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Members of the board that oversees Pacifica Radio Network have until 5 p.m. today to resign if they want to avoid being named in three lawsuits that target the company. 

So far, four members of the board of directors have resigned. They are: Michael Palmer, David Acosta, Karolyn Van Putten and Andrea Cisco, who resigned this week.  

When asked about the decision, Cisco simply said, “I resigned,” and declined to comment further. 

While it is rumored that Ken Ford and former Los Angeles Sentinel Political Editor Robert Farrell will resign, neither returned a call for comment.  

If the two do resign, the majority of the board will shift and people who oppose Pacifica’s recent policies will triumph. 

“Should they decide to hand over the reins, then the lawsuit would be settled prior to it going to trial,” said Sherry Gendelman, who is leading the lawsuit against the local advisory committee. 

This week, Alameda County Superior Court Judge Ronald Sabraw refused to allow Pacifica to hold an emergency phone meeting to replace replacement directors – another victory for the litigants. 

“It’s a great blow to them and a real victory for us to savor. It shows that we are on the right course. We outwitted them and outmatched them and will continue to do so until we take back our network,” Gendelman said.  

Pacifica oversees independent “free speech” radio stations across the country. Two and a half years ago, Berkeley’s KPFA was the scene of major protests because of the removal of station manager Nicole Sawaya. Listeners also complained that Pacifica was changing the structure of all the station’s content. 

Since then, listeners have urged Pacifica to change the way they manage the stations. 

Mary Frances Berry, chair of the Pacifica Foundation National Board, did not return a call for comment.  

If the board majority shifts, KPFA Station Manager Matt Martin said it will be the beginning of a lengthy healing process.  

“That would lead to some sort of winding down of the lawsuits and restructuring of the networks,” Martin said. “There will be a lot of rebuilding. If we aren’t under siege anymore then we can start to look at the future of this place.”