Greater Orange News Service

eLECTION Watch 2010
an Orange Net News Special News and Analysis Series

Former Villa Park Councilman Robert Fauteux pulls papers for VP race and Tenth candidate files for Orange City Council Race

Former Villa Park Councilman and Foothill Sentry columnist Robert “Bob” Fauteux pulled papers Friday July 30 for the Villa Park City Council race. Fauteux was appointed to the Villa Park City Council in 2004 to fill a vacancy. Then in 2006 he ran for his seat and lost garnering only 16% of the vote. Fauteux is the fourth person to pull papers for the three city council seats up for election.

In Orange, the tenth person, Sue Dominguez, pulled papers to run for the two Orange Council seats on the ballot. Councilman Denis Bilodeau filed his paper work.

UPDATED 7/30/10
Orange City Council Races Two Seats
Pulled Papers:
7/12
Denis Bilodeau Filed 7/30
Fred Whitiker
Michael Merino- Filed 7/13
Chris Horton
Robert Douglas

7/19
Christian Vaughn
Kahan Chandrani

7/20
Joe Pazmany

7/29
Margaret Townsend

7/30
Sue Dominquez

Orange City Mayor
Pulled Papers:
Carolyn Cavecche- Filed 7/28
Jon Dumitru

Orange Unified School District Races
Area 1
Pulled Papers
7/14
Harry Persaud –Filed 7/15

Area 4
Pulled Papers
7/19
Larry Cohn

7/21
Kathy Moffat

7/28
Paul Todd Filed 7/28

Area 5
Pulled Papers
7/16
Kim Nichols Filed 7/30

Area 7
Pulled Papers
7/13
Steve Rocco Filed 7/14

7/14
Rick Ledesma

Villa Park City Council Races Three Seats
Pulled papers
7/13
Jim Rheins

7/16
Deborah Pauly

7/23
Dr. Murari Gupta

7/28
Jonathan Olsen

7/30
Robert Fauteux

OUSD Trustees vote to oppose Canyons Succession Bid to Saddleback Valley

Citing transportation issues and a bond tax in Saddleback Valley Unified, the Orange Unified School Board Trustees voted 7-0 Thursday night July 29 to go on record opposing the succession efforts of the Inter-Canyon League to have the Orange Unified Canyon Communities join Saddleback Valley Unified. The vote to oppose will be presented at the August 4, 2010 hearing of the Orange County Committee on School District Organization (OCCSDO). By opposing the direct petition to join Saddleback valley Unified, the Trustees wanted to allow the citizen’s of the Canyon Communities to vote on the succession bid item directly. The Saddleback Board had voted to stay neutral on the item at the hearing.

The Inter-Canyon League collected 542 signatures on a petition (45.8 % of the 1184 voters in the Canyon Communities) to bring the item before the Orange County Committee on School District Organization (OCCSDO). Much of the discussion of the succession bid focused on the fact that Saddleback Valley Unified has a general obligation bond assessment of $34 per $100,000 of assessment, The Measure B $180 million dollar bond was passed with 59% of Saddleback Valley Unified voter approval in 2004. OUSD Trustees stated that by not opposing the succession bid would be tantamount to the OUSD Board voting to force the Canyon Communities to pay the bond tax they did not have a vote in.

Another issue for the OUSD Trustees included the fact that only about 10 Canyon Community students had opted to go to Saddleback Valley Unified, while 118 stayed in Orange Unified. Those 118 are provided bus service to OUSD schools. If the succession was to take place, those 118 students would be forced out of OUSD. If they applied and were granted an inter-district transfer, they then would no longer be provided bus transportation to OUSD schools. There also would not be any bus transportation for the Canyon Communities to Saddleback schools if they joined Saddleback.

Trustees cited the fact that any Canyon Community student who wanted to go to Saddleback Valley Unified could now go by a current agreement of both school districts. Therefore, the Trustees saw the current options for families in the Canyon Communities being part of OUSD as more beneficial by providing them with more options. In addition, Trustees wanted to be sure that Canyon Community voters were completely aware of all the options and saw an election campaign as bringing forth the most information. The Inter-Canyon League collected 542 signatures on a petition (45.8 % of the 1184 voters in the Canyon Communities) to bring the item before the Orange County Committee on School District Organization (OCCSDO).

