Hollister
– A lawsuit between the district attorney’s office and the
county Board of Supervisors was dismissed earlier this week.
Hollister – A lawsuit between the district attorney’s office and the county Board of Supervisors was dismissed earlier this week.
District Attorney Candice Hooper said she and the board’s lawyer, Stephen Barber, reached an agreement that settled the issues involved.
“Everything is resolved,” Hooper said.
The lawsuit was filed last year by then-District Attorney John Sarsfield and centered on restrictions that the Board of Supervisors placed on Sarsfield’s office in March 2006. At the time, Sarsfield said the supervisors were trying to stymie his investigation of the anonymous group Los Valientes.
Hooper took over the lawsuit when she succeeded Sarsfield as district attorney. Sarsfield, who now works for the state inspector general’s office, told the Free Lance that since he is no longer the county’s district attorney, he no longer cares about the suit.
“It’s got nothing to do with me,” Sarsfield said. “I only brought (the suit) in my capacity as district attorney.”
One of the budget controls – the supervisors’ line-item authority over the DA’s services and supplies budget – was recently rescinded; the other restrictions, including requirements that the DA seek board approval before hiring outside attorneys or going over budget in a specific category, are still in place. But Hooper said the agreement allows her to make those decisions on her own if getting board approval isn’t feasible.
“In those cases, you need to justify it, and that’s fine,” Hooper said.
The same Board of Supervisors that imposed the restrictions on Sarsfield’s office a year ago voted last week to rescind its line-item authority. After the vote, Supervisor Anthony Botelho said he’s no longer worried about the DA’s spending.
“At this point, I believe (Hooper) is very budget-conscious,” he said.
Hooper said the agreement gives her office the independence it needs. Sarsfield’s departure made many of his concerns moot, she added.
“Many issues were resolved with the change of administration,” Hooper said.
Anthony Ha covers local government for the Free Lance. Reach him at 831-637-5566 ext. 330 or [email protected].
