Prop. 187 Leader Files Bankruptcy Petition

SANTA ANA — Ronald S. Prince, the Proposition 187 campaign co-chairman, has filed for personal bankruptcy, with most of his $313,700 debt made up of expenses from the successful anti-illegal immigration initiative.

Among Prince’s unpaid creditors, according to the Chapter 7 petition filed in U.S. Bankruptcy Court, is former Immigration and Naturalization Service Commissioner Alan C. Nelson, who is listed as being owed $36,000. A campaign finance report filed earlier this year showed Nelson billed the campaign $26,000 for consulting services, work which included co-authoring Proposition 187.

The largest single creditor reported in Prince’s bankruptcy petition is Yorba Linda campaign consultant Robert Kiley, who is owed $170,000.

Prince states in his petition that his assets--including a 1986 Buick, $200 cash and other personal items--total $3,950. Supported by his family and living rent-free in a Tustin home, Prince said his income during the last three years was in the form of gifts totaling $3,500.

Prince could not be reached for comment Thursday.

The last campaign finance report filed before the Nov. 8 election by the Proposition 187 campaign committee showed that it had raised $484,188 and spent $582,352, with an outstanding debt of $297,691.

Early in the Proposition 187 campaign, finance reports listed Prince as the donor of a $20,000 loan to the campaign. However, caught up in a legal battle with his former attorney, who was seeking payment for a $9,600 legal bill, Prince told an Orange County Superior Court judge last month that he had no assets and that the $20,000 loan was actually made by his father, Downey businessman Leland Prince.

The younger Prince’s petition to settle his debts through asset liquidation was filed Monday, a day before he was due back in Superior Court to show proof that the $20,000 campaign loan was made by his father.