Unauthorized missive sent by Central Basin to the Attorney General, aiming to retain term-limited members in their positions
In an unexpected turn of events, Central Basin (CB) Board Members sent an unauthorized letter to California Attorney General Rob Bonta on February 24, 2025. The letter requested Bonta to opine on altering AB 1794, a bill related to the governance and operations of certain water districts, to allow Nem Ochoa and Joanna Moreno, whose terms have expired, to remain on the CB Board.
The timing of the letter's sending is suspect, as it occurred just days before newly appointed directors would have taken Ochoa and Moreno's seats. Questions are raised about the transparency and accountability of the process, as Ochoa and Moreno, who could benefit from the letter, provided direction on it.
The California Attorney General's Opinion is a formal legal interpretation, providing guidance on questions of law but not creating new laws. Opinions can be used in courts and are advisory rather than legally binding. However, the specific impact on Ochoa’s and Moreno’s terms cannot be conclusively stated without the text of the opinion or details on the proposed alterations to AB 1794.
The remaining board members, President Nem Ochoa, VP Gary Mendez, Directors Joanna Moreno, and Juan Garza, are in favor of sending the AG letter and keeping their majority voting bloc. Mendez indicated that all the board needed was "direction" in sending the letter. Certain board members provided direction to send the letter to Bonta, bypassing three other CB Board Members.
Mendez did not comment when asked if the letter should have been board-approved at a regular public meeting. Directors Art Chacon, Leticia Vasquez-Wilson, and Jim Crawford confirmed they were never asked to provide direction or vote to approve sending the letter to Bonta.
The replacements for Ochoa and Moreno were supposed to take their seats on February 28, 2025. The sending of the letter was confirmed in a text message conversation between LCCN and newly elected CB Board VP Gary Mendez. The letter was not included in a CB regular board meeting agenda for discussion and voting.
The issuance of an opinion might give 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. Ochoa, Moreno, and Garza refused to comment on the matter.
Without the specific text of the opinion or details on the proposed alterations to AB 1794, the exact impact on Ochoa’s and Moreno's terms cannot be conclusively stated. If you need precise effects, I recommend consulting the California Attorney General's published opinion on AB 1794 and any formal statements or legal analyses from Central Basin Water District or relevant local government authorities.
The community news surrounding the Central Basin Board Members' letter to California Attorney General Rob Bonta, requesting an opinion on altering AB 1794, has sparked controversy in the politics domain. The letter's timing, just before newly appointed directors were set to take seats, raises questions about policy-and-legislation transparency and accountability within the CB Board.
General-news outlets are awaiting the California Attorney General's Opinion, which, although not legally binding, can offer guidance on interpretations of the law. However, the precise impact on Ochoa’s and Moreno's terms remains uncertain, without the text of the opinion or details on the proposed alterations to AB 1794.
Events are unfolding as the replaced directors, Ochoa and Moreno, are maintaining their seats on the CB Board, potentially due to the AG letter. The exact legitimacy of their continued tenure, however, remains a topic open for debate within community news and political circles, with the issue yet to be fully addressed by the California Attorney General's Office or the Central Basin Water District.
