MEMO TO THE CALIFORNIA COMMISSION PART TWO

By Michael Swann

HARASSMENT

The charge has been made by more than a few people that Armando Garcia operates a hostile work environment. His angry, profanity laced outbursts have been displayed in front of subordinates. Further, several have come forward to complain about favoritism of event officials. Here are some examples:

* A verbal tirade at ringside during a televised event using inappropriate language as he yelled at the referee and corners to, “Stop the (bleeping) fight. The fighter is getting the (bleeping bleep) beat out of him.” With that he slammed a chair at the ringside table, hitting a subordinate’s arm before stomping off, still spitting out his rancorous invectives.

* Referred to a referee as “too fat” to work TV events.

*Singled out a judge as not being allowed to sit within camera sight on TV.

*A referee/judge came under scorn for his tattoos and overall appearance.

*Garcia has made personal phone calls to referee Raul Caiz Sr., informing Caiz of his assignments in California and out of the country, and has suggested to various sanctioning bodies to use one of his “best officials” in California. Raul Caiz Jr. and Jon Schorle have received similar favorable treatment.

*Some of his goals include the termination of Chief Inspector Dean Lohuis, and retire “old” officials.

*Garcia makes a “Post Show” speech dripping in profanity and negativism with all working officials and inspectors, and then ends the meeting with “God Bless.”

*A female office technician, whose name we will withhold at this time, has been observed fixing his attire at events, in the office, and in the field. The same technician has been seen “hand feeding” him. While in itself, this is not evidence of any further inappropriate behavior, it might be construed as “third party harassment.” Others in the office could question perceived favoritism because they choose not to adjust his attire.

*Garcia called Dean Lohuis during a televised event when he was away on an ABC seminar to tell Lohuis that a judge looked ridiculous with “sunglasses” and for him to remove them.

* An inspector who lives in Sacramento who was scheduled to work a UFC event in Sacramento was removed from the assignment in favor of an inspector from Southern California. She called Garcia’s cell phone to request a comp ticket or non working credential. He did not return her call. Yet, sitting in the front row at the event were the sons of Florida judge and Garcia crony Richard Beltran, and the son of the office technician mentioned previously, along with his girlfriend and another friend.

A source adds that, “No one will step forward or file a grievance or complain because they might get transferred.”

INTEGRITY

*When Garcia was doing his ABC (Association of Boxing Commissions) training seminars, he was often difficult to reach through his state issued cell phone or his voice mail would be full and unable to receive messages.

* Garcia told a source that the expenses for the ABC training seminars, flight, accommodations, ect. would be taken care of by (Nevada judge) Duane Ford and later collected by the ABC. He was then told that this was a conflict of interest. Garcia replied that he had cleared all “out of the office” activities with the ABC with Anita Scuri, the legal advisor for the DCA/CSAC.

* Garcia has been known to accept gifts from officials.

*It was common practice for Garcia to accept lunches from various promoters.

(Note: Through the Freedom of Information Act, we obtained copies of the three years of Garcia’s Conflict of Interest disclosure report, Form 700. Garcia failed to claim any additional compensation for training or speaking engagements, nor did he claim travel, gifts, or anything else. According to Garcia, he had “No Reportable Interests on any Schedule” since he took the position. I hope that the IRS is as understanding as the DCA.)

AND…

* In the controversial Marco Antonio Barrera-Rocky Juarez I fight, the scores had to be re-tallied after HBO went off the air with a draw rather than a thin split decision win for Barrera after a 10-10 round score that was miscalculated.

During that fight Garcia informed representatives from the WBO and WBC the scores of the judges round by round. Further, he gave the result to the WBO and WBC before handing the cards to ringside announcer Michael Buffer, results that turned out to be incorrect.

Apparently, this was common practice with Garcia to inform the sanctioning body president and/or their representatives of the scores, according to the person who watched him do it. Potentially, they in turn could tell the corners by word or sign that their fighter was winning and/or losing. I would hope that the commission would agree with me that this is a serious breach of the public trust.

The source said that she had informed him several times in the past that that is why the master score sheet is turned over -- to prevent anyone from seeing the scores. To this day she sincerely regrets allowing him to intimidate her into allowing him “to do what he has always done.”

She has submitted a written statement on the matter, going into great detail, describing Garcia sharing the scores, and then laughing with them as they joked about the judges.

IN CONCLUSION

It should be noted that this former employee has been coerced into taking early retirement. Garcia had invited her while she was on sick leave in 2006 to attend a show and be present for a ceremony on his behalf. He told her that he and (the unnamed office technician) would pick her up so she wouldn’t have to drive.

She says that she was seen on TV and Garcia received a call from then DCA Director Zettle. Garcia, “out of his mind with anger” talked to her about “getting their stories straight” in an outburst of profanity. He had another party drive her home, the party drilling her to stick to Garcia’s story.

“It really scared me with his outburst and his actions,” she said.

A year later, while on an unpaid medical leave of absence she was at an event in a non working capacity. She momentarily assisted a promoter with a “new revised promoter/bout contract” simply out of courtesy and respect and three days later she was accused by letter of working the event for the promoter, a violation while on leave, paid or otherwise.

Feeling hostility and pressure from the athletic commission, the DCA and the DCA personnel office, she filed for early retirement.

The promoter in question said that she was not working and she was not paid. The entire matter, so similar to the 2006 incident, smacks of a retaliatory set up.

FINALLY…

To the Members of the Commission:

If you have read my previous piece on Garcia’s alleged wrongdoing and violation of federal law, and if you have read both parts of this series and you still don’t question the wisdom of keeping Armando Garcia in power, then maybe you deserve him and I’m afraid that you will ultimately reap what you sow.

Is this really the type of person that you want as the face of California boxing and MMA as the executive officer? Is this the standard of honesty and integrity that will represent your state? California is a high profile state and is therefore a much sought after venue for the sport. It is my sincere hope that the state will take a proactive position and condemn this misuse of power.