Scrivner investigation: Town hall on Supervisor Zack Scriver suddenly postponed, will be at new venue

BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET) — What was supposed to be a community bi-partisan event to talk about Supervisor Zack Scrivner and his future on the Board of Supervisors has been postponed until further notice.

17 News verified the postponement of the May 22 event with the town hall venue, American Legion Post 26 in downtown Bakersfield, near the Fox Theater.

The organizer — or organizers — of the event remains a mystery.

In a phone call with 17 News, Henry Benevides with the American Legion Post 26 confirmed the town hall’s postponement, adding that the organizer has asked to remain anonymous. An updated version of the flyer reads: “Due to unforeseen intentional or unintentional political pressure, we are seeking a new venue.”

The changes follow rumors the office of state Senator Shannon Grove had reached out to the venue seeking more details on the town hall.

Public calls for Supervisor Zack Scrivner to resign following allegations of child sexual assault

“Senator Grove’s office did contact the American Legion to inquire about the town hall. The result is the people who are organizing it are scared, they feel intimidated,” said Mark Salvaggio, a former Bakersfield city councilmember and self-described independent political observer.

Salvaggio said he confronted the senator about the calls and ended up speaking to her directly.

“I got an email from Shannon Grove indicating that I was grossly misinformed, and then I sent her a screenshot proving that that call had been made,” Salvaggio recalled.

He said Grove then backtracked, admitting her office had contacted the Legion but without her authorization.

“She said she would talk to her staff,” Salvaggio said. “She indicated to me that these people shouldn’t feel intimidated in any way, and they have First Amendment rights.”

Press conference reveals details of night law enforcement was called to Supervisor Scrivner’s home

17 News verified with Grove’s office and the Legion it was Tracy Richardson, Grove’s Bakersfield constituent services director, who called, twice.

The Legion said Richardson stated she was calling on a personal basis. But a spokesperson for Grove said the calls and messages were routine and that they reach out to organizers all the time for community events.

A text sent to Benevides by Richardson — shared with 17 News by Grove’s office — reads, “Hi – you are having a meeting at the Legion regarding Zack Scrivner. Can you give me the name of the organizer?”

Benevides responds, “I don’t have it I haven’t been in the office this week.”

Scrivner takes medical leave of absence from Kern County Board of Supervisors: attorney

In a statement to 17 News, Senator Grove said: “Although I am not involved in the town hall meeting, the community has a right to discuss the very serious issues involving their elected representative.”

Salvaggio added, “I think under these circumstances, it would behoove [Scrivner] to make a public statement. The public wants to know, how are you doing? Are you OK?”

“This Zack Scrivner saga is getting like ‘Alice in Wonderland’ — ‘curioser’ and ‘curioser.'”

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KGET 17.