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Thursday, October 05, 2006
Metro VIEWS
OUSD Candidate Paul-Dean Martin Responds to the
Music Matters and OUEA Candidate Endorsements of Opponents
A community viewpoint from Paul-Dean Martin,
Candidate for Orange Unified Trustee
I am disappointed but not surprised to hear that The Music Matters Program and the OUEA have chosen to support my opponents in the race for School Board in the OUSD. Once again, groups with their own agendas and groups who are uninformed and un-experienced are trying to use influence to put candidates in office that will not serve our children or propel our district one step further then where it is today.
The Music Matters, program headed by Angel LaMarca, choose to endorse Mr. Emami without even interviewing myself or Kim Nichols. I spoke with Mrs. LaMarca via telephone and asked how her committee could choose a candidate to back without even speaking with the other candidates. She said he came to a couple of our meetings and seems like a nice kid.
This is not the first time that the Music Matters committee has made decisions for their supporters without having all the facts. It was the Music Matters program that collected over $14000.00 from Orange residents to save the after school music program and then blindly, without any assurances, handed the money over to the Orange Education Foundation. They in turn gave it to the district to do with as they please. After Dr. Godley announced that they would keep the program without the use of the Music Matters programs contribution, Music Matters requested the money be returned. The district refused and kept the money. The Music matters program found themselves without a legal leg to stand on, and the $14000.00 they collected from Orange residents was gone. And now they are backing a candidate with no real knowledge of our district.
When I met with Mr. Emami on August 10, 2006 at the Starbucks on Serrano, he couldn’t even tell me how many schools are in our district and he could only name schools in the Anaheim Hills area. He also told me at that meeting that he was supported by The Education Alliance, the same group that supported ousted school board members Marty Jacobson, Maureen Aschoff, and Linda Davis. So you have to ask yourself as a voter, why should you trust a group that gave away $14000.00 of Orange residents money to a board they don’t trust and why are they backing a candidate without full knowledge of all the candidates?
As for the OUEA, I was disappointed in their interview process. For an organization supposedly there to support education, more than half of the interview questions asked of me were about their pay scale and benefits, and how I would work with their organization. Not one question asked in the interview directly concerned the children of OUSD. I brought one of my youth theatre interns to the interview who is a student in the OUSD to allow him to see the process of election and endorsement within the OUSD, and the OUEA refused to allow him access to the room during the interview. I asked OUEA president Jan Miller why a student in the district could not be allowed in the interview as I was as much their candidate too. They simply said it wasn’t a good idea.
Until we stop thinking about ourselves and start thinking about what we can do for each other, there is no way that the OUSD will ever be able to regain the trust and support of its community.
Metro VIEWS is open to community members and organizations to voice their opinions on important local community issues in the Greater Orange Communities.
A community service of the
ORANGE COMMUNICATION SYSTEM /OCS/
Music Matters and OUEA Candidate Endorsements of Opponents
A community viewpoint from Paul-Dean Martin,
Candidate for Orange Unified Trustee
I am disappointed but not surprised to hear that The Music Matters Program and the OUEA have chosen to support my opponents in the race for School Board in the OUSD. Once again, groups with their own agendas and groups who are uninformed and un-experienced are trying to use influence to put candidates in office that will not serve our children or propel our district one step further then where it is today.
The Music Matters, program headed by Angel LaMarca, choose to endorse Mr. Emami without even interviewing myself or Kim Nichols. I spoke with Mrs. LaMarca via telephone and asked how her committee could choose a candidate to back without even speaking with the other candidates. She said he came to a couple of our meetings and seems like a nice kid.
This is not the first time that the Music Matters committee has made decisions for their supporters without having all the facts. It was the Music Matters program that collected over $14000.00 from Orange residents to save the after school music program and then blindly, without any assurances, handed the money over to the Orange Education Foundation. They in turn gave it to the district to do with as they please. After Dr. Godley announced that they would keep the program without the use of the Music Matters programs contribution, Music Matters requested the money be returned. The district refused and kept the money. The Music matters program found themselves without a legal leg to stand on, and the $14000.00 they collected from Orange residents was gone. And now they are backing a candidate with no real knowledge of our district.
When I met with Mr. Emami on August 10, 2006 at the Starbucks on Serrano, he couldn’t even tell me how many schools are in our district and he could only name schools in the Anaheim Hills area. He also told me at that meeting that he was supported by The Education Alliance, the same group that supported ousted school board members Marty Jacobson, Maureen Aschoff, and Linda Davis. So you have to ask yourself as a voter, why should you trust a group that gave away $14000.00 of Orange residents money to a board they don’t trust and why are they backing a candidate without full knowledge of all the candidates?
As for the OUEA, I was disappointed in their interview process. For an organization supposedly there to support education, more than half of the interview questions asked of me were about their pay scale and benefits, and how I would work with their organization. Not one question asked in the interview directly concerned the children of OUSD. I brought one of my youth theatre interns to the interview who is a student in the OUSD to allow him to see the process of election and endorsement within the OUSD, and the OUEA refused to allow him access to the room during the interview. I asked OUEA president Jan Miller why a student in the district could not be allowed in the interview as I was as much their candidate too. They simply said it wasn’t a good idea.
Until we stop thinking about ourselves and start thinking about what we can do for each other, there is no way that the OUSD will ever be able to regain the trust and support of its community.
Metro VIEWS is open to community members and organizations to voice their opinions on important local community issues in the Greater Orange Communities.
