The Daily Bulletin reports today that the Three Valleys Municipal Water District board will discuss a non-binding resolution call District I board member Xavier Alvarez to resign from the Three Valleys board.
Alvarez, who represents South Pomona, pleaded guilty in federal court last month to a misdemeanor charge of lying about having won a Medal of Honor. He also lied about being married to an ex-wife in order for her to get health benefits through Three Valleys:
Director Brian Bowcock, the board member who requested the resolution be considered, said he hopes a formal statement from his colleagues will convince Alvarez to resign.
"I'm hoping it does, because we're going to ask him in a public setting," said Bowcock, who represents La Verne and Claremont.
The resolution cites Alvarez's guilty plea to federal charges stemming from his false claim that he won the Medal of Honor. It also cites Alvarez's potentially illegal act of signing up his ex-wife for district-paid health benefits.
Alvarez claimed on the application that she was still his spouse.
"Director Alvarez has engaged in personal conduct that is neither befitting a member of the board nor consistent with basic public-service ethics, and which has caused embarrassment to the district and damage to the public's trust in its elected officials," the resolution reads.
If Alvarez refuses to resign, the resolution calls for outside legal counsel to be hired to determine whether there are grounds to force Alvarez from the board on the basis of his guilty plea or other alleged criminal conduct.
"We absolutely want it made clear to everybody, including Alvarez, that we want and expect him to resign," said board president Bob Kuhn.
Alvarez was censured last year by the water board, and the Bulletin article indicated that the Los Angeles District Attorney's office is still investigating the health benefits matter, which is a potential felony.
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