New Details Surface in Complaint against Mosquito Fire Safe Council (MFSC)

Perspective and Context by Tom Harris, Associate Editor

The purpose of this article is to publicly inform all residents of the Mosquito Fire Protection District (MFPD) about matters of interest to our community.

It has come to the Sentinel’s attention that the two organization, Mosquito Fire Protection District (MFPD) and Mosquito Fire Safe Council (MFSC), have had correspondence over the past year and have come to an agreement regarding the vile and defamatory social media posts by MFSC associate Johnny Valenzuela. According to the records contained in the October 26 MFPD board packet, and the October 26th board meeting report by MFPD board chairman Don Stever, MFSC president and Ms. Karen Pullin, agreed to collaborate on two events held jointly by MFSC and MFPD, and that all past issues had been resolved. Second, Ms. Pullin agreed that the public attacks by MFSC associate Mr. Valenzuela would defeat any chance of the two organizations moving forward. Third, Ms. Pullin would speak to Valenzuela and put an end to it.

In any event, Ms. Pullin reneged on all of these agreements. After much correspondence during April 2023 between MFPD board chairman Don Stever and Ms. Pullin, it became obvious by May 6th that the negative and vicious social media posts by Mr. Valenzuela were not stopping. After 48 hours of agreeing that Ms. Pullin would speak to Valenzuela, Don Stever called her to inquire if she had indeed spoken with Valenzuela and asked him to stop. Ms. Pullin responded that she did not and would not follow through, now claiming that Mr. Valenzuela is not associated with MFSC and that she “hasn’t spoken or worked with him recently.”

Facts are stubborn things.
On June 21st, Don Stever attended the taxpayer-funded El Dorado Fire Safe Council (EDCFSC) meeting. At that meeting, a board member praised Ms. Pullin and Mr. Valenzuela for their collaboration on a newly released brochure. This revelation contradicted Pullin’s prior statement of non-association with Valenzuela, as she hadn’t “spoken or worked with him recently.” In fact, she was fully partnered with Valenzuela, as the EDCFSC had contracted with him to create the brochure.

Ms. Pullin is a member of the EDCFSC executive board of directors and is thereby duty-bound to their code of ethics. As an EDCFSC representative, she misrepresented the true nature of Mr. Valenzuela’s relationship with the MFSC. Her inaction to hold Valenzuela accountable was, essentially, condoning Valenzuela’s vile and highly offensive social media posts.

Then, in an email dated October 9, 2023, to Chief Rosevear and board members Don Stever and Dan Hunt, Ms. Pullin moved the goalposts. She now demanded, along with members of the MFSC and the county grant committee, to meet with Chief Rosevear to “resolve past issues and set very defined boundaries.” Does this mean that any future grant money would be based on Ms. Pullin’s demands that she makes of the MFPD Chief? Ms. Pullin went on to say, “MFSC is not bound by the Brown Act or Davis Sterling.“

Ms. Pullin’s actions are not limited by any laws, as they were when she was a member of the boards of MVFA (from which she was dismissed), MFPD (expelled), and SCPOA (served only one highly contentious two-year term).

The MFSC and MFPD boards are NOT peers. MFPD stepped up first, made the effort in front of the president of the EDCFSC, Ken Pimlott, then followed through and acted in good faith. Ms. Pullin was warned, yet chose to obscure the truth and slander rather than act ethically, to which she is bound in her position.

Chief Rosevear is not required to answer to anyone but the MFPD board of directors. Chief Rosevear has the responsibility for the control, operations, and fulfilling the mission of MFPD.  Ms. Pullin does not. What’s more, Ms. Pullin was not elected by the community as a whole to her current position at MFSC. While she has no public responsibilities, she is accountable and bound by the same code of ethics that normally applies to anyone with access to taxpayer funds.

Karen Pullin’s long history of irresponsible spending and mismanagement is nothing new (see previous articles in the Sentinel regarding the dissolution of MS75/MFA), and her prolific spending while president of SCPOA. To associate with and condone the attacks of open hostility and hatred for her rural fire department, is unforgivable in the eyes of every one of our volunteers who give so much to keep everyone safe.

“Facts are stubborn things; and whatever may be our wishes, our inclinations, or the dictates of our passions, they cannot alter the state of facts and evidence…” John Adams, A Biography in His Own Words

The MFPD Board of Directors meetings are open to the public, and you are invited to attend. The next board meeting is on November 16th, at 7 p.m. at the fire station.

For more background information on this issue, read the previous article published in the Sentinel.

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