HispanicBusiness

On the heels of the resignation of Rosario Marin from California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's Cabinet amid a controversy over speaking fees, Carrie Lopez, the director of California's Department of Consumer Affairs, has also stepped down after a review revealed expenses charged to taxpayers that included transportation to a Justin Timberlake concert.

On March 1, the Los Angeles Times published an article that highlighted travel expenses she, Marin and eight other state administration officials had incurred. In the wake of that article, Schwarzenegger's finance office conducted an audit and after Lopez was presented with the findings, she issued her resignation, effective April 3, the Times reported.

Lopez attended the Timberlake concert with her daughter at Staples Center in Los Angeles in September 2007, the article stated. The concert tickets were reportedly courtesy of Sempra Energy, and Lopez said the transportation cost that day was for a "meeting" with Sempra Energy executive Debra Reed. However, a company spokeswoman said "We didn't have any business with them," the Associated Press reported.

The review reportedly showed that Lopez put in charges to the state for meals while working in Los Angeles, even when those meals were provided to her for free.

Lopez did not address the accusations but did issue a statement after her resignation Friday.

In it, she says of her department: "The public trust that we all hold is critical and our mission of consumer protection is solid." She cited a few of the department's accomplishments, including the recent launch of the "Take Charge California" public education campaign aimed at empowering consumers. She also indicated that her "two-year commitment" to the director's position will be complete on April 3.

In her official biography, Lopez says the California Department of Consumer Affairs is the home to more than 40 boards, bureaus and commissions. It issues licenses for more than 100 types of businesses and 200 professional categories that include contractors, doctors, cosmetologists and auto repair centers.

The 41-year-old Democrat came to the $142,965-a-year director's post in April 2007 from the civic leadership organization Coro Foundation in Los Angeles, where she was executive director.