Cerritos : ABC Schools Complaint Filed

Community activist George Medina said he has filed a complaint with the California Fair Political Practices Commission and the Los Angeles County district attorney’s office against the ABC Unified School District board president, the superintendent and two administrators.

In the complaint, Medina accuses two administrators who are officers in the 150-member ABC Management Assn. of engaging “. . . in political activities during school hours utilizing public buildings and facilities while on the public payroll.”

The association is being criticized for sending a letter to potential school board candidates on stationery with the address and telephone number of the district’s main office in Cerritos.

Medina, who has run unsuccessfully for the school board twice before, is a candidate in the Nov. 3 election. Named in the complaint are Betty McGinnis, president of the association, and Jim Willard, president-elect. McGinnis is the district’s supervisor of health services. Willard is assistant principal of Cerritos High School.

Board President Elizabeth Hutcheson is accused of “knowingly and willfully” approving the association’s activities. Supt. Kenneth L. Moffett is accused of failing to prevent the activities.

“We do not feel anything has been done by the district or the management association to warrant that kind of action (filing a complaint),” said Terry McAlpine, district public information officer.

Besides Hutcheson, board members Dianne Xitco, Richard Arthur and Homer Lewis are up for reelection.