John Covington FPPC Complaint

Beaumont-Cherry Valley Water District Board Member John Covington Conflict of Interest and Use of Government Position to Influence.

Fair Political Practices Commission

Enforcement Division

428 J Street, Suite 620

Sacramento, CA 95814-2329

co*******@fp**.gov

Re: John Covington: Beaumont-Cherry Valley Water District Board Member Conflict of Interest and Use of Government Position to Influence.

John Covington was Elected to the Beaumont-Cherry Valley Water District Board of Directors on November 4, 2014.

CONFLICT OF INTEREST:

Covington is the Manager/Director of the Morongo Tribe of Mission Indian’s Water Department, which is a Conflict of Interest. The Water District and the Tribe are fighting over Water and Recycled Water Rights.

There is no question that John Covington is using his position on the Water District Board to serve the Tribe. Covington uses a Tribal Email Server for all BCVWD Business. The Tribal Counsel has confirmed that Covington is conducting the Tribe’s business and considers the Public “a third party”.

California Govt. Code 87100. No public official at any level of state or local government shall make, participate in making or in any way attempt to use his official position to influence a governmental decision in which he knows or has reason to know he has a financial interest.

USE OF GOVERNMENT POSITION TO INFLUENCE FOR FINANCIAL GAIN

Covington, along with Board Member Andy Ramirez are using their Board positions to fire Beaumont-Cherry Valley Water District Manager Eric Fraser because Fraser refuses to violate State and Federal Water Laws. Covington is being paid/influenced by the Tribe; Ramirez is being paid/influenced by Developers.

Additional Documentation is included with the Andy Ramirez Complaint.

California Government Code 87102.5. (a) The remedies provided in Chapter 3 (commencing with Section 83100) shall apply to any Member of the Legislature who makes, participates in making, or in any way attempts to use his or her official position to influence any of the following governmental decisions in which he or she knows or has reason to know that he or she has a financial interest:

(1) Any state governmental decision, other than any action or decision before the Legislature, made in the course of his or her duties as a member.

(2) Approval, modification, or cancellation of any contract to which either house or a committee of the Legislature is a party.

(3) Introduction as a lead author of any legislation that the member knows or has reason to know is nongeneral legislation.

(4) Any vote in a legislative committee or subcommittee on what the member knows or has reason to know is nongeneral legislation.

(5) Any rollcall vote on the Senate or Assembly floor on an item which the member knows is nongeneral legislation.

(6) Any action or decision before the Legislature in which all of the following occur:

(A) The member has received any salary, wages, commissions, or similar earned income within the preceding 12 months from a lobbyist employer.

(B) The member knows or has reason to know the action or decision will have a direct and significant financial impact on the lobbyist employer.

(C) The action or decision will not have an impact on the public generally or a significant segment of the public in a similar manner.

(7) Any action or decision before the Legislature on legislation that the member knows or has reason to know will have a direct and significant financial impact on any person, distinguishable from its impact on the public generally or a significant segment of the public, from whom the member has received any compensation within the preceding 12 months for the purpose of appearing, agreeing to appear, or taking any other action on behalf of that person, before any local board or agency.