CUSD Recall Campaign Update

Let's Finish the Job!
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 Nov 4th general election.

Continue the Reform Revolution

Proud Record of Reform The five recently elected reform trustees already have successfully implemented measures to accomplish long-needed reforms at CUSD. Here's a partial list of their accomplishments:

• Enacted new policies to end long-standing nepotism, conflicts of interest and fringe benefits - special interests that have wasted district resources and put children at risk for years

• Ordered a district-wide facilities needs assessment and master plan to require accountability, provide facilities equity for all CUSD children and prevent further waste of scarce taxpayer dollars

• Voted to complete a forensic audit of the district's controversial $150 million San Juan Hills High School (second most expensive in California history) to require accountability and prevent further waste of scarce taxpayer dollars

• Balanced the budget for the first time in six years

But this partial list of reforms is only the beginning. The reform candidates need your help to win in November to continue the Reform Revolution at CUSD.

Let's Not Return CUSD to the Days of Corruption
• We've worked too hard to clean up the mess.
• We need to keep reform of CUSD moving forward.

It took years for the CUSD old guard trustees, administrators and entrenched special interests to lead the district into its current mess. Incredibly, there remain some determined to defend the corrupt status quo that got us here in the first place.

One group of candidates (Kooiman, Kutnick and Stiff) will do the same -- and they will take our district backward. They are being heavily funded by special interest groups that will immediately be seeking approval of multi-million dollar contracts from the board. Here's proof:

“The union spent $73,427 from July 1 to Oct. 18...with most of it going to fund a campaign flier mailed to 100,000 south county households." -- Orange County Register, Oct 29, 2008

Do we really want our board members funded by special interests who are trying to buy the election, and who will then make decisions that benefit them?

The Reform Slate Will Get the Job Done
Let's continue the work of restoring honesty, integrity and accountability to the Capistrano Unified School District by voting for the four reform candidates.

Vote for a Team Dedicated to Reform
Ken Maddox and Sue Palazzo are running for re-election after they defeated Marlene Draper and Sheila Benecke in the June 24th special recall election. Jack Brick and Mike Winsten are running for seats held by the last of the Fleming-era old guard trustees. Here are their bios:

Jack Brick (Trustee Area 1)
Aersospace Executive, Teacher
Jack Brick has been an educator in our public schools for 25 years -- he is a lifelong supporter and advocate for public education. As the Principal Director for a major aerospace firm, Jack directed an agency with 170 employees and a multi-million dollar annual budget. He has expertise in real property acquisitions, construction and refurbishment – including complex administration, contract and management negotiations. Jack is a former CSULB Public Safety Director (recognized by the FBI for achieving lowest crime rate among the 270 largest U.S. universities) and is committed to making our schools safe and drug free. He has a Masters Degree and a lifetime California Teaching Credential. Jack’s wife was, and two daughters are, public school teachers.

Ken Maddox (Trustee Area 5)
School Board Member, Businessman
Ken Maddox was elected to the CUSD Board by a landslide margin in the June 24th recall election. He is a former member of the California State Legislature and served on the State Assembly’s Education Committee -- educating and protecting children is Ken’s top priority. Ken authored California’s Amber Alert system, co-authored legislation requiring class size reduction and led efforts to protect children from toxins on campus. A 17-year police officer, he proudly served as a DARE officer in nearby schools – Ken is committed to making our schools safe and drug free. Ken has his Masters Degree in Management and was a Senior Fellow at the UCLA School of Public Policy and and Social Research. He is father of two children who have attended CUSD schools.

Sue Palazzo (Trustee Area 2)
School Board Member, Property Manager, Teacher Sue Palazzo was elected to the CUSD Board by a landslide margin in the June 24th recall election. She has been an educator in our public schools for thirty-three years -- educating and protecting children is her top priority. Sue has been a property manager for thirty years, with significant experience in facility maintenance, code compliance and real estate accounting. She is a lifelong supporter and advocate for public education and is committed to reallocating resources back to the classroom and away from district bureaucracy. Sue has her Masters Degree in Elementary Education and is a mother of three children who attended CUSD schools.

Mike Winsten (Trustee Area 3)
Attorney, Independent Businessman
Mike Winsten has been a business, finance and real estate attorney for 21 years. Mike will be your eyes and ears to ensure CUSD complies with all laws. He has been the owner-operator of a successful independent O.C. business for 11 years and a proven, effective, results-oriented leader. As the CUSD Recall Committee Chairman, Mike is dedicated to restoring honesty, integrity and accountability to CUSD. He has an Undergraduate Degree from Cornell, law degree from USC and MBA from UCI. Mike and his wife have five children, four attending school in CUSD.