COMMERCE – Leticia Vasquez is no stranger to recall campaigns in Southeast Los Angeles County.
A recall campaign has been launched against Central Basin Director Leticia Vasquez
Central Basin Municipal Water DistrictThe case was the focus of one of the biggest federal indictments in US history that landed then Lynwood Mayor Paul Richards in federal prison for a decade.
She was recalled in 2007 after serving just one term in office in Lynwood. In addition to Richards, two other fellow councilmembers at that time went on to serve prison sentences for public corruption.
Hews Media Group-Community Newspapers has learned that Vasquez is now the main target from a group of “concerned water customers” throughout the Central Basin territory. They want the Division 4 Director stripped of her elected duties for misusing her public office.
This week, proponents announced a recall effort to oust Vasquez and HMG-CN has confirmed that organizers have begun the formal legal process of drafting the necessary documents to be filed with the Los Angeles County Registar-Recorder’s Office in Norwalk.
The organizers, who do not want to be publicly identified at the time this article was written, said the gathering of the needed signatures could commence as soon as recall notices are published in a newspaper of general circulation.
One proponent said, “concerned ratepayers have grown frustrated with the antics and possible criminal activities that seem to be a part of everyday life for Vasquez. For over a year Leticia Vasquez has consistently made headlines for a campaign financed by a convicted felon, receiving substantial campaign funds from Pacifica Services and CEO Ernie Camacho, steering government contracts to personal friends and campaign supporters, filing a lawsuit against CBMWD, and allegedly shaking-down doing business with the struggling water agency.”
Central Basin has been at the center of growing controversy since Vasquez’ election. HMG-CN has published numerous articles since Jan 2013 highlighting Vasquez’ suspect dealings.
HMG-CN was the first to reveal that Vasquez filed an August 2013 “Qui Tam” whistleblower lawsuit against several former contractors and employees of Central Basin, most of whom she aggressively sought campaign contributions from during her 2012 run for office.
The revelation of the lawsuit showed that Vasquez was trying to cash in on a possible $2.5 million verdict by using her insider status at the District as a sitting-Director.
Full story by Randy Economy and Brian Hews at loscerritosnews.net.
