La Verne : Fight Against Auto Dealer

Predicting a major loss of revenue for the city if a Pomona-based Ford dealer is allowed to move into Claremont, the La Verne Redevelopment Agency has approved reimbursing a local Ford dealership up to $14,000 in legal fees in an effort to stop the proceeding.

Warren Person, president of Person Ford, which has been in La Verne for 11 years, appeared at a special meeting of the agency on Tuesday. He said a plan to relocate Quality Ford could draw away as much as 33% of his business. Quality was recently sold in bankruptcy to operators of Claremont Auto Center, who were not present Tuesday.

City Manager Martin Lomeli said Person Ford generates as much as $350,000 in annual sales tax for La Verne.

Two other Ford dealers--Colley Ford in Glendora and Citrus Motors in Ontario--are also fighting the relocation. The state’s New Motor Vehicle Board will hear the dealers’ appeal before deciding to approve or reject the move. Person said the issue could take as long as six months to resolve.