Unauthorized missive from Central Basin sent to Attorney General to preserve term-limited appointees
Central Basin Board Members Face Questions Over Unauthorized Letter to Attorney General
In an unprecedented move, the Central Basin (CB) Board of Directors sent an unauthorized letter to California Attorney General Rob Bonta on February 24, 2025. The letter, penned by CB attorney Victor Ponto, requested Bonta to opine on altering AB 1794 to allow certain board members, whose terms have expired, to remain on the CB Board.
The remaining board members, President Nem Ochoa, Vice President Gary Mendez, Directors Joanna Moreno, and Juan Garza, are in favor of sending the AG letter and keeping their majority voting bloc. However, Ochoa, Moreno, and Garza refused to comment when asked about the conflict of interest in their involvement in sending the letter.
AB 1794 is a California state law that addresses terms and conditions for certain board members. If terms expire under it, an official opinion by the Attorney General could clarify whether those board members may legally continue serving past their original term or require replacement. However, there are no relevant search results specifically addressing Bonta’s opinion on altering AB 1794, nor how it impacts the continued service of Central Basin Board Members Nem Ochoa and Joanna Moreno whose terms have expired under that bill.
The opinions provided by the Attorney General are formal legal interpretations that offer guidance on questions of law but are advisory rather than legally binding. Opinions cannot create new laws. If Bonta were to issue an opinion, it could potentially provide more time on the board for Ochoa and Moreno.
The process of appointing new directors takes 120 days, prolonging the impact of Ochoa and Moreno's attendance at meetings. The unauthorized letter was not included in a CB regular board meeting agenda for discussion and voting, raising questions about the transparency and accountability of the CB Board's actions in sending the letter.
Gary Mendez, in a text conversation, confirmed the AG letter was sent and stated that the board only needed "direction" in sending it. Questions have arisen about the transparency and accountability of the CB Board's actions in sending the letter, and whether Ochoa and Moreno's continued participation in CB Board meetings and voting on agenda items could be called into question at some point in the future.
For the most accurate and current information, we recommend checking official California Attorney General communications or Central Basin official statements regarding AB 1794 and those members’ status. Opinions, when used in courts, can potentially provide more time on the board for Ochoa and Moreno. However, without a documented opinion or action from Rob Bonta on this matter, the impact on Nem Ochoa and Joanna Moreno’s ability to continue serving cannot be definitively stated.
- The unauthorized letter sent by the Central Basin Board to the Attorney General, seeking an opinion on altering AB 1794, has brought politics into play, raising questions about the transparency and accountability of the CB Board's actions.
- Community news outlets are closely following the events surrounding the Central Basin Board, with a specific focus on policy-and-legislation, as the Board Members' continued service past their original terms potentially hinges on the Attorney General's opinion on AB 1794.
- General news reports have highlighted the opinion provided by the Attorney General as a crucial piece of information in determining the legal status of Central Basin Board Members Nem Ochoa and Joanna Moreno, whose terms have expired under AB 1794, and whether they can continue to serve or will be required to vacate their positions.
