• Photo Gallery: Alvarez asked to resign
• PDF: Alleged lies told by Alvarez
CLAREMONT - A local water representative Wednesday called for the resignation of Director Xavier Alvarez, who has pleaded guilty to falsely claiming he won the Medal of Honor.
At a meeting of the Three Valleys Municipal Water District, Director Brian Bowcock called Alvarez a "disgrace," read from a lengthy list of what he called Alvarez's lies and urged him to have the "decency to resign your position."
"You are a disgrace to the district, a disgrace to south Pomona and a disgrace to the Latino people of the community," said Bowcock, who represents La Verne and Claremont. "But most of all, you have disgraced and embarrassed the servicemen and women of our country."
Alvarez, who has admitted he never served in the military, declined to respond to Bowcock's demand that he resign. Later in the meeting Alvarez accused Bowcock of displaying "bias and bigotry" in his statement.
Bowcock also asked his colleagues to approve a symbolic, nonbinding resolution calling on Alvarez to resign. The district's attorney was directed to draft the resolution, which will be considered by the full board at its next meeting, on June 17.
Bowcock also urged the district to follow up on a letter sent to the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office last year notifying the office of Alvarez's potentially unlawful decision to register his ex-wife for district health benefits. No charges have been filed in connection with Alvarez's act.
Bowcock also said he wanted the district to pursue avenues to have Alvarez punished for falsely claiming on the November 2006 ballot that he worked as an engineer.
Finally, Bowcock called on voters in Alvarez's district to start a recall campaign to remove him from his seat.
"I would encourage the people in south Pomona to start a recall campaign beginning immediately," Bowcock said. "I also encourage the elected officials of Pomona to ask for his resignation publicly for the embarrassment he also has caused the city of Pomona."
Throughout Bowcock's statement, Alvarez sat quietly in his seat. He responded only when asked later in the meeting by board president Bob Kuhn whether he had anything to say.
Alvarez accused his colleagues of attacking him only because in November 2006 they endorsed his opponent, incumbent director Luis Juarez, whom Alvarez called a "benchwarmer" and "corrupt."
Alvarez apologized to a Pomona post of the Veterans of Foreign Wars for "dragging in their good name," then made a vague statement saying he regretted claiming he won the Medal of Honor.
"I said it," Alvarez said. "I regret it - the way that I said it."
Alvarez declined to comment to reporters after the meeting.
Bowcock said after the meeting that he expected Alvarez not to resign. "He knows he's wrong," he said. "He's lied about everything he said."
Bowcock became emotional when talking about a deeply personal reason he has for taking offense to Alvarez's false medal claim.
Bowcock said that two months before he was born, his father, Frederick Hamilton Bowcock, was killed in Germany while serving in the military during World War II.
Alleged false claims told by Alvarez, compiled by Brian Bowcock
- Played for the New York Islanders
- Played for the Boston Red Sox
- Was an Air Marshal
- Wife a Latina starlet
- Cal Poly Pomona graduate
- Registered civil engineer
- In the Marines for 25 years
- Medal of Honor
- Two Purple Hearts
- One Silver Star
- Shot 16 times
- Served in Vietnam