Approval of new Auditor-Controller hits snag
EL CENTRO – Once a relatively obscure backwater of local politics and government, the county Auditor-Controller’s Office Tuesday again found itself at the center of a budding controversy.
The issue involves whether accountant Karina B. Alvarez, who is running unopposed for the seat, will be appointed to finish the term of the previous incumbent, who was ousted from office after being convicted on felony public corruption charges.
The county Board of Supervisors mulled putting Alvarez in the position immediately, but the snag was her still holding a seat on the McCabe Union Elementary School District Board of Trustees.
“Previous dual electeds in the county have not fared well,” Supervisor Ryan Kelley warned.
Following a modest back and forth, the panel voted unanimously to support appointing Alvarez. However, the move is contingent upon the County Counsel’s Office determining Alvarez’s position on the McCabe board does not present a conflict of interest or upon her resigning from that seat.
One issue is that the county has oversight over a McCabe bond, a matter board Chairman Jesus Eduardo Escobar, who placed discussion of filling the positon on the board agenda, said the Counsel should review.
There is some urgency in filling the position, Supervisor Raymond Castillo noted.
“She’s qualified, and we’re getting close to the end of the fiscal year (June 30). It’s important,” he said.
Alvarez said she is eager to get on the job, telling the board in a brief statement, “I can start tomorrow.”
She told the board, and explained in a telephone interview later in the day, that she was informed by McCabe’s legal counsel holding both positions would not be a conflict as far as the district is concerned. She added she also made an inquiry to the state Fair Political Practices Commission.
“They didn’t say yes or no but they sent me links on different examples” of elected officials simultaneously holding two offices, Alvarez said in the interview, adding it is her preference to complete her McCabe term, which ends in 2024.
“In my mind I had not seen any conflict. I don’t like to leave things unfinished. That was my inclination, to finish my term,” she explained.
Meantime, Alvarez said, “I have no starting date until this gets resolved. I’ll send them the information and wait.”
The county removed the previous Auditor-Controller, Josue Mercado, after he was sentenced on felony public corruption charges on March 24. However, he had not been performing the duties of the office or reporting for work since the board censured him in December 2020 for failing to adequately perform the duties of the office.
Assistant Auditor-Controller Shelly Smail has been running the office since, and the board also asked the Counsel to explore whether she can be awarded additional compensation.
“Can we get a bonus or something for Ms. Smail?” Supervisor Michael Kelley asked. “We did have an individual who stood up when we needed it.”
The gesture was supported by other board members and the Counsel was asked to explore the matter, though Escobar noted further discussion of additional compensation should be moved to closed session.
Mercado’s salary was $130,000 per year. That was stripped following his February conviction on the felony charges of misappropriation of public funds.