California city council candidate facing heat for a DECADE of dropping off wheelchair-bound mom, 86, to panhandle when they're not homeless (4 Pics)

A candidate for city council in Southern California has been accused of dropping off his elderly, wheelchair-bound mother to panhandle fo...

A candidate for city council in Southern California has been accused of dropping off his elderly, wheelchair-bound mother to panhandle for the last decade, even though they're not homeless. 

David Chey is said to have been leaving Soon Chey, 86, in her wheelchair in the downtown district of Laguna Beach with a sign that reads, 'please, help me.'

'They have a brand new car, live in a condo in Irvine, yet beg for our help,' local business owner Heidi Miller told DailyMail.com.

'And Adult Protective Services have gone out there and can't do anything, because she says she enjoys begging. He's pretty much brainwashed her.'

'We have a tremendous homeless problem in Laguna Beach, as every place does,' Miller said.

'And what the Cheys have been doing for 12 years is taking money from Laguna residents and tourists and going back to a cozy apartment in Irvine in a brand new car and taking money away from homeless people.'

Chey allegedly leaves his mom stranded for hours at a time, either along the upscale Forest Avenue in Laguna or at the University Town Center shopping complex in Irvine, according to a piece written by David Hansen and published in the Los Angeles Times. 

David Chey, a candidate for city council in Irvine, California has been accused of dropping off his wheelchair-bound mother, Soon Chey, 86 (pictured), to panhandle, even though they're not homeless; Soon Chey is shown here along the 200 block of Laguna's upscale Forest Avenue

Miller, who has been living in Laguna Beach for 40 years, estimated that once while she was watching Soon Chey, she collected over $200 in one hour.

She said she caught Chey dropping off his mother just two weeks ago, and parking at an 'obscure underground parking structure' near the Laguna Chamber of Commerce to do it.

'He drops her off at about 8:30pm and leaves her there until about midnight,' Miller said. 

'I've see her sitting outside by herself in drizzle. She even defecated on one of the benches before because she had to go to the bathroom. There's so many things wrong with it.'  

Miller said she caught David Chey (pictured) dropping off his mother just two weeks ago, and parking at an 'obscure underground parking structure' near the Laguna Chamber of Commerce to do it; Miller said this photo was taken off Gleneyri Street in Laguna Beach

Heidi Miller (pictured) created a sign which she has placed beside Chey's mother that reads, 'Do not give this woman money. Her son drops her off to beg for money she doesn't need;' Miller is shown here in front of one of her businesses, a World Newsstand, in Laguna Beach

Miller created a sign which she has placed beside Chey's mother that reads, 'Do not give this woman money. Her son drops her off to beg for money she doesn't need.' 

Evidence of the Cheys' panhandling scheme dates back at least six years, including a video of Chey picking up his mother at around 2.00am Pacific from the town center in Irvine.

The clip was titled 'Elder Abuse at UCI Town Center' and was posted on YouTube on December 5, 2012. 

A man can be heard from behind the camera asking Chey, 'Is this your mother?' and accusing him of exploiting her, as Chey starts filming with his own camera and his mom waves the other person off, seemingly unbothered by the events of that day. 

As the video continues, Chey becomes increasingly agitated, with his voice growing louder as he calls the man recording him 'a paid stooge,' a 'paid harasser' who was 'hired by Wells Fargo bank' and a 'stalker.' 

n the video, Chey says his mother's 'house was stolen by Wells Fargo bank.'

The Cheys lost their family home in 2007 during bankruptcy proceedings after Chey's father and Soon's husband died, the Times reported in a separate opinion piece by Hansen, published in 201.

Hansen wrote that the mother and son due were compensated for the loss of their home, based on housing and court records.   

Chey's 2018 candidate statement for City of Irivine councilmember describes him as a self-employed entrepreneur.  

Chey earned a Bachelor of Science degree in business administration from the University of Southern California, and graduated from the school's entrepreneurship program, according to the statement as published on Irvine Watchdog.

His stated purpose for running for city council is to implement 'an ordinance that requires voter approval on development projects.'

Chey's 2018 candidate statement for City of Irivine councilmember describes him as a self-employed entrepreneur with a Bachelor of Science degree in business administration from the University of Southern California

He added that he's running 'to help residents achieve the American Dream. To be better than your parents. And to have high education. To be able to contribute positively to society,' during a public forum, according to Hansen's piece published by the Los Angeles Times.

Chey faces 10 opponents for one of two seats available on Irvine's city council.

His fellow candidates are named John Park, Kev Abazajian, Farrah N Khan, Lee Sun, Gang Chen, Carrie O Malley, Frank McGill, Jaci Woods and Mark Newgent.

Both Chey and Newgent were absent from a meet-the-candidates forum hosted by the Irvine Chinese School at the South Coast Chinese Cultural Center on October 8.

City of Irvine voters will cast their ballots to fill the two roles during next week's general election on November 6.