Oct 22, 2007
Frank Mickadeit, The Orange County
Register "D.A.
investigators targeted
meetings at which the board met in closed
session to discuss a variety of topics that went
beyond the narrow exceptions under which
agencies can meet in private. It was flagrant,
obnoxious and the very essence of
what
Lord Acton was talking about
when he said, 'absolute power corrupts absolutely.'
Not only were the most routine of district matters
(“head lice”) put on agendas to be discussed in
private, but also the weightiest, such as the $38
million district headquarters the board was building
itself while pupils were attending overcrowded,
deteriorating campuses.”
Mickadeit
is a columnist for The Orange County Register.
Oct 22, 2007
Frank Mickadeit, The Orange County
Register "Prosecutor
Bill Feccia concluded this and
many other items discussed were not within the law.
But because the board can hide behind an attorney –
one who wasn’t even there to provide Brown Act advice
in the first place – and because Fleming told the
board he’d run the agenda items by a second attorney
(which the other attorney doesn’t recall), the D.A.
would have a hard time proving the board had both the
knowledge and intent to violate the Brown Act.
Therefore a civil, not criminal,
complaint."
Mickadeit
is a columnist for The Orange County Register.
Oct 22, 2007
Frank Mickadeit, The Orange County
Register "The catch-all
Brown Act exception the board used to justify
all manner of secrecy was 'Evaluation of
Superintendent,' which were it strictly about
Fleming’s performance would be OK. However,
board President
Marlene Draper told the grand jury
she allowed the board to discuss just about anything
in private because 'all issues pertaining to the
management of the district fall under his
evaluation.' "
Mickadeit
is a columnist for The Orange County Register.
Oct 22, 2007
Frank Mickadeit, The Orange County
Register "Then-board
member
John Casabianca admitted, however,
that while the board used the legal excuse presumably
given by its part-time counsel, the real reason
seemed to be political when in 2005 the board
discussed in private a $4.3 million cost-overrun on
the headquarters."
Mickadeit
is a columnist for The Orange County Register.
Oct 22, 2007
Frank Mickadeit, The Orange County
Register "But
there’s no doubt in my mind the
board, then populated by several members with more
than 15 years of experience, knew full well what it
was doing. Board members attend state seminars and
learn in detail about the narrow exceptions to the
Brown Act. It’s drilled into them. Lack of knowledge
on this broad a scale should not be an
excuse."
Mickadeit
is a columnist for the Orange County Register.
Sep 20, 2006
Frank Mickadeit, The Orange County
Register "Not that the
Republicans’ process has been seamless or without
drama punctuated by moments of wonderment and
hilarity. Last week, for example, Capo schools
candidate Kathleen LeBon stood before the very
committee she wanted to OK her endorsement and
questioned members’ integrity, leading to a
protracted argument. Not only did she not get the
nod, but the GOP specifically endorsed against her
(one of only six such declarations it
made.)” Mickadeit
is a columnist for the Orange County
Register.
