October 14, 2016

THE ELECTION ISSUE

Quite the Propositions California voters will choose sides on a variety of statewide initiatives This November, California voters will decide the fate of 17 ballot initiatives, including whether to legalize marijuana, repeal the death penalty and enact gun control measures regarding ammunition and magazine size. Here, we’ve highlighted those three important measures, and you can view our breakdown of the other 14 propositions at www.danapointtimes.com.

PROPOSITION

62 Prop. 62 repeals the death penalty in California, which has been in effect since 1978.

Including California, 30 states allow the death penalty. If passed, Prop. 62 would make life in prison without possibility of parole the harshest punishment available.

For: Former President Jimmy Carter, Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom, U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders, California Democratic Party, California NAACP, several ACLU groups, select religious and humanist organizations Against: California Republican Party, dozens of law enforcement advocacy groups, and dozens of district attorneys and sheriffs throughout California.

PROPOSITION

63

This initiative would require people wishing to buy ammunition to obtain a permit from the state, and would effectively prohibit possession of large-capacity ammunition magazines. The permit would require a background check by the Department of Justice.

For: California Democratic Party, U.S. Sen. Barbara Boxer, U.S. Senator Dianne Feinstein, the cities of Los Angeles, San Francisco and Oakland, and several law enforcement officials.

Against: California Republican Party, National Rifle Association, California Police Chiefs Association.

Race for the State Assembly Bill Brough, the Republican candidate for California’s 73rd Assembly District, is the incumbent and served on the Dana Point City Council from 2010-2014.

Brough’s challenger is Mesbah Islam, a write-in candidate. However, after weeks of continuous emails and phone calls, Islam did not respond to set up an interview. A spokesman for the Democratic Party of Orange County said in September that they didn’t think Islam “was very serious about running anymore.”

As Islam has been unreachable, we will only report excerpts from our conversation with Brough. If Islam responds between now and the election, we will run his answers online.

ON PROP 47 The Capistrano Dispatch asked Brough if he would do anything to alter Prop 47, which reduced punishments of certain crimes to citations in lieu of jail time.

“I think there were some unintended consequences that were missed when Prop 47 was passed. We had a series of bills to try to correct those, and as things come up…

U.S. Senate Candidates: FIVE FACTS Loretta Sanchez (D)

PROPOSITION

64 If passed, Prop. 64 would allow adults 21 and older to possess and use marijuana for recreational (that is, non-medical) purposes. Smoking marijuana in public and while driving would be illegal, as would possession in school zones. Californians would be able to possess up to 28.5 grams at a time, and could cultivate six plants at home.

Taxes would be levied on cultivation and retail sales of marijuana. Revenue would be used to fund drug research, youth programs and an initiative to help police determine whether or not a driver is high. Municipalities would be able to ban the sale of recreational marijuana, but they won’t receive a share of the tax revenue.

For: California Democratic Party, Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom, ACLU of California, California NAACP, California Nurses Association Against: California Republican Party, Rep. Bill Brough and many sheriffs, district attorneys and police organizations

1. First elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 1996.

2. Served on the Armed Services Committee and the Homeland Security Committee since 2011. She touts being a champion for women in the military, among other things.

3. Attendance record in Congress has been criticized, and according to data from GovTrack, has missed about 33.5 percent of votes since mid-2015.

4. Sanchez leans left on most social and fiscal issues. Nearly half of the legislation she has sponsored, however, focuses on armed forces and national security issues

Bill Brough we’ll certainly look at legislation to fix that,” Brough said.

ON SOBER LIVING HOMES “We’ve got a big epidemic with prescription drug use,” Brough said, adding that he wants to approach sober living as a “consumer-protection issue.” He said, “I’m going to get with the insurance (companies) and see what it is they offer, and maybe there’s a way to steer people toward a licensed facility rather than an unlicensed.”

ON HOMELESSNESS “We have to have a community plan,” Brough said. “There’s actually money and programs out there, and the county is sitting on a bunch of mental health money, and I know they’re moving forward on that as a county problem. We just need to get that money out and the money needs to go to the homeless veterans and the support groups who are helping.”

and taxation.

5. She has received endorsements from several colleagues in the House of Representatives.

Kamala Harris (D) 1. Served as California’s Attorney General since 2011, and District Attorney in San Francisco prior to that.

