CUSD Recall Committee Names Their Candidates

This came over the transom yesterday evening:

“Reforming CUSD:  Easy as ABC”
Addonizio, Brick & Christensen endorsed by CUSD Recall Committee

San Juan Capistrano, CA.  Ellen Addonizio, Jack Brick and Larry Christensen have each declared their intention to run for a position on the Capistrano Unified School District (“CUSD”) Board of Trustees in this November’s elections.  Today, the CUSD Recall Committee officially endorsed Addonizio Brick & Christensen. 

After an exhaustive search for the very best candidates, the CUSD Recall Committee is confident that Addonizio Brick & Christensen will put the best interests of the children and the taxpayers above all other interests in each decision they make.  We are also confident these reform candidates will ask the tough questions, hold the CUSD administrative staff accountable for their actions, and work to create a transparent organization that is responsive to the community.      

Addonizio Brick & Christensen will each bring a wide spectrum of impressive personal and professional talents that will make them uniquely qualified and ready to serve as CUSD Trustees once they are elected in November.  They possess qualities and experience the existing CUSD Trustees clearly lack.

For example, Ellen Addonizio is a CPA with investigative accounting and independent auditing experience.  Jack Brick is an aeronautics industry professional with administrative, budgeting and personnel experience involving multi-million dollar budgets and hundreds of professionals to manage, as well as a former harbor-master and police chief with extensive experience in campus security, and who has a teaching credential and a family with longstanding roots in public education.  Larry Christensen has owned and operated a civil engineering firm for 33 years and has developed extensive experience and expertise in facilities planning, real estate development and California Environmental Quality Act experience. 

Addonizio Brick & Christensen are absolutely committed to restoring honesty, integrity and accountability at the Capistrano Unified School District.

Three of the seven existing CUSD Trustee seats are up for election this November, including Kochendorfer (4th  District), Henness (6th  District) and Casabianca (7th District).

Ellen Addonizio will challenge Henness for the 6th District seat. Jack Brick will challenge Kochendorfer for the 4th District seat.     Larry Christensen will challenge Casabianca for the 7th District seat.

A short biography and picture of the “ABC Slate” of Addonizio Brick & Christensen is attached hereto.

The CUSD Recall Committee is the organization that led South Orange County residents in the unprecedented campaign to recall all seven elected Trustees of the Capistrano Unified School District.  More than 177,000 signatures were obtained from South Orange County residents calling for the removal of all seven CUSD Trustees.  The campaign focused on the serious financial mismanagement and corruption at CUSD.

CUSD is one of the largest school districts in the State of California.  Founded in 1965, the district serves seven cities and several unincorporated areas in South Orange County, including, San Clemente, Dana Point, San Juan Capistrano, Laguna Niguel, Aliso Viejo, Rancho Santa Margarita, Mission Viejo, Coto de Caza, Wagon Wheel, Las Flores and Ladera Ranch.  Approximately 50,000 children are enrolled in CUSD public schools.

To learn more about these important issues, please visit our website at www.cusdrecall.com or contact:

Thomas K. Russell
Spokesperson, CUSD Recall Committee
Telephone: (949) 459-1220
Facsimile:  (949) 459-1217
Email:        [email protected]

Ellen Addonizio, CPA
Candidate CUSD Board of Trustees
(6th District)

“Just like me, thousands of people across South Orange County have come to realize how serious the financial problems are at CUSD.  The current CUSD Trustees have squandered millions of taxpayer dollars, and by so doing they have relegated our children into overcrowded and substandard conditions. Now is the time to restore fiscal responsibility into our broken CUSD public school system.  I have the financial, accounting and auditing expertise to ensure that our scarce tax dollars are spent wisely. ”
-- Ellen Addonizio, Candidate CUSD 6th District

Ellen has lived in Southern California since the 1980s and has lived within the Capistrano Unified School District for more than 15 years.

Ellen is an accomplished Certified Public Accountant.  For the past 20 years, Ellen has represented large and small companies, as well as individuals.  Ellen’s practice has included auditing, investigative accounting and tax services. Ellen has developed extensive knowledge and special expertise in general accounting, tax planning, long range capital and operational budgeting and cost accounting. 

Ellen has spent numerous years volunteering and supporting various community organizations.  She has provided individual mentoring and tutoring assistance to elementary school students.  Ellen believes volunteer work keeps you in touch with your community and helps you understand other people's perspectives and needs.

