will be done very publicly and very formally.”
Still, the Sumaya brothers both pointed out that MAPA at the state level cashed a check in July – $132 for this year’s membership dues – from the local group. Louie Sumaya showed a copy of the cashed check to the Free Lance. Lopez also denied his organization received, or cashed, a check from Sumaya’s group.
Henry Sumaya also believes Sarsfield is getting involved because the group has supported the recall campaign. Little has happened in the effort to remove Sarsfield from office, which Sumaya and 36 others launched in July.
During his bid for district attorney in 2002, it turns out Sumaya’s group supported Sarsfield and walked door-to-door campaigning for him. At the time, Sarsfield even joined what he thought was the Hollister chapter of MAPA, according to Sumaya.
Sarsfield on Wednesday emphasized he’s not a member of the group.
“This is real simple,” Sarsfield said. “Either they have authorization to use that name or they don’t. And we’re going to find out. All the rest of this is just their frustrations, I think.”
Kollin Kosmicki covers politics for the Free Lance. Reach him at 637-5566, ext. 331, or kk*******@fr***********.com.
