OROSI, Calif. (KSEE/KGPE) - The three board directors who were up for re-election in November for Orosi's Public Utilities District are being told to vacate their office in a letter sent by the state's Department of Justice and the attorney general Tuesday. The DOJ says the three incumbent members who were a part of the district's board of directors, Reynaldo Rivas, Maria C. Gonzalez and Johnny Sandoval had lost their respective contests for reelection to the board of directors. In the letter, it states that Rivas, Gonzalez and Sandoval asserted the election that was held on Nov. 5, 2024, was "null and void." According to public information and the district resolutions, the letter says they intended to continue to serve in their roles as members of the district's board until a new election was held. "They are wrong," the letter stated. The letter says that on Nov. 5 the election was certified by the Tulare County Registrar of Voters, and the Tulare County Board of Supervisors issued certificates of the election to the prevailing candidates per the California Elections Codes. Since the verification of the election results, the letter states that the new board members have since taken their oath in office and it says they are "the legitimate members of the OPUD Board for Districts 1, 2 and 4." The letter mentions that no election contest was filed challenging the results and that the time to bring a challenge has expired. “Few things are as un-American as refusing to accept the results of an election,” Attorney General Rob Bonta said. “I call upon Mr. Rivas, Ms. Gonzalez, and Mr. Sandoval to step aside immediately." The letter states if Gonzalez, Sandoval and Rivas do not vacate their offices and acknowledge the results, the attorney general and the secretary will pursue appropriate legal remedies which may include civil monetary penalties. According to the letter, the OPUD's Board of Directors must send the secretary and Department of Justice's offices a written confirmation that Rivas, Gonzalez and Sandoval will no longer assert their entitlement to serve as members of the board by 12 p.m. on Jan. 17.