2. Touts a focus as Attorney General on combating international drug rings and weapons trade.

3. Performance as Attorney General has been critiqued (by Sanchez and others), who point to the fact that violent crime has increased 10 percent in California during her term.

4. Leans left on most social and fiscal issues, and wants to reform the criminal justice system and enact stricter environmental regulations.

5. Harris has earned the endorsement of President Barack Obama and Vice President Joe Biden, Senators Barbara Boxer and Elizabeth Warren, and a long list of organizations and local officials.

SANCHEZ AND HARRIS, BOTH DEMOCRATS, ARE VYING FOR THE U.S. SENATE SEAT AFTER SEN. BARBARA BOXER’S RETIREMENT.

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THE ELECTION ISSUE

Water District Candidates Make Their Pitches Municipal Water District of Orange County, Division 7 MWDOC purchases and distributes water throughout most of Orange County. It is governed by a seven-member board. District 7 of MWDOC covers South Coast Water District, San Clemente and San Juan Capistrano. One member will be elected.

Megan Yoo Schneider, Water Engineer Schneider has over 12 years of professional and association experience, including serving on two boards of directors, and she possesses multiple bachelor’s and master’s degrees in engineering. She is also a licensed professional civil engineer in the state of California.

Schneider says she invests much of her

Candidates District 49 U.S. House of Representatives

time to increase public awareness and educate the younger generations about the importance of water.

Evan Chaffee, Business Owner/ Consultant Chaffee is a lifelong Orange County native and small business owner.

His focus serving on MWDOC would be to provide fiscally responsibly leadership by ensuring customers receive inexpensive water.

He also wants to incorporate emerging technology and water supply options, including desalination. Chaffee has previously served as a city planning commissioner and public policy advisor.

Richard Gardner, Water Systems Consultant Gardner says by conserving water, the area has been able to meet demands of a growing population, without yet increasing water supplies. Gardner supports further water conservation and the California water fix, which he says will provide high quality water without damaging the environment or state fisheries. If not approved, Gardner said he will work as a board member to secure state and federal funding to fill in the gaps.

Raymond Miller, Registered Professional Engineer Miller is a water manager and registered engineer in South Orange County. He was the general manager of the South Coast Water District for 25 years and also served as the vice president of the American Water Works Association, the national organiza-

Col. Doug Applegate (D)

tion of water professionals. His focus is on ensuring water availability given California’s ongoing drought and water shortages.

What is the Municipal Water District of Orange County (MWDOC)?

MWDOC is a wholesale water supplier, which distributes water throughout most of Orange County. The organization is split into seven districts, and it serves a total of 28 retail water agencies—including South Coast Water District, Santa Margarita Water District, San Clemente and San Juan Capistrano.

Though about half of Orange County’s water comes from local sources, MWDOC purchases imported water through a larger water agency (Metropolitan Water District of Southern California) from the Colorado River and Northern California, and delivers it to the retail water agencies.

MWDOC is also responsible for emergency preparedness and actively supports research and investments in alternative water supply sources—like desalination, groundwater recovery, conservation and more.

Rep. Darrell Issa (R)

Colonel Doug Applegate served 32 years in the Marine Corps, and has lived in San Clemente since 1981. He is also a civil trial attorney. This is his first time seeking elected office. Applegate’s platform includes reform of mandatory sentencing laws, a path to citizenship for undocumented immigrants and increased regulation of the financial sector. He would also call for a second look at the Trans-Pacific Partnership, retooling Veterans’ Affairs and protecting Medicare and Social Security.

A former member of the U.S. Army and businessman, Issa has served numerous roles in his 16 years in Congress, currently serving on the House Judiciary Committee and the House Foreign Affairs Committee. The richest member of Congress, Issa lays claim to having played integral parts in several matters of national and state importance. He touts initiating a laterapproved movement to create a bipartisan commission to investigate the “root causes of the financial crises,” and launched an investigation into the attacks on U.S. offices in Libya.

On Why They’re Running

“I was concerned about the leadership in Congress because every time I hear somebody talking about the use of military force or combat operations, I’m hearing somebody talk that’s never really seen the trials and realities and the fog of war. And you just can’t send our children, our grandchildren, our blood and our treasure off to foreign lands without asking the right questions. I’ve been a trial attorney going on four decades, and you don’t get to the point of asking the right questions until you walk the ground in any subject area.”

