‘Continuous lies’: War of words wages between two Tulare County supervisors
VISALIA, Calif. (KSEE/KGPE) – Frustration is growing in Tulare County, after a video surfaced online showing Tulare County Supervisor Larry Micari calling his colleague, Supervisor Eddie Valero, during a political forum Sunday at Visalia’s Legacy Church.
Micari, who is up for reelection, was in the midst of discussing a recent change in county policy, when he said in part, “We just changed our personnel rules that it takes a 4/5th’s vote to terminate your department head or the CAO. You want to know why?,” asked Micari. “Because Eddie Valero was running his mouth, saying that once he gets his Latino majority, they’re going to fire all the white department heads because the county’s too white.”
The ordinance he referred to passed late last year and means four out of five supervisors would have to agree to remove or appoint department heads.
Valero says Micari’s comments are “100% false”, and that he believes Micari is “race-baiting and fear-mongering.”
“To attack my character, to slander, to also create this hate and these lies has been very upsetting,” said Micari.
Valero says he believes the move was solely meant to be a political stunt.
“It’s just, again, another avenue in which people are creating division, people are creating fear, especially in a time of vulnerability,” he said.
In a statement he sent to me Monday, Micari said the video did not tell the whole story.
“Ever since I have been in office, it has been reported that Supervisor Valero has made negative comments based on race. On numerous occasions, Supervisor Valero has insinuated he prefer to work only with Latino staff,” said Micari in the statement.
However, Micari acknowledges what he said could be construed as offensive to some.
“I admit, the sound bite sounds terrible,” his statement read. “As always, there is more than a few minutes allotted on stage at a forum. I apologize if there are any misunderstandings.”
Valero, meanwhile, said he denies any racial favoritism whatsoever, and said this is solely an assault on his character. Now he said he may have to get a lawyer involved.
“I am potentially going to seek legal action as a result of again, his continuous lies to the public about me and my character,” said Valero.
We also reached out to Legacy Church for comment and for permission to air the video from the political forum. Church leaders declined.
