County rejects DA’s help, working on counter offer

Imperial County supervisors said no to the District Attorney’s proposal in which the D.A. would pay 10% of attorneys’ salary increase.

Ryan Kelley, District Supervisor, said, “As presented, we cannot use salary savings in the way that is presented to us in that option.”

The county said they’ll make a counterproposal which is more in line with what the county can live with.

Twylailyne Johnson, I.C. Deputy District Attorney, said, “I am hopeful that it’s a – that their counterproposal makes sense and they allow us to retain the attorneys that we already have. That’s the one area where we’re not really seeing eye to eye. I am hopeful, though, that maybe by now they understand where we’re coming from and they come up with something that’s going to work for both sides.”

Attorneys said the strike can’t last forever, and they must return to work even if the terms are not favorable to them.

Mario Vela, I.C. District Attorney, said, “We have a community to protect, so I think that eventually we’re going to have to come back to work, but what’s going to happen is that the county will lose fifteen very, very talented, smart district attorneys.”

The attorneys said the D.A.’s offer was a practical one.

Armando Vargas, I.C. District Attorney, said, “He has surplus funds that he’s willing to use to raise attorneys’ salaries, again without asking the county for one single cent.”

In that scenario, the county would pay the base salary and the D.A. would pay the 10% salary increase.