BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET) — Bakersfield Recovery Services will not take over the Kern County Family Justice Center after a split vote at Tuesday’s Board of Supervisors meeting.
It’s the latest turn in the controversial contract.
All supervisors except Phillip Peters and Leticia Perez have taken campaign money from Bakersfield Recovery leadership.
Due to Perez being absent, the Kern County clerk had to draw names out of a jar to determine who could vote, regardless of the conflict of interest.
Supervisor Chris Parlier and Jeff Flores voted to approve the contract, while Peters voted no. Since the majority of the five member board did not vote yes, the motion failed.
“The occupancy agreement is between the district attorney’s office and with BRS in order to have a confidential case manager be housed at the Family Justice Center,” said District Attorney Cynthia Zimmer as she was addressing the board.
She said the contract has already been awarded to BRS and the board was voting only on BRS staff to use the county building.
“The contract for BRS has already gone through a competitive bidding process, pursuant to the county administrative policy’s rules, we followed those rules and followed the advice scripously by county counsel.”
Public comments opposed the agreement.
“We’ve had 10 to 15 women murdered in the last three years in this county, by the failure of DA Zimmer,” said Nadine Escalante, a domestic violence survivor.
“The DA’s office has lost the trust of many people in this county. We cannot have a functioning government if the public no longer trusts the institutions that are supposed to serve them honestly and transparently,” said Jack Lavers, a Kern County resident.
Supervisors Chris Parlier and Jeff Flores, who were drawn to vote due to their conflicts of interest, approved the contract, while Peters, the only candidate without a conflict of interest, voted in opposition.
“I’m voting for victims, I’m voting for victim’s rights, for victim’s services,” said Flores.
Peters voted no, “The weighing of the right, wrong, or otherwise. It’s a difficult issue for me.”
We tried to speak with Zimmer after the motion was denied, however she walked away and declined to comment.
Peters sent 17 News a statement regarding his vote, “As an elected official, I have a responsibility not only to ensure continuity of services, but also to safeguard public trust in the institutions that serve our community. In weighing one against the other, the concerns brought up repeatedly by the public outweighed the benefit of approving the proposed lease agreement at this time. Victim services are still being provided, and all parties involved will now have the opportunity to engage further and determine a path forward that works for everyone.”
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