The Orange County Committee on School District Organization (OCCSDO) will take hear testimony regarding the transfer on August 4, 2010 at 6:00 pm at Canyon Hills Elementary School and 8:00 pm at Saddleback Valley Unified School District offices.

UPDATED 4/29/10
With a week still left in the filing period, the race for the two seats on the Orange City Council is getting crowded with a ninth potential candidate pulling papers today.

Orange City Council Races Two Seats
Pulled Papers:
7/12
Denis Bilodeau
Fred Whitiker
Michael Merino- Filed 7/13
Chris Horton
Robert Douglas

7/19
Christian Vaughn
Kahan Chandrani

7/20
Joe Pazmany

7/29
Margaret Townsend


Orange City Mayor
Pulled Papers:
Carolyn Cavecche- Filed 7/28
Jon Dumitru

Orange Unified School District Races
Area 1
Pulled Papers
7/14
Harry Persaud –Filed 7/15

Area 4
Pulled Papers
7/19
Larry Cohn

7/21
Kathy Moffat

7/28
Paul Todd Filed 7/28

Area 5
Pulled Papers
7/16
Kim Nichols

Area 7
Pulled Papers
7/13
Steve Rocco Filed 7/14

7/14
Rick Ledesma

Villa Park City Council Races Three Seats
Pulled papers
7/13
Jim Rheins

7/16
Deborah Pauly

7/23
Dr. Murari Gupta

7/28
Jonathan Olsen

OUSD employee groups to unite under CalPERS Health Trust

The Orange Unified School District’s three employee groups will unite under one health plan by all three joining the CalPERS Health Trust. The three employee groups had been in separate health plans. The district’s administrators Leadership group and support staff union (CSEA) were in one group plan and the teachers union (OUEA) in another. OUSD Superintendent Dr. Renae Dreier had supported the long-time teachers’ goal of containing soaring health costs by uniting the three groups under one plan when she was first hired by OUSD.

The goal of one plan had been a position of the OUEA since being forced by the infamous Recalled Board to abandon their own health trust almost ten years ago. Until Dreier, no other OUSD administration had made the goal a priority.

The $6 billion CalPERS Health Fund began inviting local governmental agencies to join it in 2007. It is one of the largest health funds in the U.S.

For More information CLICK ON CalPERS

eLECTION Watch 2010
an Orange Net News Special News and Analysis Series

Retired OUSD Vice Principal files for OUSD Race
Paul Todd, a retired Vice Principal from El Modena High School and former OUSD teacher on the same day pulled papers and then filed them to run for the Orange Unified School Board Trustee Area 4. That seat is curretly held by Kathy Moffat.

In the Orange Mayor’s race, incumbent Mayor Carolyn Cavecche officially filed her papers.

In the Villa Park City Council race for three seats, Jonathan Olsen pulled papers.

UPDATED 4/28/10
Orange City Council Races Two Seats
Pulled Papers:
7/12
Denis Bilodeau
Fred Whitiker
Michael Merino- Filed 7/13
Chris Horton
Robert Douglas

7/19
Christian Vaughn
Kahan Chandrani

7/20
Joe Pazmany

Orange City Mayor
Pulled Papers:
Carolyn Cavecche- Filed 7/28
Jon Dumitru

Orange Unified School District Races
Area 1
Pulled Papers
7/14
Harry Persaud –Filed 7/15

Area 4
Pulled Papers
7/19
Larry Cohn

7/21
Kathy Moffat


7/28
Paul Todd Filed 7/28

Area 5
Pulled Papers
7/16
Kim Nichols

Area 7
Pulled Papers
7/13
Steve Rocco Filed 7/14

7/14
Rick Ledesma

Villa Park City Council Races Three Seats
Pulled papers
7/13
Jim Rheins

7/16
Deborah Pauly

7/23
Dr. Murari Gupta

7/28
Jonathan Olsen

Former OUSD Superintendent John Ikerd has died.
Ikerd who held numerous positions in OUSD, including Superintendent, and in Cypress Unified died of heart complications. His family has announced arrangements will be held Saturday July 31st at the United Methodist Church, 12741 Main Street, Garden Grove, CA.

