ONE DOWN, TWO TO GO

John Gunderson resigns from Stanislaus Union School Board
 
"While I believe I could be an effective and unbiased voice in both elected positions, I have chosen to resign my post on the school board.  This will allow me to focus 100 percent of my attention on the needs of my constituents in Modesto City Council District 1."
With the Gunderson issue resolved the Modesto Bee editors could give some attention to other apparent conflicts. Patterson Mayor Luis Molina also is a member of the Stanislaus County Board of Education and Turlock Irrigation Director Rob Santos serves on the Chatham School District.
Who investigates the investigators
Former Grand Jury Foreman Denis France should be investigated for inappropriate conduct of the Grand Jury during his term of office. The history of our civil grand juries is replete with violations of citizens constitutional rights, the leaking of information, and the deference to political power.
The Board of Supervisors gives the Grand Jury $10,000 to hire a lawyer recommended by George Petrulakis to investigate people in Patterson who got in his way.  Judge Cordova approves this set-up and It could be argued that the Grand Jury will not go after the Judge, or members of the Board of Supervisors. Perhaps the Board could contribute $2,000 each to pay for Petrulakis instead of using taxpayer dollars?
If Judge Cordova is looking for precedent he could go back to Supervisor Ray Simon, County Counsel Mick Krausnick, and CEO Regan Wilson for leaking grand jury information.  CEO Wilson told an incoming Grand Jury that the County books were open, but if they needed confidential information they should come to him. 
The level of arrogance in the intervening years has not diminished.