“I didn’t plan on being here 16 years, but 9/11 happened and something else happened. And instead of going back to my business career, I’ve stayed with doing what I’m doing. Now I’m very involved in some things that I want to get done, and I’m asking the district to consider are they better off with somebody with my experience and the things that I plan to accomplish, and I’m hoping they say yes.”

On the Environment

“We should have a Manhattan-type project with renewable fuels. And guess what? This part of Southern California has all these natural synergies in research for so many things. It’s stupid that our Congressmen haven’t been pounding the table on that. I mean, I know who to drag up from the Pentagon to say, ‘Hey renewables, talk to all these idiots.’ And it’s a national security thing, so if you think this is some grand liberal conspiracy or whatever, it’s not. This is a real issue.”

“We have to essentially get off burning carbon faster than it’s produced. So the entire sustainability question of ecology is in fact the same question as the global warming crowd has. I’m not going to be an alarmist and every time it’s a little warmer or cooler say, ‘My goodness. Climate change,’ and the floods here and there are automatically caused because I don’t think they are. What I do know is there’s 7 billion people in the world, and we are not in a sustainable mode.”

On Sober Living Home Regulation

“You have to do something with the ADA because otherwise sober living facilities have complete leverage. … Ultimately there’s going to have to be something that you need to have real evidence on up in Congress, because I don’t think this was the real intent of the ADA, but there’s your federal issue. ... It’s paralyzing everyone, even municipalities.”

“Well I think what we do is we maintain you can’t discriminate based on somebody being handicapped, including being a recovering alcoholic or recovering drug abuser, but we recognize that cities should have the ability to take care of health and sanitation. These are commercial enterprises; these are not group homes where we all share the rent.”

Bio

THE QUOTES ABOVE WERE TAKEN FROM OUR INTERVIEWS WITH THE CANDIDATES IN SEPTEMBER. FOR THE FULL TRANSCRIPTS, VISIT WWW.THECAPISTRANODISPATCH.COM.

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THE ELECTION ISSUE

Why You Might Not be Voting for a City Council Member this Fall

BY ALLISON JARRELL

Are you voting in San Juan Capistrano’s municipal election on Nov. 8?

Only if you’re a registered voter living in two of the city’s five newly formed voting districts—District 1 or District 5 (see map).

This year marks a big change in the way residents elect their City Council representatives. The city of San Juan Capistrano has transitioned from at-large municipal elections to by-district elections. Under the previous at-large system, all residents could vote to elect City Council members living anywhere in San Juan Capistrano. Under the new system, voters separated into five districts within the city will vote for a City Council candidate who lives within their respective district.

The change to district elections means that the two seats up for reelection this year—the seats of Sam Allevato and John Perry—will be filled with one candidate from District 1 and one from District 5. In 2018, Districts 2, 3 and 4 will vote in the City Council race.

WHY THE SWITCH TO DISTRICTS? The city’s switch to district elections— which was approved unanimously by the City Council in February—was prompted by a voting rights lawsuit filed against the city in January by the Southwest Voter Registration Education Project (SVREP) and San Juan residents Tina Auclair and Louie Cama-

cho. The plaintiffs claimed that San Juan’s at-large elections violated the California Voting Rights Act of 2001, resulting in vote dilution of Latino residents by denying them “effective political participation in elections.”

Rather than fight the lawsuit, the City Council chose to switch to district elections and began the districting process by directing the city manager to hire a demographer.

Following a series of public workshops and Council hearings, the demographer used Census data and community input to draw a map of five voting districts, which the Council approved in June.

District 1, located in the northeast side of town, was selected as one of the two districts voting this year due to a stipulated agreement with the plaintiffs of the Voting Rights Act lawsuit, which dictated the first district chosen be the area with the highest percentage of Latino voters. The Council voted 3-2—Councilman Derek Reeve and Councilman Sam Allevato opposed—to select the southeastern District 5 as the second district to elect a City Council member on Nov. 8. Reeve and Allevato favored picking the second district at random, while the Council majority felt District 5 would offer geographical balance.

Find out more: To view an interactive map of the districts, visit www.districting.sanjuancapistrano.org. Residents can register to vote online at registertovote.ca.gov. The deadline to register is Oct. 24.