9:30am-10:00am Viewing
10:00am - Funeral Service

Garden Grove United Methodist Church
12741 Main St., Garden Grove, CA 92840 714-534-1070

11:00am - 12:30pm
Luncheon reception immediately following in the Fellowship Hall of the same church

1:30pm - Graveside Services

El Toro Memorial Park
25741 Trabuco Rd, Lake Forest, CA 92630 949-951-8244

ORANGE Unified Schools INSIDE
a news service of Orange Net News /O/N/N/
Independent insight into OUSD

OUSD School Board violates Brown Act with illegal votes
With Trustee Kim Nichols participating in the June 10, 2010 OUSD Board meeting by teleconference from Memphis Tennessee, the OUSD Board voted by illegal voice vote on several major items. The Brown Act, which allows teleconferencing also specifically denotes the rules under how that teleconferencing is to take place. One of the specific rules spelled out in Section 54952 (2) of the Brown Act is that all votes during teleconferencing be rollcall votes:

54953. (2) Teleconferencing, as authorized by this section, may be used
for all purposes in connection with any meeting within the subject
matter jurisdiction of the legislative body. All votes taken during
a teleconferenced meeting shall be by rollcall.

None of the votes taken during the teleconference meeting on June 10 were by rollcall which is a violation of the Brown Act, technically making those votes illegal. The Brown Act also defines in Section 54952 (4) what a teleconference meeting is;

(4) For the purposes of this section, "teleconference" means a
meeting of a legislative body, the members of which are in different
locations, connected by electronic means, through either audio or
video, or both.

By definition, the June 10 OUSD Board Meeting was a teleconference meeting with Trustee Kim Nichols participating by a conference call. In fact the telephonic conference device was set up at her position at the Board diaz. The re-broadcast of the Board meeting on the OUSD Cable Channel shows the device and has Nichols name under it on the screen when Nichols spoke by telephone
at the meeting. Nine major votes were cast during the meeting by voice, all of which were illegal and could be technically null votes. Those votes included:

• Approving a tentative labor agreement for a reduction in work days with the Orange Unified Educators Association.
• Approving a reduction in work days for leadership employees
• Approving an amendment to the Superintendent’s Contract for a reduction in work days and pay
• Approved a new school calendar with five fewer days
• Approving a Budget Resolution
• All Consent Agenda Items

In the past the OUSD Board has had problems with the Brown Act. Litigation has broken both ways, for and against OUSD. In 2003, as a result of alleged Brown Violation case from 2001, OUSD was forced for two years to record all closed session meetings in case a judge had to review them for Brown Act violations. In another noteworthy case from 2006, Californians Aware, a Brown Act advocacy group, teamed with former Trustee Steve Rocco in accusing OUSD of Brown Act violations in a celebrated case that led to the Censure of Rocco by fellow OUSD Board members. In the end, OUSD won that case and later took legal actions to recover attorney costs from Rocco.

The next OUSD Board Meeting on July 29, will also be a teleconference meeting with Trustee Melissa Smith attending from Lake Forrest, Illinois.

OUSD Board approves own pay cuts and approves 5 less school days

The OUSD Board approved by a 7-0 voice vote a serious of measures that cut the student school calendar by 5 days due to the continued budget crisis. In addition, the OUSD Trustees after 2 pervious attempts also voted to approve a cut to their monthly stipend. OUSD Superintendent Dr. Renae Dreier also requested and the Board approved an amendment cutting her work year and pay by the same 5 days as the teachers and leadership employees. At the July 29 OUSD Board Meeting, Action Agenda Item 12 A also has the OUSD Classified support union, the CSEA #67 agreeing to the same reduction in the work year and pay. In addition, the OUSD Board approved a budget resolution that continues a Positive Certification of OUSD to meet its financial obligations despite another $46 loss per student in state funding (ADA). The total loss per student since the Budget Cuts has been $1410 per student or 20%.

