THIS IS WRONG!!!

CUSD Reform Slate TV Ad...


CUSD Reform Slate...
Meet the Reform Candidates

Jack Brick
Trustee Area 1
Aersospace Executive,
Teacher




Ken Maddox
Trustee Area 5
School Board Member,
Businessman




Sue Palazzo
Trustee Area 2
School Board Member, Property Manager, Teacher




Mike Winsten
Trustee Area 3
Attorney, Independent Businessman


CUSD Reform Slate Mailer...


Sample Ballot...

Find your polling place on the back cover of your Sam- ple Ballot Voter Information Pamph- let, on the web at www.ocvote.com
or call the OC Registrar at
(714) 567-7600.
See Sample Ballot.


Vote by Mail Applications may be
obtained at www.ocvote.com/mail. Applications for vote-by-mail ballots must reach the OC Registrar by Oct 28th.

Reform Election Results...

Nov 4, 2008 General Election
Jun 24, 2008 Special Election
Nov 7, 2006 General Election
Nov 5, 2002 General Election


Latest Poll Results...

What do you think of the CUSD Recall Committee's candidates' decision to skip the League of Women Voters' forum?

70%....They did the right thing.
28%.....It's wrong; the candidates should face the public.
1%..... It doesn't matter one way or another.
Source: Capistrano Dispatch, Oct 17, 2008, Page 10

How closely are you following the turmoil in Capistrano Unified School District?

62%....Like a hawk. The place is a mess!
15%.....Some - It seems like there's some valid issues.
23%.....Not at all - it's all political bluster now!
Source: Capistrano Dispatch, Sep 19, 2008, Page 8

Should CUSD opponents continue the attempted recall against trustees Marlene Draper and Sheila Benecke?

80%....Yes, they need to go ASAP
7%.......No, because it's a waste of money now
12%.....No, they're done in Nov, anyhow
Source: Capistrano Dispatch, Jan 25, 2008, Page 8

CUSD Trustees Marlene Draper and Sheila Benecke are the targets of a recall election planned for this summer. What do you think of the recall?

91%.....They’ve got to go.
6%........Keep them in office.
3%........I’m not sure yet, I need to hear more
0%........What recall?
Source: Dana Point Times, March 28, 2008, Page 10

Latest News Videos...

The latest video news reports from the Emmy Award Winning Full Disclosure Network®

Dec 2005 - School Corruption Sparks Citizen Revolt

Mar 2006 - Citizen Revolt Widens, Recall Election Corrupted






Mar 2006 - Parents Declare War On School Board





Sep 2006 - Has The OC Voter Registrar Broken Down?



Oct 2006 - Citizens Provoke DA Raid On School District





Sep 2007 - Do They Still Have The Consent Of The People?





James Fleming and Susan McGill Indicted KCAL TV 9 News

Latest Cartoons...

See All Cartoons

Featured Articles...


OC Weekly article, "Hard Knocks"
In-depth report on the three-year grassroots effort to reform CUSD.

OC Weekly slideshow
"Capo Unified: Life In The Barracks, A peek at some of Capo Unified's schools"

The Pictures
The real story behind the pictures of CUSD's disgusting portables and that infamous SCHS toilet

Choosing to Crowd
OC Register reporter Keith Sharon reveals the truth about CUSD's infamous facilities planning blunders, inequities and waste in this four-part investigative series.

Featured Columns...


Steven Greenhut
Senior Editor
Orange County Register

• "The OC gadflies got it right on CUSD"
• "Picture this: Entire Capo board board target of recall"

Featured Interview...

Hena Cuevas, Reporter, KCET Ch. 28, Life & Times
Cuevas interviews Marlene Draper and recall leaders.

Featured Blogs...


