Central Basin Board Members' Actions Under Investigation to Maintain Their Positions
Central Basin Board of Directors Under Fire for Alleged Misuse of Power
The Central Basin Board of Directors is facing criticism for alleged misuse of authority, as they have been accused of circumventing the legally required nomination and replacement process for two directors who have termed out.
According to reports, the voting-bloc majority of Nem Ochoa, Joanna Moreno, Gary Mendez, and Juan Garza have refused to initiate the replacement process, despite the necessity to do so as per the State’s Water Code and the Central Basin Administrative Code. This action has been perceived as an attempt to extend their tenures unlawfully.
Nem Ochoa, the General Manager of Golden State Water, and Joanna Moreno, the City of Vernon Engineer, should have vacated their seats last year, but they continue to serve on the board. The board’s voting bloc is blocking any board actions that would start the replacement process, raising concerns about transparency and proper governance.
A critical conflict of interest has been identified in this case, as Ochoa and Moreno have a personal stake in extending their time on the board. The board’s counsel, Victor Ponto, issued an unapproved letter to the Attorney General suggesting statutory ambiguities without board authorization or public input, which further adds to the ethical dubiousness and potential unlawfulness of this matter.
The nomination process, which should have started on November 1, 2024, and lasted until December 31, 2024, has not taken place. The ballots with qualified nominees, which should have been FedEx'd out for voting on January 1, have also not been distributed. The voting bloc majority has not started the nomination process for the replacement directors, and the ballots have not been received or a meeting called to count them.
If elected, the winners should have been announced and posted on the Central Basin's website within 7 days, but this has not occurred. The group is violating the State's Water Code, Chapter 1.6 - Central Basin Municipal Water District Section 71266 (2), 71267 (h), and the Central Basin Administrative Code, Part 2, 1.4 (j).
CB General Manager Elaine Jeng and General Counsel Victor Ponto are participating in these violations, adding to the controversy surrounding the board's actions. The situation has sparked calls for transparency, ethical conduct, and adherence to the law in the Central Basin Board's operations.
- The ongoing controversy surrounding the Central Basin Board of Directors extends to community news, as the public is expressing concern over the allegations of misuse of power and potential unlawful extensions of tenures for board members.
- The Central Basin Board's actions, such as the delay in the nomination and replacement process, are not only against the State’s Water Code and the Central Basin Administrative Code, but also raise questions about policy-and-legislation and the board's adherence to legal procedures.
- In light of the situation, general-news outlets have been reporting on local politics, with the Central Basin Board's disagreements and violations becoming a significant topic in event-related discussions.