Inside the July 29 Board OUSD: Canyons make move to join Saddleback and OPED Update

After the closing of Silverado Elementary School, the Inter-Canyon League took steps to have the canyon communities join Saddleback Valley Unified. After circulating petitions, the Orange County Committee on School District Organization (OCCSDO) will take hear testimony regarding the transfer on August 4, 2010 at 6:00 pm at Canyon Hills Elementary School and 8:00 pm at Saddleback Valley Unified School District offices. At their July 29 meeting, the OUSD Board may vote to take a position on the matter to be presented to the OCCSDO (Agenda Item 12 B page 6).

In another item, in April 2008 right before the financial crash, the OUSD Board approved selling of $94 million in bonds to cover projected heath benefit liabilities. Last year at this time, OUSD staff reported that the OUSD Board hastily approved OPED Bonds had at their worst lost $20 million dollars and were still $10 million dollars in the hole from the original investment and cost the OUSD General Fund last year approximately $5 million dollars just to service the 2008 OPED Bonds plus another $8 million to cover the health insurance payments the now non-existing OPED Bond profits were suppose to pay. The total $13 million dollar loss will come out of the OUSD General Fund at a time the district could least afford it. The Agenda Item 13 A will be a report on the current state of the two-tear old bonds. The Agenda Item states:
“The value of the portfolio is moving in step with the recovery being experienced”. What that means to OUSD’s bottom line remains to be seen.

Inside OUSD Community Donations
Lifetouch-$479 to Serrano ES for supplies; Canyon HS Basketball Boosters-$3,000 for salary stipends; Cambridge ES PTA- $560 for student of the month stickers; Habit Restaurants- $206 to West Orange ES for supplies; Volunteer Center of OC - $ 123 to Jordan ES for transportation.

For a complete list of the $83,588 in community donations see Agenda page 9.

INSIDE the OUSD Budget
Total for Watched Tax Dollars approved in 2010:
$ 385,000
2010 Attorney Fee Tally:
5/27/10 Dannis, Woliver & Kelley $ 30,000
5/27/10 Parker & Covert $ 55,000
5/27/10 Parker & Covert (to 6/11) $300,000
TOTAL $ 385,000

Total for Watched Tax Dollars approved in 2009: $1,041,000
2009 Attorney Fee Tally:
11/13/08 Parker & Covert (for 1/09 -6/09) $ 200,000
3/12/09 Atkinson, Andelson, Loya (Sp. Ed) $ 50,000
3/12/09 Parker & Covert (Special Ed) $ 98,000
6/18/09 Parker & Covert (09-10) $ 400,000
6/18/09 Parker & Covert (Special Ed) $ 200,000
6/18/09 Parker & Covert (property) $ 55,000
6/18/09 Atkinson, Andelson, Loya (property)$ 35,000
Total $1,038,000

2009 Consultant/ Speaker Fee Tally:
01/24/09 Leadership Associates Consultants $ 3,000
2009 TOTAL $1,041,000

Total for Watched Tax Dollars approved in 2008: $901,200.00

Total for Watched Tax Dollars approved in 2007: $704,090.00*

Total for Watched Tax Dollars approved in 2006: $849,717.00*
2006 Administrative Conference/Travel: Total $ 18,317 *
* JUNE 8th, 2006 Trustees VOTE to Give OUSD Superintendent the power to
APPROVE OUSD Travel Requests taking this item OUT of the PUBLIC AGENDA

Total for Watched Tax Dollars approved in 2005: $978,300.00

Former Superintendent Godley’s Retirement Bonus running total (beginning 8/2008):
$26,340.00*
* The Godley Retirement Bonus presented here is an estimate of the amount in “bonus retirement” accrued since the Superintendent’s retirement on 6/30/08 using a 6% lifetime formula calculated here at $1210 a month since 8/08. The actual retirement plan the former OUSD Superintendent opted to take is not public information and the figures presented are only as an estimate of the taxpayer costs after the OUSD trustees voted against an amendment to exclude Godley from the retirement program. The on-going estimated figure is presented as a reminder to the community of the high cost in educational tax dollars the OUSD Board vote to allow the former Superintendent to participate in the 6% retirement incentive cost the OUSD education community in tax dollars. Godley retired from OUSD on June 30, 2008 after he worked for the school district for a little over five years.

