California Friends of the African American Caucus
[img]2684|right|Ron Smith||no_popup[/img]A fresh perspective and focused leadership are needed at the West Basin Municipal Water District.
The Daily Breeze reported last week that West Basin Water Board Director Ronald Smith, 55, was arrested and charged with misusing public funds. It is alleged that Mr. Smith, who serves as West Basin's treasurer, “used public funds to pay for rent, boat repairs and his children's tuition.”
Said the noted political consultant Oliver Unaka:
“It is my opinion that voters are fed up with do-nothing politicians who repeatedly pander for votes only to afford themselves ridiculous privileges at tax-payers' expenses..
“I believe that voters should question former West Basin President Gloria Gray on how such an incident could happen, again, under her watch.
“Similarly, Inglewood Unified School District's eventual collapse is alleged to have been caused by the lack of oversight and financial mismanagement that took place around the time Gray presided over IUSD's Board of Trustees.”
According to the Daily Breeze, Mr. Smith's charges involve $20,000 in public funds. The West Basin director pleaded not guilty to two felony counts of misusing public funds.
A representative of an unnamed non-profit organization, through which prosecutors allege that Mr. Smith funneled funds, is claimed to have contacted authorities in the fall of 2013.
[img]2693|right|Gloria Gray||no_popup[/img]Ms. Gray, too, has been the subject of financial mismanagement allegations. During her recent, perennial run for state Assembly, an Inglewood newspaper questioned the legalities of her use of West Basin funds.
Ms. Gray shunned public comment. She made no statement after repeated requests. The publication noted that her agency-sponsored community booth, which promoted materials for her ill-fated 2014 62nd Assembly bid, may have been in conflict with mandated financial reporting obligations.
“Certain West Basin directors may be considered distracted at best, and completely incompetent at worst,” Mr. Unaka said.
“We have witnessed Gloria Gray run for just about every possible elected position within her geographic area.
“Yet somehow the basic fiduciary responsibilities of her board involvements were allegedly left unmet, yet again.
“During one of the most severe droughts in California's history, ratepayers are forced to watch elected water board members flush their hard-earned funds down a proverbial drain.”
Mr. Kimbrew may be contacted at cafriendsofaacc@gmail.com
