Elections

Officials Believe Measure E Ballot Language a Non-Issue

ballot-mailFor months we have known that the district has put a measure on the ballot, Measure E, that would renew the current Measure A parcel tax levy (204 dollars) while creating a contingency to raise that amount by 242 dollars should the state tax Proposition 30 fail next week.

However, just ten days before the election, on Sunday, Davis Enterprise columnist Bob Dunning argued that he was “looking over the ballot language for our latest school parcel tax, Measure E, and it’s just confusing enough that it’s unlikely to survive a court challenge should someone decide to sue after it passes.”

FPPC Complaint Denied: FFPC Finds No Evidence of Violation

Measure-E-photoLast week we reported that Thomas Randall, one of the co-leaders of the No on Measure E campaign, had filed an FPPC complaint against the Davis Joint Unified School District and Susan Lovenburg, over what he is calling their campaign on Measure E.

However, that complaint has been unceremoniously been tossed aside by the FPPC.  In a letter dated October 24, 2012, Gary Winuk, the Chief of the Enforcement Division, writes, “After review by staff, it was determined that the complaint does not contain evidence of a violation of the Political Reform Act since the flyer does not expressly advocate the passage of the measure.”

Jose Granda Beyond Measure E

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By Jose Granda, PhD 

GUEST COMMENTARY – I want to have an open line of communication with Davis voters so that they get to know me beyond the issue of Measure E.  Position on a measure is a miniscule part of being qualified to lead the schools and impact the lives of students making a difference from the status quo.  For this reason I also think Claire Sherman has the right qualifications to be a School Board member even if we are on separate sides of Measure E.

I am a product of the American Dream.  I immigrated to the United States invited as a Foreign Exchange Student at the age of 16.  I did not know English at the beginning of the school year but in three months of immersion and not finding anyone to speak my native Spanish language I learned English quickly.  I graduated from high school in Dayton, Ohio.  I attended engineering school at UC Berkeley where I obtained my Master in Mechanical Engineering and the PhD degree also in Mechanical Engineering at UC Davis.  I became a Professor in the Mechanical Engineering Department at California State University, Sacramento since 1982.

Opposition to Measure E Claims Threats and Intimidation

Granda-Jose-2Unfortunately, as we approach a critical election both nationally and locally, ’tis the season not only for sign stealing but also apparently threats and intimidation.

The Vanguard early on Friday morning received a press release and statement from Dr. Jose Granda, not only a candidate for school board but one of the leaders in the No on Measure E Campaign.

FPPC Complaint Against School District on Measure E Based on Political Not Legal Disagreement

Measure-E-photoVANGUARD ANALYSIS: Mr. Randall’s Complaint Represents His Own Abuse of Process – Thomas Randall has filed yet another complaint against the Davis Joint Unified School District over what he is calling their campaign on Measure E.

In a press release actually sent out on Friday, October 19, he writes: “Thomas Randall, Jr. coordinator of the NO School Board Taxes Political Action Committee,  a PAC that is campaigning against Measure E, has filed a complaint with the Fair Political Practices Commission Against the Davis School Board of Education and specifically against its President Ms. Susan Lovenburg. for their role in using taxpayer’s money for campaign materials  produced at taxpayers’ expense and disseminated in print and on the internet with the purpose to pass Measure E.”

Claims of Unfairness to Homeowners on Tax Issues Ring Hollow

chalkboardCOMMENTARY – It seems like every election we get the invariable argument over who is entitled to vote on matters of taxation.

So here is the argument, as a letter writer lays it out in the local newspaper: “Oh, did I mention? This November also brings another school tax; Measure E. As a homeowner in Davis, this measure concerns only those who own property, for it is us who will have to ‘foot the bill!’ “

School Board Candidate Utilizes Social Media

Sherman-ClaireIn 2006 Matt Rexroad, in his campaign for county supervisor, was ahead of the curve.  He was out there engaging with the public on a variety of issues and utilized his blog as a way to connect with voters.

That was more than six years ago and the remarkable thing is that there have been very few efforts to replicate Mr. Rexroad’s effective use of his blog – a precursor to widely-available social media like Facebook and Twitter.

The Actual Cost of Measure E and Prop 30 For Davis Voters

taxbillThere was an interesting comment on the Vanguard yesterday, in discussion of the Davis Chamber of Commerce’s op-ed in the Davis Enterprise.  A commenter wrote: “If Measure E and Prop. 30 pass tens of thousands of Davis households will have several hundreds to close to a thousand less dollars to spend on our local economy.”

In fact, those numbers are simply not true.  If both Measure E and Proposition 30 pass, Davis taxpayers will not pay much more than they do today.

Chamber Comes Out in Favor of Measure E, Opposes Furloughs

Measure-E-photoChamberPAC Appears to Oppose Furloughs without an Alternative if Prop 30 Fails – The Davis Business community has been very strongly supportive of the Davis Public School System and once again have come out in favor of the parcel tax.

In a press release this week, they write: “Since 1992, when the State of California began taking additional local property taxes from cities to help fund state programs, the voters of Davis have taxed themselves to pay for amenities like high-quality parks, schools and libraries. The Davis Chamber of Commerce has been proud to support these efforts since 1997.”

