Vindicated of any wrongdoing, Mendocino County Auditor-Controller Treasurer-Tax Collector Chamise Cubbison appeared before the Board of Supervisors on Tuesday to answer questions about the collection of transient occupancy tax and the county’s indirect cost recovery processes.
Meanwhile, District Attorney David Eyster, who had previously filed criminal charges against Cubbison, is now under public scrutiny for his own use of public funds.
Independent journalist Mike Geniella, speaking with KZYX News, discussed details from a public records request he filed after receiving a tip about a banquet held by Eyster’s office. County records show that Eyster sought $3,600 in reimbursement for a Feb. 20 banquet at the Broiler Steak House in Redwood Valley, attended by 72 people, including staff from the DA’s office, their spouses, partners and other guests.
Geniella said the event raised questions about a potential violation of Mendocino County Policy 1, which explicitly prohibits departments from using public funds for banquets or award ceremonies. In his reimbursement request, Eyster categorized the dinner as a staff “workshop” and continuing education event. However, the agenda included employee recognition, such as honoring 25-year office veteran Sheari Arrington and longtime staff member Alex Johnston, Geniella reported.
“I heard that in fact, in February, the DA had held another one of these dinners,” Geniella said. “So I made the request under the Public Records Act to see when and how it was paid.”
What Geniella found surprised him.
“There was a line on the claim that said ‘pre-approved by Darcie Antle,’ the CEO of Mendocino County,” he said. “Ms. Antle was a key prosecution witness during the preliminary hearing against Cubbison.”
The banquet was not only approved, Geniella noted—it was pre-approved and paid before the event occurred.
The event’s timing also drew attention: the banquet took place Feb. 20, just five days before criminal charges against Cubbison were dropped on Feb. 25.
“You just have to wonder—were they getting their ducks in a row before what they feared could happen?” Geniella said. “It was odd that she would pre-approve such a controversial dinner.”
While the dollar amount may seem modest, Geniella emphasized that it was not so much the money, as the message the district attorney was sending.
“It seems like the district attorney was thumbing his nose at everybody by continuing a dinner that had been questioned," Geniella said.
Eyster did not respond to requests for comment from either Geniella or KZYX News.
