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By Investigative Reporter, Linda Sutter – February 11, 2026
Today’s Harbor District meeting was contentious, as usual. During public comment, community member Sam Strait — who regularly attends local government meetings — made a pointed observation:
“I hear about these lawsuits, but nothing has changed.”
It was a fair question. And it deserves a serious answer.
For those who believe that “nothing has changed,” let’s examine that perception — the illusion — and compare it to what has actually occurred.
Before I began asking questions and filing lawsuits, were the following issues receiving any attention?
- Were public official bonds being questioned?
- Were oaths of office being examined?
- Was USDA being notified?
- Was MARAD being notified?
- Was County Counsel writing letters demanding documentation?
- Were insurance policies suddenly being “updated”?
- Were commissioners scrambling to pass resolutions?
The quick answer to all of those questions is simple: No.
What is happening now is not coincidence. It is reaction.
Sandy Moreno and Mike Rademaker are attempting to manage the financial condition of the Harbor under public scrutiny. Issues that went unexamined for years are now being forced into the open. When confronted, they appear before the Board of Supervisors expressing distress — portraying themselves as victims because corruption was exposed.
But reaction is change.
Litigation has impact. It unfolds in three stages:
- Public denial
- Private panic
- Negotiation or collapse
Right now, we are somewhere between stage one and stage two. Soon, the Superior Court judge will issue a ruling on the Writ of Mandate. That ruling will determine whether the Harbor District begins complying with the laws it has long disregarded — or whether further litigation becomes necessary.
The Bond Issue
At today’s meeting, the issue of Public Official Bonds resurfaced. The Harbor hired an attorney who stated: “The only way the board members could be unseated is through the Attorney Genernal’s office via Quo Warranto.” After he made that statement, I informed the Harbor of something important:
I have already submitted a request for Quo Warranto.The problem with the Harbor’s Public Official Bonds is this:
- The so-called “masterbond” acquired in 2009 expired on March 18, 2010. This is clearly reflected on page 9 of the insurance description.
- The newly retained attorney had Mr. Rademaker backdate and sign the 2009 document.
- There is no evidence that a resolution was adopted in 2009 by the sitting commissioners approving the bond prior to them taking office, as required under California Government Code § 53226.3.
- There are no meeting minutes, no agenda, and no adopted resolution showing compliance.
Because the Harbor’s custodian of records is Mr. Rademaker, the strategy appears to be to present a newly signed insurance policy and ask the County to accept it as satisfying the bond requirement.
But here is the legal problem:
You cannot retroactively validate public office when the required bond was not created and filed with the County within 20 days of the election.
For the past 17 years, what the Harbor had was an insurance policy payable to USDA in the event of criminal loss to the Harbor. It was not a faithful performance bond as required under Harbor and Navigation Code § 6056.
If the District had lawfully elected to operate under Government Code § 53226.3 as they now claim, their bylaws would have been amended 17 years ago to reflect that change.
They were not.
The bylaws clearly state that Commissioners must be bonded. If they are not bonded, their seats become vacant.
That language has never been changed.
Public Comment and Jurisdiction
During public comment, Supervisor Valery Starkey asked direct questions of the Harbor’s special counsel, Michael Colantuono.
Rather than answering her, Mr. Colantuono dismissed her questions, stating she had no jurisdiction and that the matter was none of her business.
He told a sitting Del Norte County Supervisor that the issue did not concern her.
Apparently, Mr. Colantuono overlooked a basic fact:
The Board of Supervisors holds authority to fill Harbor District vacancies.
Jurisdiction exists precisely because oversight exists.
So, What Has Changed?
If you look only at headlines, it may appear that nothing has changed.
But look closer.
- Bonds are being examined.
- Oaths are being scrutinized.
- County Counsel is writing letters.
- Insurance policies are being revised.
- Resolutions are being rushed through.
- The Attorney General has been asked to intervene.
That is not “nothing.”
That is accountability in motion.
Change does not always happen instantly. Sometimes it begins with exposure. Sometimes it begins with discomfort. Sometimes it begins with denial.
But it begins.
And it has begun.
