The SuperPAC formed by the Coalition of Labor, Agriculture and Business has switched some of its focus from strictly issue-based to candidate-based.
Imperial Valley First has started advertising and putting up billboards calling for Valley residents to get rid of the incumbents in the Imperial Irrigation District Division 2 and 4 races, John Pierre Menvielle and Stella Mendoza, respectively. However, the two being targeted are questioning the motives behind the group, calling it a move to steal the Valley’s water.
While looking to implement COLAB’s independent expenditure committee educational campaign, members thought more was needed, said Ayron Moiola, executive director of the Coalition of Labor, Agriculture and Business.
“You have to have a call to action, and our call to action is the incumbents haven’t been leading in the right way for the last eight to 12 years,” she said.
The hope when starting the independent expenditures committee was that all the candidates, including the incumbents, would grab hold of the three issues of concern: high salaries, the bid process and the public health issues with the Salton Sea, Moiola said. However, the incumbents haven’t, she added.
That’s why the group has decided to move in the direction to focus on candidates, she said. It is still working toward an education campaign on the issues, but now there is a call of what Imperial Valley First wants voters to do.
The group still won’t be able to work directly with candidates on messaging, but any of the candidates can take on Imperial Valley First’s message.
The independent expenditure committee is not doing anything wrong putting up signs against the two incumbents, said Brian Hildreth, an attorney specializing in election law who advises the local committee.
“They have formally changed the type of committee they are with the appropriate officials, so that gives them the freedom to be more candidate-focused instead of specifically issues based,” he said.
This means they will have to do more reporting, though, than a group solely focused on issues, he said.
The two IID directors targeted think there’s an ulterior motive to going after certain board members.
“Imperial Valley First is just another name for the Imperial Group,” Mendoza said. “They care about lining their own pockets, not standing up for the public.
“Voters should ask themselves who is behind this campaign and what’s in it for them,” she added.
The issues go back to water, and for those people it’s about taking the water for themselves, Mendoza said.
“I have always maintained that water is a public resource, not a private property right,” she said.
Those with the independent expenditure committee, though, reaffirmed their stance.
It’s about trying to get issues addressed in local government, said member Michael Abatti. Government agencies like the IID need to be fixed up and operating more efficiently for the public. You can’t gamble with public money, he said.
The group was started by COLAB, a coalition of the best businesses in the Valley, he said.
“A businessmen or women run business, not politics,” he said. “That’s what makes them successful.”
Politics needs to be taken out of government, instead focusing on what’s best for the people, he said. Imperial Valley First is a good arm for the public to get government working again, he said.
Still some think the move is about gaining water rights.
Menvielle said the group is desperate to get a third vote on the IID board to end the water transfer.
“I was told they were going to stick to the issue and not get personal, but they’re going personal, which is very unfortunate,” he said. “They’re desperate to change the makeup of the IID board to get control of the water in Imperial Valley.”
For now Menvielle said he plans to take the high road, as he’s experienced this criticism before, he said. He thinks, though, that a majority of the people here think he and Mendoza are moving the district forward for the benefit of the whole Valley.
Menvielle was quick to point out that some members of the Imperial Valley Vegetable Growers Association and COLAB are also members of the Imperial Group.
“They’re going for the jugular,” he said. “They’re going for the kill.”
But that may not happen, as Menvielle said he doesn’t think the billboards are going to be able to do any good. Most people know who COLAB is because of its opposition to Measure D, the bond to do street repair. Because of that, many people think they’re an elite group who thinks they know better than anyone else, he said.
However, Menvielle’s competitors for the seat disagreed.
Ruben Casarez is in agreement with some of the ideas being focused on by Imperial Valley First, he said. There’s a lack of management and accountability at the IID, he said.
The Imperial Valley First issues should go before the public, he said. Whether the group is successful in removing the incumbents stands to be seen, but at least they’re bringing the information forward.
“I’m a true believer in freedom of speech, and I think this is a good method of increasing the interest in local politics,” he said
He’s in complete support of the independent expenditure committee, he said.
While Bruce Kuhn didn’t show direct support for the SuperPAC, he said whatever they do, they do. He has no idea what the group has in store. He was critical, though, of his opponent in the race, Menvielle, when dealing with some of Imperial Valley First’s issues.
“The long and the short of it, if I were responsible for the IID losing as much money as it has in the last eight years, you wouldn’t have to vote me out of the office; I would resign,” he said.
The district has frittered away an enormous amount of money when it took out the price escalator in the water transfer, he said. They had the potential to lose more than $1 billion, he said. People have had enough, he added.
While he’s not sure whether Imperial Valley First’s work will help his campaign, “I’m sure it’s not going to hurt,” he added.
Staff Writer Elizabeth Varin can be reached at evarin@ivpressonline.com or 760-337-3441.
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