The specter of California’s strict but confounding conflict-of-interest law prohibiting public officials from profiting from their own agencies came up recently in regards to the Kern County Water Agency hiring its former board president as its general manager. Was it OK, under California Government Code Section 1090 for KCWA to hire Eric Averett as its general manager though he had served as board president while the position was being discussed for nearly four months? A reader sent SJV Water several “advice letters” from the Fair Political Practices Commission that seem to suggest it may not have been OK.

Other water official news:

• The Fresno Bee: Modesto official investigated for alleged water theft case