NEXT BOARD MEETING: THURSDAY July 29, 2010 OUSD BOARD ROOM
For AGENDA-CLICK ON JULY 29

CLOSED SESSION- 6:00 pm
OUSD Regular Session: 7:00 pm

For more information call the OUSD Superintendent’s office at 714-628-4040
For budgeting questions call Business Services at 714-628-4015

ORANGE Unified Schools INSIDE
Independent insight into OUSD

is an independent news service of /O/N/N/

eLECTION Watch 2010
an Orange Net News Special News and Analysis Series

Local Radiation physicist pulls papers for council seat
Dr. Murari Gupta, a local radiation physicists has pulled papers for the Villa Park City Council. Gupta earned his doctorate in physics from Howard University and works for the Pacific Radiation Oncology Center in Orange.

Ballot to list Steve Rocco as “Retired Educator”
In Orange Unified, ballot occupation monikers have come under intense scrutiny since the election of controversial Orange Unified Trustee Steve Rocco in 2004. Rocco won the election with 54% to 46% of the vote after not campaigning over a well-established and better financed candidate who did campaign. The win is widely attributed to uniformed voters selecting Rocco over his opponent because of the ballot occupation moniker Rocco used was “Teacher” versus the “Park Ranger” occupation listed for his opponent.

In 2006, during her re-election campaign Orange Unified Trustee Kim Nichols was not about to let the “teacher” ballot designation for her challenger Education Alliance candidate Chris Enami stand. Enami was a walk-on girl’s basketball coach, not a California Credentialed teacher. Fearing a Rocco-effect repeat, Nichols prevailed in a court challenge to have Enami’s ballot moniker changed.

The fear of Rocco running for re-election with the ballot designation of an incumbent was a driving force behind the Recall effort launched by fellow Trustees who suffered the brunt of Rocco’s antics during Board meetings. When the Recall effort failed for lack of signatures, one of the main backers behind the Recall then Board President Kim Nichols initiated a move for a Trustee Area redistricting, which among other things, moved Rocco’s home from his current Trustee area and thus prevented him from running for re-election when his term expired. Now two years later and Rocco is back, running in his new Trustee area against Trustee Rick Ledesma.

For the November election Rocco has filed his ballot moniker as “Retired Educator/Caregiver”. The big question now is what will Rick Ledesma do? Is he confident everyone now knows Rocco enough to avoid him? Or does Ledesma think the general national current anti-incumbent feeling has a trickle down effect to local races? What ever he does, it will be a race to watch.


UPDATED 7/26/10

Orange City Council Races Two Seats
Pulled Papers:
7/12
Denis Bilodeau
Fred Whitiker
Michael Merino Filed 7/13
Chris Horton
Robert Douglas