Tom Russell
Spokesperson and Member
CUSD Recall Committee


• "Another turf war brewing in CUSD"
• "Attendance boundaries at issue again? Say it isn't so."
• "ABC committee members resign over flawed boundary assessment process and district's failure to take responsibility"

Breaking News...
November 4, 2008 REFORM SLATE WINS IN 4-WAY SWEEP! Tonight, reform candidates Jack Brick, Ken Maddox, Sue Palazzo and Mike Winsten won all four open seats on the CUSD Board of Trustees. This monumental victory marks the end of the corrupt Fleming-era in CUSD and ushers in a new era in which all seven Board seats are held by reform trustees. Capistrano Dispatch, OC Register

Brick, Maddox, Palazzo and Winsten

November2, 2008 California Taxpayer Protection Committee supports reform slate; warns voters against returning to the days of CUSD corruption

The prominent taxpayer protection group has distributed a mailer asking voters to support the Reform Slate of Brick, Maddox, Palazzo and Winsten, and exposes special interests behind the union-backed, status quo slate. See CTPC mailer.

October 31, 2008 Teachers expose union lies, rejecting union claims they represent views of all or most teachers

The OC Register reports, “The Prop. 8 flap isn't the only issue that has local teachers concerned about accurate representation by their unions. In the Capistrano Unified School District, the teachers union has thrown at least $73,400 into a hotly contested Nov. 4 school board race. The concern is that at least 5 percent of the district's 2,400 members, by the union's own admission, are backing an opposing slate of candidates.” The local CUSD teachers union, the CUEA, first claimed ALL 2,400 CUSD teachers supported their status quo slate of candidates. When this patent lie was exposed, the union backed off, claiming 2,300 did, and conceding that AT LEAST 5% (115) supported the reform slate. The truth is, only 100 of the 2,400 CUSD teachers voted on the matter, which is LESS THAN the 5% they conceded! Now the sleazy teachers union, that doesn't even respect its own members, would have you believe the social agendas of their benefactor, the CTA, and their socially liberal status quo slate of candidates won’t eventually limit parent choice by imposing their social “values” on your kids in the classrooms. Sure they won't. See OC Register article.

October 26, 2008 Reform Candidate Mike Winsten offers sensible solutions to improve transparency and restore public trust in CUSD

Winsten addresses parent concerns over the lack of transparency at CUSD and proposes solutions for the benefit of parents and taxpayers. Winsten, an attorney and independent businessman, is the reform candidate for CUSD Trustee Area 3, which covers most of San Clemente. See entire statement

October 22, 2008 State Senator Dick Ackerman criticizes teachers union for spending $1.7 million of teachers' money on partisan, social issues unrelated to education, while state cuts squeeze teachers and schools
Ackerman says, "CTA's choice to take money from teachers and use it to fund a campaign for a social issue unrelated to its mission is shameful. It is time for CTA to stop throwing money around and focus its attention on representing the priorities of its members." See OC Register column

October 21, 2008 Teachers unions are spending big money on a liberal, non-educational social agenda and like-minded candidates who will decide what to teach your children, if elected
The CUSD Recall Committee is deeply disturbed by the recent contribution of $1,000,000 to the No on 8 campaign by the California Teachers Association.  We are equally disturbed by the tremendous amounts of money being spent by the union in our local Capistrano Unified School District elections (the CUEA) in an effort to elect socially liberal and unqualified candidates. Schools may not be required to discuss these issues in classrooms, but have discretion to do so, and likely will if such liberal, union-backed candidates are elected. See OC Register article, "Will gay marriage be taught in public schools if Prop. 8 fails?"

October 18, 2008 Reform Candidate Mike Winsten explains key element of reform platform: "Spend our tax dollars equitably throughout CUSD."
Winsten describes some of the priorities and policies needed to correct past and continuing inequities in funding and facilities in CUSD. "Please vote for me and I will help lead CUSD forward while making sure every school site is treated equally.  I will not quietly tolerate one school site being treated more equally than others due to shadow politics and favoritism. Thank you for taking the time to make an educated vote for our public schools." Winsten, an attorney and independent businessman, is the reform candidate for CUSD Trustee Area 3, which covers most of San Clemente. See entire statement

October 17, 2008 Old Guard CUSD trustees disgraced again with "Darkness Award" Tomorrow, the California First Amendment Coalition, a freedom of press group, will present its annual Darkness Award to three recipients, including the CUSD Board of Trustees, in recognition of "conduct that thwarts freedom of speech and the public's right to know." The award follows the release of a September 2nd OC District Attorney's report condemning the CUSD Old Guard trustees for their "disturbing disdain, if not outright contempt" for district residents. The same report praised the CUSD reform trustees for their commitment to end such disgraceful practices at CUSD. OC Register, CFAC Blog, CUSD Recall Blog