PTA President Clarifies Literature Removal Incident

Granda-Jose-2Last week the Vanguard reported that Jose Granda’s “No on Measure E” materials were removed from the event table at a forum for school board candidates, but were eventually put back on the table.

Imelda Granda, the wife of candidate Jose Granda, told the Vanguard that they had placed campaign materials for Mr. Granda’s candidacy, along with No on Measure E flyers, upon the table that event organizers had set up for the candidates to place their materials.

Paid Lobbyist An Issue in School Board Campaign?

Fernandes-Alan-HSA letter to the editor in the paper suggested that school board candidate Alan Fernandes is a paid lobbyist, as the Enterprise described, in their profile of the candidate, that his job is “representing the county of Los Angeles in matters pertaining to state government.”

In fact, this is not that unusual.  Richard Harris and Tim Taylor, both presently on the board of education, could be characterized similarly, as could former board member and current County Supervisor Jim Provenza.

Loss of Measure E Means Drastic Cuts to Schools

Measure-E-photoAnalysis – When the district put Measure A on the ballot in early 2011, they thought this was going to be a short-term, one-time emergency fix.  And while there were clearly differences of opinion as to the size and the length of Measure A, there was a general belief that within two years the economy would be growing and the need for local revenue to bridge the loss of state funding would be abated.

Instead, in May of this year, after the district had already passed Measure C to fund $6.5 million of a $10 million gap, after the district had already laid off 50 positions to remove the rest of the $3.5 million deficit, the governor on May 12 announced that revenues had fallen well short of their projections.

Measure E Will Continue Excellence in Our Schools

school-musicby Barbara Archer, et al –

GUEST COMMENTARY – We are at a crossroads for education in California. Unfortunately, we live in a state that does not fund education well and has been deeply affected by the economic crisis.

But we in Davis have always been a solution-oriented band of folks. We have supplemented our public education system going back to 1984 with school parcel taxes.

New Schools’ Life Without Parcel Taxes

Granda-Jose-2by Jose J. Granda, PhD

GUEST COMMENTARY – It is important to put into perspective my opposition to Measure E because I sincerely believe it is an unfair new tax that allows several groups of people not to pay the taxes while receiving the same educational services.  This is not the American way where the equal protection clause considers all of us equal in all aspects of our lives. For that reason, the theme of my campaign “Excellence in Education with Sound Financial Responsibility”.

First a summary of my opposition and then what I see as the solution:

Lovenburg, Peterson Get Big Endorsements from Enterprise; Delaine Eastin For Measure E

Peterson-NancyLovenburg-SusanWe can debate how much endorsements matter, particularly newspaper endorsements, but there is little doubt that they can give a campaign a shot of energy.  And so Susan Lovenburg and Nancy Peterson get big endorsements from the local newspaper this week.

“Who in their right mind would want to be a school board member in California during these challenging times?” the Enterprise asks.  “For the past five years, trustees across the state have been forced to slash programs, jobs and facilities in their school districts due to precipitously declining revenue from state government.”

Why Does Davis Not Have More Teachers of Color?

achievement-gapANALYSIS: The Demographic Breakdown May Surprise You – One of the audience questions that we asked at Monday’s candidates forum at Harper Junior High was “Why are there so few teachers of color in this district? In the last five years there have been very few teachers of color hired, except at Cesar Chavez for obvious reasons.  Shouldn’t there be more parity in the teaching force to reflect the student population?”

The candidate responses ran the gamut.  Alan Fernandes said that he did not know why this was the case but said that he believed there should be more parity.

Candidates Respond to Questions on Measure E and Fiscal Health of the District

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Part 2: Davis Vanguard – DMA School Board Candidates Forum – On Monday night the five candidates for the Davis School Board met and discussed critical issues facing the district and our community at a candidates forum sponsored by the Davis Vanguard and Davis Media Access.

Yesterday, we covered the candidates questions to each other, and we have also posted video of the event filmed by Davis Media Access.

Video of Vanguard – DMA School Board Candidates Forum

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The DJUSD School Board Candidate Forum held Oct. 1 at Harper Jr. High is now available on demand at http://dctv.davismedia.org/node/38532. The forum features all five candidates running for two seats on the Davis Joint Unified Board of Trustees, and is moderated by Davis Vanguard Editorial Board Member Matt Williams.

The forum was sponsored by The Davis Vanguard and Davis Media Access, and will also be available soon on DCTV Channel 15 on Comcast Davis, and on AT&T’s U-verse Menu 99.

Candidates Forum Highlights Expertise, Draws Out Policy Differences

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Part One – Candidates Questions – We are just five weeks out from the November Election date.  And while all eyes are focused on the Presidential Debate scheduled for Wednesday, locally voters have critical choices and nowhere more than on schools where the public will be asked to decide between five very different candidates for school board and whether to fund another parcel tax, Measure E.

This summer, the Vanguard launched an editorial board.  There will be a number of functions for that board, including helping to direct and advise the direction of the Vanguard.  The first public event was last night’s candidates forum for the school board candidates, held at at Harper Junior High.