Fact Check on South O.C. District Race

* The article “South O.C. Seats Have 10 Trading Hostilities” (Oct. 31) misrepresented my political party registration while pointedly omitting my opponent’s: I am a registered Republican. While the reporter suggests I am not a conservative, my cost-cutting leadership on the board indicates the contrary. The article dedicated four lines to my opponent’s employment, but omitted mention of my profession. I am a retired university professor, a past Fulbright scholar and an unpaid volunteer for international education projects. The South Orange County Community College District election does not center on gays and their partners’ benefits. However, The Times’ article focused 71 lines on that based on a handful of anonymous photocopies.

DOROTHY FORTUNE

Trustee

SOCCCD

* The article incorrectly quotes me. As board president, I am quoted as saying, “There’s these incredibly bad feelings between the two sides [of candidates], and it’s just awful.” In fact, my words referred to the faculty/staff and those who participate with these employees in promoting their agendas. It may be true that there are bad feelings between candidates, but in fact I only know personally three of these candidates so I cannot represent such feelings for the others.

While the trustee election has involved so-called campaign “hit” pieces that distort the truth, the absence of positive comments about our district is a disservice and undermines our excellent staff and hard-working students. Not one positive word appeared in the article about the district. Nothing was printed about a greatly improved campus and work atmosphere, better staff-administration communication, the granting to our two colleges full accreditation, our district’s excellent financial status, the development of new education sites, settling of several lawsuits, the acquisition of new grants, hiring of the bright new administrators and deans, and our outstanding and many student accomplishments.

Ten paragraphs that appeared about gays’ benefits included quotes from a representative of the Gay and Lesbian Alliance about a campaign mailer from 1996. Domestic partners’ benefits are not an issue in this race as you correctly pointed out in paraphrasing my comments. It is hard to understand why this issue received so much coverage in the article.

The true campaign issues are to what extent should teachers’ control hiring and firing of administrators; budget expenditures; policy making; and personnel decisions. Shared governance should be just that: shared and not controlled governance. The use of shared governance to overtake administration leads to many disagreements between employees and administrators.

NANCY PADBERG

President, Board of Trustees

SOCCCD

* In general most faculty at both campuses are tired of the so-called conflicts reported in the newspapers. It’s time for a reality check. Our campus at Saddleback College presents a fine learning environment for our students. Our students come to our classes and expect excellence in teaching. They could, in their words, “care less” about the politics on the trustees.

LEE WALKER

Professor, Liberal Arts Division

Saddleback College