October 14, 2008 Teachers Union Running Massive, Illegal, Deceptive Campaign
Teachers union leadership and their candidates are illegally coordinating campaign efforts. The teachers union PAC is the largest special interest group involved in the CUSD local school board races -- and they are trying to buy the election using deceptive and illegal tactics. While thumbing their noses at the law, they have spent a whopping $72,797.49 so far! Press Release

October 6, 2008 IMPORTANT NOTICE TO VOTERS: Let's finish the job! On Nov 4, vote for the four reform candidates: BRICK, MADDOX, PALAZZO & WINSTEN Last June, South Orange County voters recalled two Fleming-era, old guard CUSD trustees by overwhelming, landslide margins, sending a clear mandate for reform at CUSD. Now, with your help, we finally can finish the job by electing a dedicated and qualified slate of reform candidates in the upcoming general election on November 4th. See the latest CUSD Recall Committee Email Update and Campaign Mailer

October 2, 2008 CUSD lawyer accused of running afoul of open-meeting laws School-law attorney brought into closed session meeting to assure compliance with Brown Act, accused of giving board wrong advice. The attorney was referred by other CUSD counsel. Another CUSD attorney present at the meeting also may have failed to advise the board. OC Register

September 29-30, 2008 Two South County cities sue over Superintendent Carter's illegal plan to cut busing Mission Viejo and Rancho Santa Margarita sue to protect their residents from increased safety risks. OC Register [1] [2]

September 29, 2008 Teachers union president playing election season politics, alleges reform trustees broke open meeting law. Reform trustee Ellen Addonizio immediately denies allegations and rightfully attributes the union's unfounded allegations to election season acrimony. OC Register

September 22, 2008 Republicans rally behind CUSD reform slate candidates Brick, Maddox, Palazzo and Winsten score key endorsements for November election including The California Republican Assembly, The Republican Party of Orange County and The Orange County Young Republicans. Release

Brick, Maddox, Palazzo and Winsten

September 20, 2008 San Juan Hills High School 'waste' of public funds, complaint says Parents allege up to $10 million of public money was illegally spent during the construc- tion of San Juan Hills High School. OC Register

September 18, 2008 CUSD Recall Commit- tee releases new Reform Campaign Flyer

See Flyer

September 18, 2008 Kutnick posts "clarification" to explain false endorse- ment claim, but contradicts OC Superin- tendent Habermehl Last week, candidate Erin Kutnick's website claimed she was en- dorsed by OC Superintendent Bill Habermehl. Calls to Habermehl's office and certain OC Department of Education trustees confirmed Habermehl denied ever making such an en- dorsement. Contradicting this, Kutnick's "clarification" claims she received an endorse- ment from Habermehl via email, followed by a phone call retracting it. If Kutnick is telling the truth, of course he retracted it. He got caught violating his own policy to support Kutnick, a union candidate and rabid supporter of the corrupt Fleming-era regime. Well thanks for flushing that one out for us, Erin. After all, what else could we expect from a politician like Habermehl who had nothing but praise for now-indicted, former Spt. James Fleming even after his offices were raided by DA investiga- tors and the headlines were rife with scandals implicating him. Kutnick would love Haber- mehl's endorsement to set the stage for some more of that infamous Fleming-era CUSD "collaboration" with the OC Department of Education. But what if Habermehl's telling the truth? Guess we'll never know for sure with all that good-old-boy/good-old-girl stuff going on between them. But thanks for the "clarifi- cation," Erin. It really helps...well, sort of.

September 17, 2008 Lincoln Club endorses four reform candidates Today, the Lincoln Club of Orange County endorsed the four reform candidates for the CUSD Board of Trustees in the upcoming November general election: Sue Palazzo, Ken Maddox, Jack Brick and Mike Winsten. Red County

September 15, 2008 Anti-reform,