Unauthorized letter from Central Basin sent to Attorney General, aiming to preserve members who have exceeded term limits
The Central Basin Municipal Water District (CBMWD) has found itself in a controversial situation, as it seeks a legal opinion from California Attorney General Rob Bonta that could potentially allow term-expired board members to remain in office.
On February 24, 2025, CB Board Members, including President Nem Ochoa, Vice President Gary Mendez, and Directors Joanna Moreno and Juan Garza, sent an unauthorized letter to Attorney General Bonta, requesting an opinion on altering AB 1794 to permit Ochoa and Moreno to continue serving despite their terms expiring. This move, if successful, could help the District maintain its current board majority amidst upcoming elections or vacancies.
The process of appointing new directors takes 120 days, potentially prolonging the impact of Ochoa and Moreno's attendance at meetings. Replacements for them were scheduled to take their seats on February 28, 2025.
The timing of the letter's sending is suspect, as it occurred just days before the new directors were due to take office. Directors Art Chacon, Leticia Vasquez-Wilson, and Jim Crawford were never asked to provide direction or vote to approve sending the letter to Bonta.
Mendez indicated that all the board needed was "direction" in sending the letter. However, questions are swirling about how Ochoa and Moreno could provide direction on the AG letter when they have an obvious conflict of interest, as the letter argues for their continued service on the board.
The sending of the letter was confirmed in a text message conversation between LCCN and Mendez. Interestingly, the letter was not included in a CB regular board meeting agenda for discussion and voting.
The California Attorney General's Opinion is a formal legal interpretation. It does not create new laws but can be used as evidence in court and provides guidance on questions of law. However, it is advisory in nature and not legally binding.
If the Opinion is favourable, it may give more time on the board for Ochoa and Moreno. However, without specific references from recent documents or news sources about this particular action involving CBMWD and Attorney General Bonta, the exact nature, scope, and outcome of the request remain unclear.
As the majority awaits the AG's opinion, Ochoa and Moreno will continue to participate in CBMWD board meetings and vote on agenda items. Ochoa, Moreno, and Garza have refused to comment on the matter.
For authoritative details or confirmation about this matter, it is recommended to consult recent official statements from the CBMWD, California Attorney General’s office press releases, or local government news updates directly related to AB 1794 and board member term extensions.
- The community news is abuzz with discussions about the controversial decision by the Central Basin Municipal Water District (CBMWD) to seek a legal opinion from California Attorney General Rob Bonta, which could potentially allow term-expired board members to stay in office, sparking concerns about policy-and-legislation and politics.
- The district's events calendar might see some unexpected changes if the Attorney General's Opinion favors the CBMWD, as it could potentially extend the tenure of President Nem Ochoa and Director Joanna Moreno beyond their expired terms.
- General-news outlets have expressed their opinions on the matter, questioning the ethics of board members seeking to alter a law (AB 1794) for personal gain, as well as the legality of such a move without proper board approval or authorization.