DISTRICT 1

DISTRICT 5

Population: 7,130 Population of Latino Citizens of Voting Age: 44.37% City Council Candidates: Sergio Farias and Nathan Banda

Population: 6,860 Population of Latino Citizens of Voting Age: 9.78% City Council Candidates: Larry Kramer, Jim Schneider, Mechelle Lawrence Adams, Ronda Mottl, Brian Maryott

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THE ELECTION ISSUE

City Council Candidates

ON Their Priorities and the Future of San Juan Seven candidates are seeking to be elected to one of two open spots on the San Juan Capistrano City Council. Two candidates—Sergio Farias and Nathan Banda— are running in District 1, while five others are running in District 5. In order to get a better idea of the overall vision each candidate has for the city, we asked the candidates about their goals if elected to Council.

The candidate’s responses are listed in the order in which their names will appear on the ballot.

If elected, what do you hope to accomplish over the next four years on the City Council?

DISTRICT 1

SERGIO FARIAS

SMALL BUSINESS OWNER Farias said one of his main priorities would be to resolve the city’s parking and traffic issues.

“Unfortunately, because of our place in the region, there may not be much we can do,” Farias said, “but I think removing the Ortega Highway choke point and trying to get the 241 Toll Road fixed should be priorities.”

Farias said he plans to use his platform as a Council member to make sure the city’s “students and community members that are helping know that we’re with them and we’re seeing the efforts they’re putting into their studies and community.

“Aside from city issues and business, I think being involved and being there for the community is going to be by far the biggest thing that I could do,” Farias said, adding that he also wants to make sure local nonprofits like CREER have leadership and help getting the Latino community involved in civic issues.

“I think a lot of that’s gone by the wayside,” Farias said. “The community needs someone who can get them involved.”

NATHAN BANDA

BUSINESSMAN/CITY OF SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO COMMISSIONER Banda said he plans to focus on getting community members, especially the residents of District 1, more involved in city government so that they “have a place

at the table.” He’d like to see residents in his district run for seats on city commissions so they can better represent their community’s interests.

Banda also wants to prioritize youth outreach, especially with the children in his district “turning to gangs for family.”

“It’s a huge issue,” Banda said, adding that he’d like to connect the community with local nonprofits such as Great Opportunities, Breakthrough and CREER. Banda envisions a partnership with the Chamber of Commerce to develop a youth leadership program, where kids are trained and partnered with businesses in town for job opportunities. Banda said this would teach kids about responsibility and money management, while keeping them off of the streets.

Banda also wants to bring back the city’s six-week Citizen Leadership Academy, which provided an in-depth overview of the city’s history and government. He’d like to see the program offered in English and Spanish.

DISTRICT 5

LARRY KRAMER

RETIRED SUBMARINE CAPTAIN Kramer said he intends to reduce the city’s legal bills by settling some of the current lawsuits. He compared addressing the current situation to the city’s previous decision to settle the Scalzo lawsuit, which he was a part of while serving on the Council.

“I think that’s what we’ve got to do with our existing lawsuits right now—make a business decision to settle,” Kramer said.

With the money saved from less litigation, Kramer said he would prioritize road maintenance, on which he said the city has fallen behind. He would also focus on potentially adding officers to the city’s police force, which he noted has not had any new hires since 2001.

Kramer said other goals of his include seeing both hotels built, completing the city’s water reorganization, widening Ortega Highway, improving the city’s relationship with outside agencies, and extending the Blenheim EquiSports contract for five or 10 years.

In District 5, Kramer would like to see “little pocket parks” go in at the corner of San Juan Creek Road and La Novia.

JIM SCHNEIDER

RONDA MOTTL

MECHELLE LAWRENCE ADAMS

BRIAN MARYOTT

PROFESSIONAL GEOLOGIST/PROFESSOR Schneider said his first goal would be to “resolve the water plant” issue and “make plans to annex it.”

“I would also like to resolve, if possible, the pending lawsuits in the city, and with that, evaluate our own legal consultants,” Schneider said. “I’m not convinced they’re doing as much as they could do.”

Schneider said he would also like to “revisit the master plan and look for growth in the city.” With the city’s projected deficit, Schneider wants to develop “a plan to expand business in San Juan.”

“How else is the city going to raise more money?” Schneider asked.

Schneider said he’d like to “get a cohort together” to discuss the city’s economic revitalization. While he appreciates San Juan being known for its Mission, he wants to see more economic drivers in town, such as the thriving art community in Laguna Beach.

“We should all sit at the table,” Schneider said. “What district you’re in doesn’t matter.