7/19
Christian Vaughn
Kahan Chandrani

7/20
Joe Pazmany

Orange City Mayor
Pulled Papers:
Carolyn Cavecche
Jon Dumitru

Orange Unified School District Races
Area 1
Pulled Papers

7/14
Harry Persaud –Filed 7/15

Area 4
Pulled Papers
7/19
Larry Cohn

7/21
Kathy Moffat

Area 5
Pulled Papers
7/16
Kim Nichols

Area 7
Pulled Papers
7/13
Steve Rocco Filed 7/14

7/14
Rick Ledesma

Villa Park City Council Races Three Seats
Pulled papers
7/13
Jim Rheins

7/16
Deborah Pauly

7/23
Dr. Murari Gupta

OUSD Trustee Moffat to seek re-election

Orange Unified Trustee Kathy Moffat pulled papers Wednesday July 21 for re-election to her Area 4 seat. Four years ago Moffat was challenged by then OUSD Legislative Coalition (LegCo) Chair Denise Bittel. In that race Moffat garnered 63% of the vote. This year Moffat again appears to be going head to head against the OUSD Legislative Chair- this time it is Larry Cohn. In 2006, Cohn ran in Trustee Area 4 against then incumbent Trustee Rick Ledesma. Cohn garnered 42% of the vote to Ledesma’s 58%. In the now famous Nichols Re-alignment that moved trustee area boundaries after a failed attempt at recalling controversial OUSD Trustee Steve Rocco, Cohn’s residence was moved into Area 4 while Rocco was moved into Area 7, preventing him from running as an incumbent. In addition, Trustee Melissa Smith was moved out of Trustee Area 1. This first election since the Nichols Re-alignment now has no incumbent in Area 1, and so far now has Cohn challenging Moffat in Area 4 and Rocco challenging Ledesma in Area 7,

UPDATED 4/21/10

Orange City Council Races Two Seats
Pulled Papers:
7/12
Denis Bilodeau
Fred Whitiker
Michael Merino Filed 7/13
Chris Horton
Robert Douglas

7/19
Christian Vaughn
Kahan Chandrani

7/20
Joe Pazmany

Orange City Mayor
Pulled Papers:
Carolyn Cavecche
Jon Dumitru

Orange Unified School District Races
Area 1
Pulled Papers

7/14
Harry Persaud –Filed 7/15

Area 4
Pulled Papers
7/19
Larry Cohn

7/21
Kathy Moffat

Area 5
Pulled Papers
7/16
Kim Nichols

Area 7
Pulled Papers
7/13
Steve Rocco Filed 7/14

7/14
Rick Ledesma

Villa Park City Council Races Three Seats
Pulled papers
7/13
Jim Rheins

7/16
Deborah Pauly

eLECTION Watch 2010
an Orange Net News Special News and Analysis Series

Orange Unified Legislative Coalition Chair Larry Cohn pulled papers for the OUSD race in Trustee Area 4 currently held by Trustee Kathy Moffat. Two more potential candidates have pulled papers in the Orange City Council Race: Christian Vaughn and Chapman University student Kahan Chandrani.

UPDATED 7/19/10
Orange City Council Races (Two Seats)
Pulled Papers:
7/12
Denis Bilodeau
Fred Whitiker
Michael Merino Filed 7/13
Chris Horton
Robert Douglas

7/19
Christian Vaughn
Kahan Chandrani

Orange City Mayor
Pulled Papers:
7/13
Carolyn Cavecche
Jon Dumitru

Orange Unified School District Races
Area 1
Pulled Papers
7/14
Harry Persaud –Filed 7/15

Area 4
Pulled Papers
7/19
Larry Cohn

Area 5
Pulled Papers
7/16
Kim Nichols

Area 7
Pulled Papers
7/13
Steve Rocco Filed 7/14
7/14
Rick Ledesma

Villa Park City Council Races (Three Seats)
Pulled papers
7/13
Jim Rheins

7/16
Deborah Pauly

eLECTION Watch 2010
an Orange Net News Special News and Analysis Series

Anaheim Planning Commissioner Persaud and OUSD Trustee Ledesma pull papers in Orange Unified School District and…
Steve Rocco Files for OUSD Trustee

Former Orange Unified School Trustee Steve Rocco completed and filed the paperwork to run in the Orange Unified Trustee Area 7. Pulling papers today for re-election in Area 7 was Trustee Rick Ledesma. Also pulling papers for Orange Unified in Trustee Area 1 was Anaheim City Planning Commissioner Harry Persaud. Persaud is a manager for the Planned Communities Division of the Orange County Public Works Department and was appointed by Anaheim Counci person Harry Sidhu to that cities Planning Commission, starting his term this month.

In Orange, Michael Merino filed his paper work and in Villa Park, Council person Jim Rheins pulled papers for his re-election.

