More than a year after a campaign rally was held at Kimball Park in National City by then presidential candidate Bernie Sanders, the city is suing the Vermont senator for not paying his expenses.

The city is taking Sanders to court to recoup around $31,000 — roughly $28,300 owed for out-of-pocket costs, including police, fire and public works overtime associated with the event held May 21, 2016.

An additional $3,000 in penalties has since been tacked on. The money came out of the city’s general fund.

Emails and calls for comment to the Sanders campaign were not immediately returned.


The lawsuit is being drafted by the Financial Credit Network in Vermont, where Sanders’ campaign office is located, according to National City Deputy City Manager Stacey Stevenson.

The City Council unanimously agreed on Aug. 1 to authorize the city attorney to file a lawsuit against the Sanders campaign for breach of agreement.

The original invoice requested payment no later than June 2, after which city officials sent a courtesy notice and three subsequent delinquent notices.

A letter demanding payment in October was unsuccessful, and the city turned the issue over to the Vermont collection agency.


Last October Armando Vergara, the city’s director of neighborhood services, said his office has contacted the Sanders campaign by email and phone in addition to sending the letters.

He said they received one email stating the Secret Service was responsible for law enforcement fees, but Vergara said the campaign staff is responsible.

The cost of a temporary use permit, which is what Sanders’ campaign needed to hold its event at the park, is generally paid in full before the event is held, according to city officials.

The event required city officials to pull things together in a few days. In fact, campaign staff members and Secret Service officials asked the City Council on May 17 to add an emergency item to its agenda that night and approve it.


A handful of other governments in California were also trying to collect on unpaid bills following rallies held by Sanders’ campaign. They include Cloverdale, Vallejo and Solano County.

Cloverdale was paid two months later, said Cloverdale City Manager Paul Cayler.

A $6,000 bill incurred by the Sanders campaign for a rally in Vista was paid to the Vista Unified School District, according to district officials.