OC Board of Education Member Faces Suit for City Council Gig

For the second time in a year, a member of the Orange County Board of Education is facing a lawsuit for also holding a local city council seat.

Santa Ana resident Mike Tardif has brought a legal complaint against Trustee Beckie Gomez who also serves on the Tustin City Council. Trustee Tim Shaw faced an identical lawsuit last year, but resigned from his seat on the La Habra City Council before the legal case moved forward.

“The lawsuit is under a special action called quo warranto, which specifically challenges a person’s right to hold office,” according to Voice of OC. 

“In order for it to proceed, the state Attorney General’s office has to approve the suit, and can then either fight the action itself or let a private party act on its behalf.”

Because the legal case against Shaw never progressed, it’s not clear which side would win in the suit against Gomez.