How will the city generate revenue over the next five, 10 or 25 years?”

DIRECTOR, HISTORIC MISSION Lawrence Adams said her priority will be to “reach across the aisle” to people she doesn’t necessarily agree with. “You have to talk to everybody, not just one side,” she said.

“My number one goal is to reset our community and to demonstrate myself as a leader that is available,” Lawrence Adams said. “I put my number in my ballot statement, and I’ve been taking phone calls. I did that on purpose, because I want people to know they can call me.”

Lawrence Adams said she intends to use her “technical background to ask the right questions on behalf of the community” so that city leaders don’t “waste taxpayers’ dollars and are good stewards of faith, trust and money.”

She plans to focus on creating a sustainable future for San Juan, which she said includes “collaborative partnerships.”

Some of her other goals include maintenance of the city’s parks, making sure the riding park is “more publicly accessible without sacrificing the equestrian tradition and show jumping” and revisiting widening Ortega Highway.

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MEDIA EXECUTIVE Mottl said one of her main priorities would be to minimize the city’s lawsuits.

“They’re draining our financial resources,” Mottl said. “My number one objective is to not wastefully spend taxpayer money.”

Mottl said the city’s projected deficit for 2017-18 needs to be addressed by “looking at ways to cut spending without raising taxes.”

“Hopefully, additional revenue will come from reasonable development and paying for parking,” she said.

Mottl also intends to listen to her constituents in District 5 and “be their voice.”

She hopes to restore trust between city government and the residents of San Juan.

“There’s such mistrust in our government with all the lawsuits and the factions within city hall and how people vote,” she said.

Mottl said she’d also like to initiate some town halls in San Juan with guest speakers and local government officials. When she held similar forums in her previous city of Newport Beach, she said the events were a “chance for residents to speak up about what they like or don’t like in the community.”

FINANCIAL SERVICES EXECUTIVE Maryott described San Juan’s current city governance as “somewhat dysfunctional” and lacking “healthy collaboration.” He said the present political climate of “finger-pointing and name-calling” creates a “difficult and strained environment for decision-making.”

“My reputation of being a consensusbuilder in my corporate life is something I want to bring to the city and see if we can help put our heads together on some things,” Maryott said.

Maryott’s priorities are to “inject a little bit of collaborative energy” into San Juan’s city government and to “create a more inclusive environment with the community.” He also wants to work on getting “a meaningful resolution to the water situation,” and will be “extremely protective” of the city’s open space.

“Open space is a very important issue to me,” Maryott said. “Our residents stepped up to acquire open space, and they did so not knowing what the exact uses would be for the short-term and the long-term. If we begin to sell off any bit of it, it’s an affront to the people who voted for it.”

THE ELECTION ISSUE

South Orange County’s CUSD Candidates Six candidates are running for three seats on the Capistrano Unified School District’s Board of Trustees in Areas 1, 2 and 3, which cover schools in South Orange County. Each area has two candidates vying for a seat, and in Area 3, both candidates are newcomers, as incumbent John Alpay is running for a seat on the South Orange County Community College District Board of Trustees. There is also a fourth seat up for election in Trustee Area 5, which covers schools in Aliso Viejo and Laguna Niguel.

Incumbent Gary Pritchard is running against Jake Vollebregt. Introductions from candidates in Areas 1, 2 and 3 are listed below in the order that their names will appear on the Nov. 8 general election ballot.

Trustee Area 1

Trustee Area 2

Trustee Area 3

R.H. Dana Elementary, R.H. Dana Exceptional Needs Facility, Palisades Elementary, Las Palmas Elementary, Shorecliffs Middle School

Harold Ambuehl Elementary, Chaparral Elementary, Ladera Ranch Elementary, Las Flores Elementary, Oso Grande Elementary, Wagon Wheel Elementary, Ladera Ranch Middle School, Las Flores Middle School, San Juan Hills High School

Truman Benedict Elementary, Concordia Elementary, Marblehead Elementary, Clarence Lobo Elementary, Vista del Mar Elementary, Bernice Ayer Middle School, Vista del Mar Middle School, San Clemente High School

Wendy Shrove, Software Development Business Owner

Gould Workman, Sales Manager

Laura Ferguson, Public Information Officer

Shrove is a 20-year resident of San Clemente, whose children both attend CUSD schools.

Shrove said she’s running for CUSD Trustee to provide better representation on the school board for residents.