Ellen played a key role in the unprecedented CUSD Recall campaign, working closely with CUSD Recall Committee members.  She also was a member of the CUSD Recall Committee Inspection Team that personally inspected the recall petitions to ascertain which petition signatures were disqualified by the O.C. Registrar and the reasons therefore.  Her investigative work was essential and embodied in the 55-page report released by the CUSD Recall Committee on March 1, 2006.  The CUSD Recall Committee delivered that Inspection Report to the California Attorney General, the California Secretary of State, the Orange County District Attorney, the Orange County Grand Jury, and the Orange County Board of Supervisors. 

“For years, the existing CUSD Trustees have failed to make prudent financial decisions – and now our students and teachers are paying the price for those mistakes.   The CUSD Trustees have been running budget deficits for the past several years causing the Orange County Board of Education to provide only “conditional approval” of the CUSD annual budget.  As a CUSD Trustee, I will immediately put my accounting and financial expertise to work in order to restore fiscal responsibility and to provide my constituents with transparency in the manner in which CUSD spends millions of tax dollars.”
-- Ellen Addonizio, Candidate CUSD 6th District

Jack Brick
Candidate CUSD Board of Trustees
(4th District)

“For me, the enormous $52 Million cost of the new CUSD Administration Building was the final straw.  For years, I was aware of some very real shortcomings in our schools and in our school district leaders.  The more I looked into it, the more I came to realize the existing CUSD leaders were out-of-touch, arrogant and insensitive to the needs of their constituents.  I decided I must take action -- to apply my substantial teaching, leadership and administrative experience for the benefit of the children attending our schools.”
-- Jack Brick, Candidate CUSD 4th District.

Jack has taught at the college level and has a life-time California Teaching Credential. He holds BS and MS degrees in criminology earned at California State University at Long Beach. He has taught courses at CSULB, El Camino College, Golden West College, and Long Beach City College. He was also an instructor for the California Criminal Justice Department for Peace Officers Standards and Training (POST).

As Principal Director, Administrative Operations for a major aerospace firm, Jack was responsible for acquisition, leasing, and disposition of real property. He directed construction, refurbishment, and building modifications. His responsibilities included the negotiation of contracts with companies providing on-site services and managing a broad range of administrative services. Jack introduced organizational and procedural changes that reduced his company’s annual operating costs by $15M. He was the recipient of the coveted Presidents Achievement Award for his outstanding efforts.

As Harbor Master for the City of Long Beach, Jack directed a bureau comprised of over 170 employees having an annual Budget of $20M. At CSULB Jack served as Director of Public Safety/Chief of Police. He was recognized by the FBI for maintaining CSULB’s lowest crime rate among the 270 largest US universities.

Three of Jack’s immediate family members are also teachers.  Jack has served as classroom volunteer at George White Elementary School in CUSD and has received a PTA Honorary Life Membership Award.  Jack continues to actively support little league baseball, girls softball and the local youth basketball program.

“Preparing our children for success in our rapidly changing world is my primary goal.  Those in the noble teaching profession, the ones charged with this great responsibility, are true heroes in our society.  The existing CUSD Trustees had a solemn duty to provide our teachers the support and facilities they require --- and the existing CUSD Trustees have repeatedly let our teachers and students down.   Most of my professional and personal life has been dedicated to public education and teaching.  I will never let our teachers and students down!”
-- Jack Brick, Candidate CUSD 4th District

Larry Christensen
Candidate, CUSD Board of Trustees
(7th District)

“For years, I’ve watched the CUSD Trustees waste millions of taxpayer dollars while they left many of our children and teachers in over-crowded, unsafe and unsanitary classrooms.  The scandals and problems with the existing CUSD leaders simply became too great for me to ignore.   That is why I’m running – I know I can make a positive difference and improve our schools.”
-- Larry Christensen, Candidate CUSD 7th District

Larry is a Southern California native.   Larry has been married to his wife Deborah for 24 years. They have two daughters, both of whom attend California universities.  The Christensen family has lived within the Coto de Caza area of the Capistrano Unified School District for 18 years.

For the past 33 years, Larry has owned and operated his own civil engineering firm in Laguna Hills.  Larry’s company specializes in the design and planning for unique custom homes and ski areas and resorts.   As the owner of a successful civil engineering firm, Larry Christensen has developed a keen sense of business acumen, as well as an in-depth knowledge and special expertise in legal matters relating to real estate development, the California Environmental Quality Act and the land use planning process. 

Larry Christensen is the author of “Through Different Windows”, a critically acclaimed novel published by Tate Publishing in 2006.   He also is an accomplished athlete who regularly participates with his wife Deborah in half marathon competitions.  Larry and Deborah are also very active members of the community.  They each share a commitment and dedication to make their community a better place for all.  For example, with Larry’s support and assistance over the course of several years, Deborah founded and became President of the local Saddleback Chapter of National Charity League.

