Hothi, Kalwani, Matsui and Robles: Follow the Money in Elk Grove’s Political Supergroup
Every politician - Hothi and Robles are no different - will tell you with a straight face that political contributions do not influence how they vote on matters in front of them tied to their contributors
Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young came together in 1969 and released Déjà Vu the following year. Elk Grove has its own four-name lineup: Hothi, Kalwani, Matsui and Robles.
The initials HKMR probably won’t sell many records, but the liner notes make for interesting reading. Most of them are campaign and financial disclosures.
Start with Mikey Hothi, a Lodi city councilmember, and Sergio Robles, an Elk Grove city councilmember. The two have appeared together in numerous social media posts.
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But there’s a more concrete link in Robles’ campaign filings. In March 2025, his reelection committee reported receiving $499 from Hothi’s city council campaign.
In an annual Form 700 filed April 1, 2026, Hothi reported receiving $10,001 to $100,000 in consulting income in 2025 from Sheldon Business Park, a company whose managing partner is Gyan Kalwani. The form gives no individual payment dates or exact amount and describes the income as a “consulting fee” without specifying the work.
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Kalwani is one of the two applicants for Elk Grove's Summer Villas project. The applicants face fierce opposition from Elk Grove rural residents fighting to keep Mayor Bobbie Singh-Allen from changing the city's general plan to accommodate their high-density senior housing project.
Kalwani’s project partner is Bryan Wilson. In September, Better Leaders PAC reported receiving $2,000 from River City Waste Recyclers LLC, listing Wilson alongside the company’s name. The PAC later reported spending $7,645.24 on mailers supporting Robles, who easily won reelection.
Kalwani and Wilson have both been associated with the recycling business. In Elk Grove, apparently, even the names get recycled.
To add another dimension, Robles posted pictures on social media of a fundraising event at one of Elk Grove's drinking establishments. Not surprisingly, Kalwani can be seen in one of the images.
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Given that Hothi and Robles are pals, and Hothi works for Kalwani, the connection is easy to see. Has Hothi used his friendship, not to mention Wilson's arm's-length contribution, to influence Robles to be predisposed to support Kalwani and Wilson's project?
Now Kalwani could have stumbled upon the cocktail bar fundraiser and, knowing he is Hothi's patron, Robles invited him into the party. Of all the gin joints in Elk Grove!
Every politician - Hothi and Robles are no different - will tell you with a straight face that political contributions do not influence how they vote on matters in front of them tied to their contributors. Unless you just landed in Elk Grove on a turnip truck from Wilton, you know politics doesn't work that way.
Then there’s Rep. Doris Matsui. Her campaign reported eight payments totaling $87,364.82 to Hothi in 2026 through Oct. 14 for strategy consulting, field operations, and expenses.
Robles and Singh-Allen both backed Matsui in the California Democratic Party’s congressional pre-endorsement vote. Singh-Allen, in particular, has been front and center for Matsui, even being the main feature in a TV attack ad against Matsui's opponent, Mai Vang.
That’s a lot of overlap for people in different cities running for different offices. The filings establish who paid whom and which campaign got outside help.
Whether Hothi ever discussed Summer Villas with Robles or Singh-Allen, or Elk Grove City Councilmembers Rod Brewer and Darren Suen, who got campaign cash from Hothi, and whether his consulting work for Sheldon Business Park involved the project, remain open questions. Let your wisdom and experience with lying polticians be your guide in your answer.
On Nov. 5, the Planning Commission voted 4-1 to recommend that the City Council deny the changes needed for the proposed 499-home development. The council has the final say.
When Summer Villas comes before it, Robles and Singh-Allen can tell residents who approached them about the project, what was asked of them and why they’re voting the way they are.
The public hearing comes with microphones. They might as well use them.
