Two people who were recalled from the Malaga County Water District board in 2005 are trying to get their jobs back -- if for nothing else than to make a statement.
The candidates say that even if they lose the Nov. 3 election, they hope to shine a spotlight on what they say is the misuse of taxpayer funds: the board's generous policy of compensating each member with an average of $15,000 each year in addition to $143.50 for attending each meeting.
The policy says that board members are entitled to health insurance benefits valued at $900 to $1,200 per month, even though they meet just twice a month. Those who already are insured can receive an in-lieu payment instead. All five board members take the in-lieu payments, said Charles E. Garabedian Jr., the board president.
The Fresno County Grand Jury issued a report last year that criticized the board for its in-lieu payments.
Garabedian said the policy has been around since 1991 and is justifiable because board members who oversee larger agencies, such as the Fresno County Board of Supervisors, also receive such benefits. Malaga is a community of about 1,200 just south of Fresno.
"It's kind of moot," Garabedian said of the controversy over the policy. "If water rates are low and the quality is there, what's there to be questioning?"
But two former board members — Armando Mendez Blancas and Florence M. Valdez — have long opposed the policy. Valdez thinks the board members should receive health benefits if they are uninsured, but shouldn't have the in-lieu option. Blancas said board members shouldn't get health benefits or in-lieu payments.
Sometime in 2002 or 2003, Blancas and Valdez tried to get the board to eliminate the in-lieu payments, but the three other members then on the board opposed the effort.
Valdez, Blancas and a third board member, Angela Landin, were recalled in 2005 after they voted to lay off workers at the water district. The other two board members at the time opposed the cuts. The three recalled members were also criticized for opposing the community's effort to become a city.
Blancas said that they were left with no choice but to order the layoffs because of budget constraints. Valdez remained neutral on the city's effort to incorporate and Blancas opposed the idea because she said the community wouldn't be able to afford to pay for its own services.
The upcoming vote will be their third attempt at reclaiming their spots on the board since being recalled. Valdez said she doubts she'll have any more success this time. The sitting board members are too well-connected to the community, she said.
"I would be really surprised if I got it," Valdez said. "People here aren't interested in what's going on. They don't realize that the board members are making so much money off of us."
Even if she does win, Valdez said, she doesn't know if she would be able to make much of a difference. Four of the five board members are related: Frank A. Cerrillo Jr. and Salvador A. Cerrillo are brothers. Irma M. Castaneda and Frank C. Soto are their cousins.
Soto, Castaneda, and a third board member who later died, John R. Leyva, took over the board seats of Blancas, Valdez and Landin after they were recalled.
The Cerrillo brothers and Soto are trying to defend their seats in next week's at-large election. Blancas and Valdez are the only two people challenging them. The three candidates with the most votes will win election.
Soto and Frank Cerrillo Jr. could not be reached for comment. Salvador Cerrillo said he was too busy to talk.
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