Orosi Public Utilities District directors told to vacate office, DOJ says

OROSI, Calif. (KSEE/KGPE) - The 3 directors who were up for re-election successful November for Orosi's Public Utilities District are being told to vacate their bureau successful a missive sent by the state's Department of Justice and the lawyer wide Tuesday.

The DOJ says the 3 incumbent members who were a portion of the district's committee of directors, Reynaldo Rivas, Maria C. Gonzalez and Johnny Sandoval had mislaid their respective contests for reelection to the committee of directors.

In the letter, it states that Rivas, Gonzalez and Sandoval asserted the predetermination that was held connected Nov. 5, 2024, was "null and void." According to nationalist accusation and the territory resolutions, the missive says they intended to proceed to service successful their roles arsenic members of the district's committee until a caller predetermination was held.

"They are wrong," the missive stated.

The missive says that connected Nov. 5 the predetermination was certified by the Tulare County Registrar of Voters, and the Tulare County Board of Supervisors issued certificates of the predetermination to the prevailing candidates per the California Elections Codes.

Since the verification of the predetermination results, the missive states that the caller committee members person since taken their oath successful bureau and it says they are "the morganatic members of the OPUD Board for Districts 1, 2 and 4."

The missive mentions that nary predetermination contention was filed challenging the results and that the clip to bring a situation has expired.

“Few things are arsenic un-American arsenic refusing to judge the results of an election,” Attorney General Rob Bonta said. “I telephone upon Mr. Rivas, Ms. Gonzalez, and Mr. Sandoval to measurement speech immediately."

The missive states if Gonzalez, Sandoval and Rivas bash not vacate their offices and admit the results, the lawyer wide and the caput volition prosecute due ineligible remedies which whitethorn see civilian monetary penalties.

According to the letter, the OPUD's Board of Directors indispensable nonstop the caput and Department of Justice's offices a written confirmation that Rivas, Gonzalez and Sandoval volition nary longer asseverate their entitlement to service arsenic members of the committee by 12 p.m. connected Jan. 17.