ELECTIONS / COLLEGE BOARD : Hirschberg, Jolicoeur Trade Accusations

The campaign for one of two seats on the Ventura County Community College District board heated up Monday with charges that one candidate misspent district funds and countercharges that the accuser had been manipulated by convicted embezzler James T. (Tom) Ely.

Candidate Tom Jolicoeur sent out a press release accusing incumbent Tim Hirschberg of using his district phone line to make two personal calls--totaling $26.10--to El Salvador. But Hirschberg said he reimbursed the district for the calls.

Jolicoeur accused Hirschberg of incurring needlessly expensive travel costs in going to a convention in Washington, D.C., on district business. Jolicoeur said Hirschberg flew nonstop for $528 while other district officials took a flight with layovers for $318.

He also criticized Hirschberg for arranging a lifetime health insurance policy for former Trustee Al Fernandez.

Hirschberg snapped back that the insurance policy was part of a buyout of Fernandez’s contract agreed upon by the entire board in a closed session. He said district staff made his travel arrangements and that he was not responsible for scheduling the direct flight.

Hirschberg then accused Jolicoeur of being a party to “lies” by Ely.

“It’s all so ridiculous,” Hirschberg said. “It’s curious that every single one of those issues were lies dredged up by Tom Ely. I would not be surprised if Tom Ely wrote those press releases.”

In fact, Ely, who is undergoing radiation therapy for cancer before he starts a one-year jail term, acknowledged Monday that he sent the information about Hirschberg to Jolicoeur and Vernon C. Markley, another candidate for the Area 3 seat.

“It shows illegalities,” said Ely, who was convicted in June of stealing $15,000 from the college district. “I’m glad that Jolicoeur put the stuff out. If Markley didn’t, it doesn’t say much for his desire to get to the truth.”

Jolicoeur could not be reached for comment.

Markley said he had received letters and documents from Ely containing the allegations about a month ago but did not go public with the claims because he did not know if they were accurate.

Instead, he said, he turned over the paperwork to the Ventura County district attorney’s office.

“I felt the D.A.’s office would handle it appropriately,” Markley said. “I felt in order to maintain my integrity, I would not make it public.”

Donald D. Coleman, special assistant district attorney, said investigators are looking into the allegations but have found no indication of wrongdoing.

Jolicoeur wrote in his news release: “Tim portrays himself as . . . the ‘watch dog’ checking on his fellow board members’ use of college funds. Yet, there are several facts which involve Tim Hirschberg’s use of county funds.”

In a separate campaign, four candidates are vying for the Area 4 seat vacated by Ely in next Tuesday’s election.