A community service of the
ORANGE COMMUNICATION SYSTEM /OCS/
Comments:
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We missed Mr. Martin at the October 3 OUSD candidates' forum at Orange City Hall. If you want to talk the talk, you've got to walk the walk.
Bill Amsbary
OUSD Parent and Volunteer
Bill Amsbary
OUSD Parent and Volunteer
# posted by 
: 10/05/2006 6:20 PM
: 10/05/2006 6:20 PM
As the President of the Orange Education Foundation, it is my duty to clarify some of the mis-statements that have been expressed by the Press and now by Mr. Martin.
I have for anyone and everyone to preview an original memorandum dated, February 4, 2005. The membo is written
" To: The Orange Education Foundation
From: Sandy Streeter (signed blue ink)
Linda Stoterau (signed in blue ink)
Rachelle Morga (signed in black ink)
RE: Elementary Music Donations
This memorandum is in regard to the expected donations to support the Orange Unified Elementary Music Program. Funds collected for this program will be deposited into the Orange Education Foundation. We request that those funds then be gifted to Orange Unified School District in support of Elementary Music.
Thank you for your consideration of this matter. If you have any questions, please contact Sandy Streeter 997-60XX"
According to documentation from the Music Matters committee, their first meeting was on Feb. 8.
It was very clear to the Orange Education Foundation when the memo was written, the exact direction of what to do with the "anticipated" funds. The Orange Education Foundation completed its obligation for receiving, depositing and giving of the funds. We contacted legal council along the way to determine of responsibility as the holder of the funds. We acted legally and fulfilled the intent of the memo and in the end, did just as the Memorandum as asked....we "gifted the funds to the Orange Unfied School District in support of Elementary Music."
The Orange Education Foundation has had its name dragged through the mud when the Music Matters committee made decisions and demands for the money. I would hope that from this point forward, the mis-communications regarding the $14,000 and the association with the Orange Education Foundation would cease.
I have for anyone and everyone to preview an original memorandum dated, February 4, 2005. The membo is written
" To: The Orange Education Foundation
From: Sandy Streeter (signed blue ink)
Linda Stoterau (signed in blue ink)
Rachelle Morga (signed in black ink)
RE: Elementary Music Donations
This memorandum is in regard to the expected donations to support the Orange Unified Elementary Music Program. Funds collected for this program will be deposited into the Orange Education Foundation. We request that those funds then be gifted to Orange Unified School District in support of Elementary Music.
Thank you for your consideration of this matter. If you have any questions, please contact Sandy Streeter 997-60XX"
According to documentation from the Music Matters committee, their first meeting was on Feb. 8.
It was very clear to the Orange Education Foundation when the memo was written, the exact direction of what to do with the "anticipated" funds. The Orange Education Foundation completed its obligation for receiving, depositing and giving of the funds. We contacted legal council along the way to determine of responsibility as the holder of the funds. We acted legally and fulfilled the intent of the memo and in the end, did just as the Memorandum as asked....we "gifted the funds to the Orange Unfied School District in support of Elementary Music."
The Orange Education Foundation has had its name dragged through the mud when the Music Matters committee made decisions and demands for the money. I would hope that from this point forward, the mis-communications regarding the $14,000 and the association with the Orange Education Foundation would cease.
# posted by : 10/05/2006 7:53 PM
: 10/05/2006 7:53 PM
"...groups who are uninformed and un-experienced are trying to use influence to put candidates in office that will not serve our children or propel our district one step further then where it is today."
Well, let's take this to the logical conclusion. He says groups should meet with each candidate before endorsing. Hmmm...well voters should decide who to cast their ballots for by learning about each candidate. Gee, I wonder how the voters will make informed decisions if a candidate doesn't bother to submit a candidate statement for the sample ballot and if a candidate doesn't show up to candidate forums.
Paul-Dean Martin...the only OUSD candidate without a candidate statement in the sample ballot.
Paul-Dean Martin...the only OUSD candidate to skip the candidate forum.
Well, let's take this to the logical conclusion. He says groups should meet with each candidate before endorsing. Hmmm...well voters should decide who to cast their ballots for by learning about each candidate. Gee, I wonder how the voters will make informed decisions if a candidate doesn't bother to submit a candidate statement for the sample ballot and if a candidate doesn't show up to candidate forums.
Paul-Dean Martin...the only OUSD candidate without a candidate statement in the sample ballot.
Paul-Dean Martin...the only OUSD candidate to skip the candidate forum.
# posted by : 10/06/2006 5:21 AM
: 10/06/2006 5:21 AM
I believe that Nichols is endorsed by the Democratic Party of Orange County and Enami is endorsed by the Republican Party of Orange County. According to the financial records I have pulled neither one has taken a dollar of special interest money unless you count the union giving non monetary contributions to Nichols. What party affiliation is Martin. Is he kind of like the Dennis Kucinich of this race.
# posted by : 10/06/2006 11:45 AM
: 10/06/2006 11:45 AM
I am unaware of any endorsement from the Democratic Party since I did not solicit any such endorsement and I am not a registered Democrate. I have had no conversation with any representative of the democratic party or any other form of communication. I find it extremely unlikely that the party would endorse me. I strongly urge individuals that participate in a 'blog' forum, to get the facts correct.
Kim Nichols
Post a Comment
Kim Nichols
# posted by : 10/06/2006 2:51 PM
: 10/06/2006 2:51 PM << Home
