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Brett Barbre and the Lobster Caper
From Public Documents - Opinion
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Picture Becomes Clearer
The picture continues to become clearer as to the questionable viability and qualifications of Brett Barbre to run for the Yorba Linda Water District Board of Directors.
“Brett Barbre Rotary Club”
Lobsterfest Tickets Used But Never Paid For
Last week after you published a letter from me; A fellow Yorba Linda resident reached out to me via phone to inform me of the questionable character traits of Brett Barbre that were manifest over 20 years ago. I had heard the rumors, but never really pursued the facts related to an incident that took place involving Brett Barbre selling Lobsterfest tickets for the YL Rotary Club and allegedly not turning in the proceeds of the ticket sales to club. Upon receiving the recent phone call, I did a simple google search of “Brett Barbre Rotary Club” and sure enough an OC Register – Yorba Linda Star article from February 16, 2006 came up titled “Surf and Turf”.
Judgement YL Rotary Club v. Barbre
In 2002, the YL Rotary Club sued Mr. Barbre and was awarded a judgement of a little more than $1000 for the unpaid Lobsterfest ticket proceeds. The judgement was awarded in 2002 and at the time the article was written in February 2006, it is alleged that Barbre still had not paid the judgement. Below is a cut and paste from the OC Register website of the Surf and Turf article.
Once again, the character and ethics of Mr. Barbre have been brought into question, as
Jon Hansen
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Yorba Linda Star – SURF AND TURF – February 16, 2006
Chriss Street Under Intense Scrutiny
Treasurer/Tax Collector candidate Chriss Street has been under intense scrutiny since the March release of a 63-page bankruptcy filing that alleges “mismanagement, conflicts of interest and greed” while he was the trustee liquidating Freuhauf Trailer Corp. from 1998 until last year.
Street wants to succeed Treasurer/Tax Collector John Moorlach – hero of the 1994 bankruptcy – as the man managing more than $6 billion in investments for OC taxpayers.
Brett Barbre, Campaign Manager for Chriss Street
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Yet this week, the man behind the candidate, campaign manager Brett Barbre – has himself landed in the limelight.
Barbre Charged $10,000, Consulting Fee
Some question whether it was a good idea for Barbre to charge Street a $10,000 consulting fee in 2005 before Street gained the appointment as Assistant Treasurer/Tax Collector to help him in his June election bid. Barbre says the payment is totally legal and properly disclosed adding that he knows enough to keep his campaigning away from his work at the county as Moorlach’s executive assistant.
Barbre on the Wrong Side of the Rotary Club
Yet apparently, Barbre has also gotten on the wrong side of the Rotary club.
Today, a loyal Buzz reader sent me this February article that ran in one of the Register’s community newspapers detailing a nasty fight between Barbre and the clubs’ members.
An expensive Surf and Turf meal indeed…
— Norberto Santana, Jr.
County official stiffs Rotary Club // Court tells water district official to pay for Lobsterfest tickets.
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By Grant Biniasz
Yorba Linda Star
Published: , 02/16/2006
YL Rotary, Only One Lawsuit.. Ever
The Yorba Linda Sunrise Rotary Club raises money for community enrichment, supporting scholarship funds and often giving to educational institutions. They don’t do many lawsuits. In fact, they’ve only had one.
Unsettled Legal Matter with Brett Barbre
Rotary Club members have kept quiet about an unsettled legal matter regarding former member and Orange County Deputy Treasurer-Tax Collector Brett Barbre, but after three years, some are frustrated that Barbre has paid no penalty for his actions.
OC Superior Court Judgement Against Barbre
Barbre, briefly a member of the club in 2001, was ordered by Orange County Superior Court to pay the club $1,160.90 in 2002. The money was for tickets to the club’s annual Lobsterfest fundraiser, for which all members were responsible to sell tickets and collect funds.
Barbre's Tickets Used But Never Paid For
Barbre’s tickets were used, but the club never saw any money from them. “It’s not about money,” said former Rotary Club President Howard Ong. “It’s about honesty. That’s what this club is all about: being square, with ourselves and with others.”
Barbre.... "....Kind of Disappeared"
Barbre was elected to the Municipal Water District of Orange County board in November 2000. He represents Division I, which includes the cities of Brea, Buena Park, La Habra, Placentia and Yorba Linda. “We sent letters and made phone calls,” said Ong. “He kind of disappeared. He just blew us off and disappeared off the face of the earth.”
Barbre On Vacation- Steak and Lobster Eaten
Barbre said he sent tickets to friends instructing them to send the payment to the Rotary Club. He said he went on vacation and returned to find unused tickets, which he refused to reimburse. Michael Zinn, a club member and a lawyer, said that members knew their responsibilities. “We each received 10 tickets and were responsible for either selling them or returning them before the event,” Zinn said. “Those people came and had all the steak and lobster they could eat.”
Barbre Said He Hadn’t Received Notice of the Court Hearing
“I have no problem sending them the money,” said Barbre. “But they didn’t want to talk about it. I talked to various friends in the club, I put aside the money and said, ‘Let’s hear both sides.’ But when you have a club with a lot of attorneys, that’s what they do, file lawsuits.” Court papers record that the summons was delivered to Barbre’s wife on April 11, 2002, but Barbre said he and his wife were in Washington, D.C., and hadn’t received notice of the hearing or the judgment until a reporter contacted him recently.
"Elected Official Should be Held to a Higher Standard"
“We sent letters, the court sent letters,” said Rick Reilly, Rotary Club member. “He’s really just ignoring a court order and for an elected official, he should be held to a higher standard.” “I’ve been doing this since December of ’74 and served hundreds and hundreds of people,” said Zinn, “and of all those, maybe two or three claimed they were never notified,” said Zinn.
Barbre, "Might Appeal or Request a Second Hearing"
After being faxed the court papers stating that he owed the club $1,160.90, Barbre said he would get together with his attorney and figure out what his rights are and if he may appeal or request a second hearing. “I’m looking forward to chatting with the folks in the club and figuring out what to do about this,” said Barbre. Zinn suggested a solution. “This has split the club,” Zinn said, “but the large majority would just like to get paid and put this behind us.”
Barbre’s Offices
Brett Barbre was elected to the Municipal Water District of Orange County board in November 2000.
He represents Division I, which includes the cities of Brea, Buena Park, La Habra, Placentia and Yorba Linda.
Barbre is the Orange County Deputy Treasurer-Tax Collector and was formerly special assistant to United States Congressman Bill Dannemeyer.
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YLWD Severance Agreement
in the net amount of $194,975.64
2022 - Brett Barbre was employed for a period of 20 months as the general manager of the Yorba Linda Water District, and in February of this year was facing a public hearing and board vote that sought to remove him due to multiple complaints and allegations of misconduct by multiple district employees. It was in February of this year that he resigned his position and negotiated a severance agreement in the net amount of $194,975.64.
Running For Director, Yorba Linda Water District
Barbre has pulled papers to run in the November 2022 election for Director, Yorba Linda Water District.
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