Modesto Irrigation director being investigated for Political Reform Act violations
The Fair Political Practices Commission is investigating Modesto Irrigation District Director Larry Byrd for allegedly violating the Political Reform Act after he voted against continuing a separate investigation into allegations against him.
In September, MID launched an investigation into Byrd over accusations of water theft and misuse. A contentious MID board meeting two months later ended with a tie vote that killed further investigation. Byrd was one of the tying votes.
The FPPC’s investigation was spurred by a sworn complaint filed last month by State Sen. Marie Alvarado-Gil. “It is my duty to report suspected fraud and abuse in local government. Without accountability, the burden of higher taxes and increased fees will continue to threaten affordability in Modesto,” Alvarado-Gil said in a statement.
During a call with The Bee on Friday, Byrd defended his ability to vote on his own investigation and cited the approval of MID’s legal counsel to do so. MID stated that Byrd could vote “because he has the right to defend himself on matters of self-governance.” However, several government ethics experts have said that Byrd’s vote was a clear conflict of interest.
Byrd called Alvarado-Gil’s FPPC complaint a “witch hunt” and said it was part of a personal smear campaign. “Do you really think that people went to the senator’s office to file a complaint about me voting? I mean, I doubt that,” Byrd said.
He also alleged Alvarado-Gil’s actions are driven by a personal and political feud Byrd has with MID Board President Robert Frobose, who authorized MID’s investigation. Byrd also accused Frobose of using a “close relationship” he has with the senator to convince Alvarado-Gil to file a complaint.
Alvarado-Gil told The Bee in January that calls from constituents, news media coverage and her own viewing of MID meetings led her to file her complaint with the FPCC. She did not mention whether any elected officials prompted her to do so.
The senator is running against Alexandra Duarte in the Republican primary for the state’s 4th Senate District. Duarte is the wife of former U.S. Congressman John Duarte, who has vehemently defended Byrd over the years and called for MID to halt its investigation into him.
After Alexandra Duarte’s campaign said Alvarado-Gil was “seeking attention” during an election year, the senator denied that her FPPC complaint was motivated by “a political game.”
The FPPC states that it has no set timeline on how long an investigation can take. In 2024, a CalMatters report found that some FPPC investigations can take years and that some are resolved only after an election, or after an investigated politician leaves office.
This story was originally published February 6, 2026 at 4:04 PM.