“Today, because the existing CUSD Trustees have failed to make our students and teachers the #1 priority, many in our school district now feel like second class citizens.  I promise to restore true fiscal discipline, increase safety in our schools, and restore a true sense of pride in our schools (which sadly is lacking today)!”

 

Comments

This looks like a very solid slate of candidates -- intelligent, successful and professional. Fleming and the CUSD Trustees must be shaking in their boots.

[ANTI- CUSD]

They have my vote, way to go cusdrecall, these are great candidates. Thank god we are finally going to have an election.

A CPA with investigative accounting background,.....can you say "follow the money"? Maybe now we'll get some long awaited answers

[Petition Gatherer]

And a candidate with development experience and who knows CEQA. Now we might actually get some straight talk about CUSD facilities planning and failures.

[Hope they have $$]

"This looks like a very solid slate of candidates -- intelligent, successful and professional. "

How is it possible to tell from this press release? How could you possibly know that these individuals look like a solid slate? By their name and job title? I have never heard of any of these individuals. It is going to take a couple hundred thousand dollars each to get these unknowns elected in this huge district. The district is almost as big as the 5th supervisorial district. Cassie DeYoung just spent 3 million to increase her name id in the 5th only to come in second. These folks face a tremendous uphill battle. Best of luck! I hope you pull it off.

[Constituent CUSD]

Obviously, this was the first announcement and we will learn more as the campaign developes. But at least these candidates appear to have better credentials than the incumbants. Their areas of expertise, if true, would address key failures at CUSD. Yes, the money is always an issue (for both sides). We'll see. One important difference in this case, though -- the Recall Committee's Recall Campaign brought unprecedented awareness of the issues and if there ever was a chance for grass roots challengers to prevail, this is it.

[Ear to the Ground]

To "Hope they have $$" -- Let me say that:

1. I know each of these candidates personally, and they indeed are a very solid slate of candidates -- intelligent, successful and professional.

2. The "ABC Slate" candidates are eager for the rest of the community to get the chance to know them better...that is what the campaign season is all about.

3. They will have the money and professional campaign assistance to win.

4. Public awareness of the problems at CUSD has never been greater (as demonstrated by more than 177,000 recall signatures).

5. Public awareness was raised thanks to the on-going efforts of the CUSD Recall Committee. The committee's endorsement will carry tremendous weight with the electorate in November.

6. Yes, the incumbents do have some name recognition, but for the most part, that name recognition is very negative and those who know them want them out of office ASAP.

7. Yes, the incumbents do have some additional name recognition...WITH THE ORANGE COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE! Don't be surprised if one or more incumbents don't end up running as a result of personal legal issues.

[CUSD Observer]

I like what I see so far and I'm looking forward to learning more about the candidates in the coming months. If the CUSD Recall Committee is supporting these candidates, I know we're headed in the right direction.

[Echo Chamber]

You may indeed win in a route, ousting all the incumbents and sweeping in new leadership with new ideas about turning around CUSD and setting a new course for the schools... but don't get TOO overconfident.

As the scholastic awards continue rolling in and the students continue moving on to top colleges and universities, it may be difficult to convince those not tuned in to politics to join your revolution.

Reminds me of the famous line from New Yorker critic Pauline Kael in 1972 who said after Nixon got 60% of the vote, "I don't know how Nixon won the election! I don't know anyone who voted for him!"

[Constituent CUSD]

The recall revolution was driven by residents' dissatisfaction with the CUSD leadership's financial mismanagement and corruption -- the key messages of the recall campaign. Residents, mostly happy with the performance of teachers and students, provided more than 177,000 petition signatures to demonstrate that they saw through the Administration's test scores charade, demanding honest answers about real issue like failed facilities planning.

Public awareness will continue to rise, especially now that the truth is known about the funding of the District's controversial, new $52 million administration building, continuing facilities exposes like the PTA reports at Newhart Midle School and Capo Valley High School, and as more elected officials speak out, demanding financial accountability, in cities like Mission Viejo and Rancho Santa Margarita.

The Recall Committee certainly has brought bold leadership, but it has always remianed on point and has tried to use discretion in publicizing expectations. Of course, overconfidence is a danger, and zealous, individual supporters may become so. But the Recall Committee hasn't, and probably won't become overconfident -- at least, I hope not. We'll see.

[Ear to the Ground]

I take "Echo Chambers" admonition to heart...in politics you can take nothing for granted. Thank you for the wise words of caution.

However, I can promise one thing with absolute certainty -- the CUSD Recall Committee and its hundreds of volunteers will be working non-stop until the polls close on election day to convince every last voter in South Orange County that the existing CUSD Trustees have to go.

We have the issues, the facts, the laws, the people, the support and the total commitment to finally bring true reform to CUSD.

We won't stop, no matter what, until the job is done!