Assemblyman makes good on promise to donate raise

In protest of the Citizens Compensation Commission’s decision to raise the salaries of California assemblymen in a time of budgetary crisis, Assemblyman Van Tran announced he donated his raise to a number of local charities, including a learning center in Costa Mesa.

It is not the first time the 68th district Republican has made the move — he also donated his previous raise to charities as well.

“I believe the people of California elected me to the Assembly with a salary already set,” he said in a news release. “I’m sure these worthwhile local causes will make a much better use of the raise than Sacramento’s bloated bureaucracy.”

Tran said in a follow-up interview that he publicized the gifts so the public would be aware he followed through on the promise he made last year to do so.

“I don’t want people to think I forgot about it,” he said.

Six organizations, including the Shalimar Learning Center in Costa Mesa, received checks ranging from $250 to $500.

— Chris Caesar