Orange City Council Races Two Seats
Pulled Papers:
7/12
Denis Bilodeau
Fred Whitiker
Michael Merino Filed 7/13
Chris Horton
Robert Douglas

Orange City Mayor
Pulled Papers:
Carolyn Cavecche
Jon Dumitru

Orange Unified School District Races
Area 1
Pulled Papers
7/14
Harry Persaud

Area 4
Pulled Papers

Area 5
Pulled Papers

Area 7
Pulled Papers
7/13
Steve Rocco Filed 7/14

7/14
Rick Ledesma

Villa Park City Council Races Three Seats
Pulled papers
7/13
Jim Rheins

eLECTION Watch 2010
is an independent news service of /O/N/N/
Orange_NetNews@yahoo.com
“Independent Local Insight”

SPECIAL REPORT
eLECTION Watch 2010
an Orange Net News Special News and Analysis Series

DUMITRU to challenge CAVECCHE and…
ROCCO RETURNS

While government at all levels has been slammed with the worst economic crisis since the 1930’s, people are still lining up to join its ranks. The 2010 election season opened on Monday July 12th with a period of pulling papers and filing them. Early indications seem to suggest that the November election will be one of the most interesting in years.

In the Orange City Mayor’s race, two term Orange City Councilman Jon Dumitru pulled papers to challenge popular Orange City Mayor Carolyn Cavecche. Mayor Cavecche also pulled papers to keep her seat. When the 72 Assembly seat was vacated by the self- destruction of Mike Duval, Dumitru briefly made a bid for the seat before pulling out of the race to endorse Linda Ackerman (the seat was eventually won by Chris Norby). Dumitru’s current Council term expires in 2012. Dumitru has established a website for his run and confirmed his run on his Twitter page.

Two Orange Council seats are also up for election in November. Those seats are the ones currently held by Council persons Mark Murphy and Denis Bilodeau. As of July 12th, Council person Bilodeau has pulled papers for re-election as have challengers Orange Planning Commissioners Fred Whitaker and Michael Merino. Joining them in pulling papers are Chris Horton and perennial candidate Robert Douglas.
For rore information see the following websites:
ELECT DUMITRU
SUPPORT CAVEECCHE


Steve Rocco pulls papers for OUSD Trustee Area 7

Controversial former Orange Unified School Board Trustee Steve Rocco has pulled papers to run in Trustee Area 7 of the sprawling Greater Orange school district. Rocco served one turbulent term on the OUSD Board surviving an official Board Censure (but lost a court case challenging it) and then a recall effort led by other Board members that failed due to lack of signatures. He eventually was ousted not by recall or election, but by a redistricting of Trustee Areas (dubbed the Nichols Redistricting) that removed his house from his representative Trustee area and into Trustee Area 7 which at the end of his term was not up for re-election .Trustees in OUSD must live in the Area they represent, but are elected at-large).Trustee Area 7 is represented by Trustee Rick Ledesma and his term expires in November. Ledesma was one of the few people who managed not to get into a conflict with Rocco, at one point even sponsoring Rocco putting two Agenda items on the Board’s agenda. When Rocco’s home was moved into Ledesma’s area, Rocco declared that he would not run against Ledesma. In June, Rocco made an unsuccessful run for Orange County Public Administrator. Also redistricted out of her seat in the Nichols Redistricting was Melissa Smith, with her term ending, her Trustee Area 4 seat is open. Kim Nichols Area 5 seat and Kathy Moffat’s Area 4 Seat are also open.

In Villa Park Council Seats of Deborah Pauly, Brad Reese and James Rheims are up for election

Orange Net News will be providing full election coverage. Be the first to know by signing up for Orange Net News TWITTER alerts at:
ORANGE NET NEWS TWITTER.

Orange City Council Races Two Seats
Pulled Papers:
7/12
Denis Bilodeau
Fred Whitiker
Michael Merino
Chris Horton
Robert Douglas

Orange City Mayor
Pulled Papers:
7/12
Carolyn Cavecche
Jon Dumitru

Orange Unified School District Races
Area 1
Pulled Papers

Area 4
Pulled Papers

Area 5
Pulled Papers

Area 7
Pulled Papers
7/13
Steve Rocco

Villa Park City Council Races Three Seats
Pulled papers



eLECTION Watch 2012
is an independent news service of /O/N/N/