This just came “over the transom” from our contributor Sam Myovich:
Good news this morning! Superior Court Judge H. Shaina Colover found that Orange County Board of Education Trustee Marilyn “Mari” Barke recklessly failed to comply with the income-disclosure requirements of California’s Political Reform Act, which are designed to reveal potential conflicts of interest.
Barke, a close friend of Trustee Leandra Blades, failed to disclose approximately $14 million in required income and other assets over five years. The court imposed a total penalty of $81,800: $5,000 for each of sixteen previously admitted Form 700 violations, an additional $5,000 for failing to amend her assuming-office statement, and credit for the $3,200 she had already paid to the FPPC. Barke is also liable for plaintiff Lynne Riddle’s attorney fees, which may substantially exceed the penalty. [The victorious attorney being Lee Fink, natch.]
The ruling underscores the importance of financial transparency, conflict-of-interest disclosure, and accountability by elected education officials. Many thanks to Judge Riddle for ensuring that the public interest has been served.
Vern here. Pretty short for a Myovich piece right? That’s because Sam already wrote pretty much all there is to say about this case, HERE, in March – and that link is well worth your reading if you care about education AND fiscal responsibility in the OC!
I just called Judge Riddle as well (who has also contributed to this blog) and she and Lee will have a press release out this afternoon – you’ll see it here first unless I get it during tonight’s Anaheim Democrats meeting!
This Mari Barke, one of the most active and fanatical anti-public-education members of the OCBOE, has four and a half years left on the Board (if the Board lasts that long.) She ran without an opponent this past June which means she wasn’t even on the ballot in the HB/west county district she represents. I guess nobody thought they could beat her – like her four colleagues she gets HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS in campaign support from the Charter School industry (about half of her take), PLUS the fact this board has its elections in June narrows down the electorate, vastly increasing the power of the right-wing culture war lunatic voting bloc, armed with their OC GOP-provided instruction cards.
So this court victory won’t have any immediate policy consequences, BUT it is a big black eye, in anticipation of another expected one when the state audit of that Board and its waste and extremism comes out. And then – who knows? Here is a crazy idea: perhaps the OC Board of Supervisors could take away this Board’s keys and responsibility – after all there’s not really much work they do besides launch losing lawsuits, greenlight every shitty Charter School, and go on Fox News to shake their fists. Just a crazy idea. Nobody listens to me anyway.
Friday update: The Press Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
July 15, 2026
COURT JUDGE FINDS THAT OC BOARD OF EDUCATION MEMBER MARI BARKE
RECKLESSLY FAILED TO REPORT MILLIONS OF DOLLARS OF INCOME
Judge Orders $81,800 in Civil Penalties Plus Attorneys’ Fees and Costs
SANTA ANA – Orange County Superior Court Judge H. Shaina Colover issued a Proposed Statement of Decision yesterday finding that Orange County Board of Education Member Mari Barke recklessly failed to report millions of dollars in assets and income. Finding that “substantial civil penalties are warranted for each violation to effectuate the purposes of the [California Political Reform Act] and deter future violations,” the Court ordered Barke to pay $81,800 in civil penalties, plus attorneys’ fees and costs, which could run in the hundreds of thousands of dollars.
The order came in an action brought by Hon. Lynne Riddle (Ret.), a retired United States Bankruptcy Judge, seeking compliance with the law requiring elected officials to disclose their economic interests. From the time of Barke’s election in 2018 to the filing of the lawsuit in 2023, Barke reported a only $99 of income, investments, business positions, and gifts. Judge Colover found that Barke “reported nominal income figures while substantial reportable financial interests and community-property-related assets of over a million dollars per year existed.” The Court also stated that “the undisclosed interest and income were of a magnitude that would have been plainly material to members of the public evaluating potential conflicts of interest and transparency obligations of an elected official.”
At trial on the matter, Barke claimed that she relied on the advice of her now-ex-husband, local physician and COVID denier Dr. Jeffrey Barke. The Court stated that Mrs. Barke’s “purported reliance on the alleged advice of her now-ex-husband was objectively unreasonable. Dr. Barke’s supposed statement—that Defendant Barke need only disclose her economic interests if they conflict with the OCBE—is not only wrong, it is incomprehensible that anyone with defendant’s sophistication would rely on such a statement.”
The Plaintiff, Judge Riddle, issued the following statement regarding the decision:
“Financial interest disclosures are critical to the public. When elected officials flout their disclosure obligations like this, it undermines public’s right to honest and ethical government. The Court’s decision vindicates the public’s right to know what their elected officials are doing. This ruling, and the substantial penalties awarded, should send a clear message to every elected official in the County that they cannot shirk their responsibilities to disclose their economic interests.”
Notably, Barke is an executive with the California Policy Center. The California Policy Center is a right-wing think tank focused on extreme education policies, muting the voice of local teachers’ associations and advocating for charter schools. Barke shockingly holds herself out as someone who “advises and educates local elected officials on government transparency.”
A copy of the Court’s Proposed Statement of Decision is linked here. Under the California Rules of Court, the parties have 15 days to file any objections to the Proposed Statement of Decision, after which time the Court may enter final judgment.
For More Information Contact:
Lee Fink
Lee@BrowerLawGroup.com
(949) 328-1548
Kyle Gurwell
kng@lawofficekg.com
(562) 600-9989
