Group wants recall of IID board member
EL CENTRO — Before Tuesday’s regular Imperial Irrigation District Board of Director’s meeting, a group of residents served Division 5 Director Norma Sierra Galindo with a notice
of their intent to recall her from her position.
The group drafted a recall petition against Galindo in which they allege she has placed her own interests “over the good of the ratepayers.”
The matter was not part of the regular meeting and Galindo — during a break in the regular meeting — spoke to the Imperial Valley Press to refute the claims written in the notice.
Galindo provided the petition to the Press which contained 26 signatures. Galindo said she has an idea of the individuals that are supporting the effort and added she was “not surprised.”
The Press confirmed the petition had been filed with the county Registrar of Voters Office on Tuesday afternoon, however, the filed document was not available for viewing because it had not be reviewed by the Registrar of Voters Debbie Porter at the time.
According to the California Secretary of State website, for the recall to be successful the petitioner needs to collect signatures equal to 20 percent of the total number of registered voters within the district of the public official in question. The number of registered voters in Galindo’s division is more than 15,000, meaning more than 3,000 would be needed for a recall to be successful.
The petition, provided by Galindo, lists five allegations against her which are: using her position to favor contracts for family members, advocating for approval of contracts to businesses outside of the Imperial Valley, ordering IID staff to conduct personal errands including using them as her personal chauffeur, dismissing concerns and comments from constituents, and using IID meetings to belittle other board members and community leaders.
Galindo said she believes that local members of the community who hoped to get a consulting contract — which was awarded to Diversity Consulting Group in 2013 — may be those who are behind the recall effort. IID first approved a contract with DCG in 2013 and then passed a 1-year extension Nov. 20.
As far as using the meetings to lecture others, she said, “I know I can be a little rough, but I call it as it is.”
As far as the other allegations, Galindo added, “I really don’t know what they are talking about.”
The person that served Galindo with the petition declined to speak to the Press or name the individuals behind the recall effort. Galindo’s term ends December 2018 and was elected on June 3, 2014, when she garnered 9,706 votes over her opponent James William Horn Jr. (5,955).
Board reorganization With only one remaining board meeting left on the calendar for 2017, the board of directors voted on the reorganization for 2018.
Division 3 Director Jim Hanks was voted to serve as the new president of the board, while Division 4 Director Erik Ortega will serve as the vice president. Also, Gloria Rivera and Maria Caldera will continue to serve as board secretary and treasurer respectively.
Hanks was slated to serve as vice president for 2017, however, due to personal matters declined the position and was filled by Galindo. She had previously served as president in 2016.