Brown Vetoes Water Board Ethics Bill

HMG-CN Staff Report

Governor Brown has once again vetoed an ethics reform bill; the latest one centered around donations to water boards members.

The bill by Assemblywoman Christina Garcia (D-Bell Gardens) would have prohibited water board members throughout the state from accepting campaign donations higher than $250 from individuals who have business pending before the boards.

The measure was prompted by a controversy, first published in HMG-CN, involving suspended state Sen. Ronald S. Calderon (D-Montebello) and his brother Tom Calderon.

The two had made large campaign donations to most members of the Central Basin Municipal Water District board before the board approved a consulting contract for Tom Calderon.

Brown said AB 1728 would “add more complexity” by applying only to water boards.