OC Blog

OC Register Editorial Calls On CUSD's Fleming Trustees To Resign

The OC Register ran an editorial today calling on the four remaining Fleming Trustees to resign from the Capistrano Unified School District Board. I would have included it in the News Roundup this morning, but due to a case of terminal lameness, it is no where to be found on the OC Register website. So read it here, instead:

Clouds Lifting at CUSD
Board accepts that it violated open-meeting law

The Capistrano Unified School Board’s 4-0 decision last week to accept the Orange County district attorney’s findings that the board had repeatedly violated the state’s open meetings law was perhaps the most sensible decision the board has made in quite a long time. The three newest board members – Anna Bryson, Ellen Addonizio and Larry Christensen – rightly abstained from the vote, given that they had nothing to do with the legal violations of the past board.

CUSD Recall & OC GOP

I got this note yesterday from CUSD Recall Committee leader Tom Russell:

Please see the attached press release from the Republican Party of Orange County, entitled "Republican Party of Orange County Unanimously Asks Capistrano Unified USD Trustees to Resign."

We are grateful to the 100 elected members of the Republican Party of Orange County who, this day, demonstrated true character and leadership by taking this unprecedented action of publicly calling for the resignations of the Fleming-era CUSD trustees (all elected Republican leaders), whose corrupt behavior has brought disgrace to the Capistrano Unified School District.

When this renewed effort to dump the remaining four Fleming Trustees first started, I was a mite skeptical, figuring the energy that went into the original recall might have dissipated when the three-candidate reform ticket ran the board in the November Cap Unified School Board election.

From what I hear that skepticism was unjustified, and the OC GOP request for the Fleming Trustees to resign is just the latest sign. Fleming's trial and the continuing stories of corruption, waste and bad governance are keeping the fires burning. Onward recall soldiers: Audaces fortuna iuvat!

Capistrano Recall Update - Cable Show on District Corruption to Air Tonight

Full Disclosure has produced a cable series set to air tonight on the issues leading up to the current recall of the trustees in that district. I have seen the preview of this series and it was very good. The contempt this district and the trustees have shown for the citizens they are supposed to represent is astonishing.

Below is an announcement from the recall committee regarding the program. Click on the link to see the preview, and watch the entire show tonight if you can. It will be an eye-opening experience.

CUSD Corruption To Be Highlighted on TV Tonight

Full Disclosure News Program to air at 6:00 p.m. Rancho Santa Margarita, Ca.

CUSD Recall Petitions Approved

This just came over the transom from the CUSD Recall Committee:

Trustees Sheila Benecke and Marlene Draper to Face Recall

Santa Ana, CA.  Today the CUSD Recall Committee received confirmation the Orange County Registrar of Voters had approved the Petition to Recall Capistrano Unified School District Trustees Sheila Benecke and Marlene Draper.  Recall Proponents may now formally begin the process of collecting signatures from 10% of the registered voters in the School District to qualify the recall election.  They have 160 days to circulate and submit petitions.

Please see the attached Press Release for for the full story.

Ex-CUSD Superintendent Fleming To Ask for Taxpayers To Pay For His Criminal Defense

I got a tip that ex-Capistrano Unified School District Superintendent James Fleming is going to ask that taxpayers pick up the tab for his criminal defense.

More to come...

UPDATE (6:34 p.m.): This just came over the transom from the CUSD Recall Committee:

Fleming Asks Taxpayers to Fund His Criminal Defense
Calls for Accountability and Resignations of Fleming-Era Trustees Increase

Rancho Santa Margarita, CA.   The CUSD Recall Committee has learned that James Fleming, the indicted former superintendent of the Capistrano Unified School District, has submitted a formal request to the school district asking that taxpayers pay for his criminal defense.

As part of the on-going criminal investigation of the CUSD leaders, District Attorney Tony Rackauckas recently announced the indictment of former Superintendent James Fleming on three felony counts.  If convicted, Fleming could serve up to four years in prison.

Four CUSD Trustees Served With Recall Notices This Afternoon

Four Capistrano unified School District Trustees  -- Sheila Benecke, Marlene Draper, Duane Stiff and Mike Darnold -- are being served recall notices this afternoon. My understanding is the recall notices were to be served today at the CUSD Board of Trustees closed session, where they'll be discussing a pay raise for acting interim Superintendent Suzette Lovely.

The Notice of Intention sets for the grounds for the recall (while this one mentions Trustee Sheila Benecke, this preamble is identical to that in the other the notices of intention to recall:

NOTICE OF INTENTION TO CIRCULATE RECALL PETITION

TO THE HONORABLE SHEILA J. BENECKE:  Pursuant to Section 11020, California Elections Code, the undersigned registered qualified voters of the Capistrano Unified School District in the State of California, hereby give notice that we are the proponents of a recall petition and that we intend to seek your recall and removal from the office of Trustee, in the Capistrano Unified School District, in the State of California, and to demand election of a successor in that office.   The grounds for the recall are as follows:

You have permitted a culture of corruption to infect our school district.

Fleming and McGill Indicted - Statement of the DA

Following up on fellow blog pen member Mark Bucher's post below, here is the official word on the indictments he mentioned, as articulated in the words of District Attorney Tony Rackauckas at a press conference this morning:

Statement by District Attorney Tony Rackauckas
Indictment of James Fleming and Susan McGill

May 24, 2007

There are persons who hold certain respected positions of trust in our community.  We entrust our taxpayer funds with elected officials, our safety with law enforcement officers, our spiritual well-being with religious leaders, and our children’s future with educators.

Indictment of Former CUSD Superintendent Fleming

The DA has announced an indictment of both former Capistrano Unified School District Superintendent James Fleming and former Assistant Superintendent Susan McGill. The indictment of the two relates to misappropriation of public funds, conspiracy and perjury. Details developing…

The Capo Unified Cauldron Continues To Boil & Bubble

This came over the transom yesterday morning from the CUSD Recall Committee (better posted late than never!) and helped lead to an article in the Los Angeles Times today:

CUSD Trustee Benecke Violates Brown Act…Again

Board President Refused to Take Action on Properly-Agendized Reform Items

Rancho Santa Margarita, CA. The CUSD Recall Committee filed a formal complaint against Shelia Benecke, President of the Capistrano Unified Board of Trustees, for actions she took during the open session of the most recent CUSD Board Meeting in violation of the Brown Act and other applicable laws.

CUSD Trustee John Casabianca's Deceptive Mailer

This just came over the transom from the CUSD Recall Committee about the shameless John Casabianca, one of the CUSD Trustee who will hopefully get pink slipped by the voters on Tuesday:

Casabianca Mailer Fraudulently Claims Bergeson Support

Former State Senator Endorses Challenger Anna Bryson

Rancho Santa Margarita, Ca. Scandal-Ridden CUSD Trustee John Casabianca just sent a deceptive mailer to voters across South Orange County suggesting that Former State Senator Marion Bergeson endorses and supports his re-election bid. Bergeson does not endorse or support John Casabianca – and she recently told him so. In fact, Marion Bergeson has proudly endorsed candidate Anna Bryson of the “ABC Reform Slate” for the CUSD Board of Trustees.

Casabianca recently asked Bergeson for her support and endorsement – and she refused.

Marian Bergeson immediately responded to Casabianca’s misleading mailer, “While I am proud of the accomplishments of CUSD, I have only endorsed Anna Bryson who is running for the open seat and who I wholeheartedly support.”