She plans to focus on helping students meet minimum standards in English and math and improve the district’s occupational training program to meet the demands of the current job market.

She is against Measure M, the $889 million bond, because she says it would add unnecessary debt.

Workman is the father of five children in CUSD, and his wife is a district teacher. He’s worked 22 years as a project and sales manager.

Workman has served on the PTA board, and wants to focus on a democratic, open approach to board discussions and decisions. Workman says the last 15 years of CUSD boards have not put residents’ interests first, claiming the current board is “dismissive” towards those in the community wishing to share input.

Ferguson has served as a San Clemente city employee for 17 years. She says she wants to raise the district’s math and English ranks from 31st and 23rd in the state, respectively.

Ferguson serves on State Assemblyman Bill Brough’s Education Advisory Committee, and is an advocate for more school choice. She opposes the $889 million bond—she also led a citizen advocacy group in Talega to win a reduction of Mello-Roos taxation payments in the neighborhood.

Amy Hanacek, Incumbent, Business Owner

Jim Reardon, Incumbent, Business Owner/Engineer

Patricia Holloway, Retired Business Owner

Hanacek touts the rapid growth in science, technology, engineering, arts and math (STEAM) programs during her time on the CUSD board.

She says her targets on the board include practicing fiscal prudence to make sure cutting-edge resources are available to students. She serves on the College and Career Advantage Board, which provides technical education and career pathways for students.

Hanacek is a Capistrano Beach resident, small business owner and is the parent of two CUSD graduates.

Reardon is the current CUSD board vice president. He supports “classroom reform, school choice, local control, program innovation and fair taxation.”

Reardon opposes CUSD’s $889 million bond, which he says will burden younger families. Reardon says his focus will be on opening new schools (like in Esencia) and overseeing expansion (as at San Juan Hills High School).

Reardon is a parent and business owner. He also runs a nonprofit serving sixth- to 12th-grade students with autism.

Holloway is a 30-year San Clemente resident and volunteer. She has experience with fundraising efforts for nonprofits like Casa Romantica and the Marine Monument.

She says she’s running to build trust between CUSD and the community, and plans to build an economic council if elected to bridge the gap between residents, teachers and parents. She supports more school choice, language immersion programs and an increase in the technology and new education tools available to area students.

THE ELECTION ISSUE

CUSD’s Measure M:

What You Need to Know

BY ALLISON JARRELL

The Capistrano Unified School District Board of Trustees voted in August to call a school bond election within the newly formed School Facilities Improvement District #2, which encompasses the entire district except for Rancho Mission Viejo. On Nov. 8, district voters will have to decide whether they want to pay more taxes to help the school district leverage state funds for over $800 million in deferred facilities maintenance.

Below is the district’s official summary of Measure M, which will appear on the ballot: “To upgrade neighborhood schools by repairing outdated classrooms; improving science, technology, engineering, and math labs; ensuring fire/drinking water safety; removing asbestos; replacing leaky roofs; upgrading safety/security; repairing, constructing, and equipping educational facilities to prepare students for college/ vocational/military careers, shall School Facilities Improvement District #2 of the Capistrano Unified School District issue $889 million in bonds at legal interest rates, requiring an independent citizens’ oversight committee, annual independent audits, no funds for administrator or teacher salaries/ benefits, and all funds used locally?”

Five Facts about Measure M: 1. If 55 percent of voters approve Measure M in November, the district estimates that residents living within SFID #2—which includes the entire district except for Rancho Mission Viejo—will be taxed $41.81 per $100,000 of assessed value on their homes in fiscal year 2017-18 in order to begin funding the bond. That amount will grow to $42.93 per $100,000 in 2025-26 and reach a maximum of $42.99 per $100,000 of assessed value in fiscal year 2032-33. *Bonds can only be issued if the tax rate levied does not exceed $60 per year per $100,000 of taxable property, according to the California Education Code.

2. The total debt service, including principal and interest, for the $889 million general obligation bond would be $1.8 billion. Taxpayers will pay off the bond over a 35-year period.

3. The Orange County Taxpayers Associa-

Bond Measure Key Features BOND AMOUNT $889 Million ESTIMATED MAXIMUM TAX LEVY $43 per $100,000 of assessed value (not market value) IMPLEMENTATION TIMEFRAME 10-year plan SCHOOLS INCLUDED Every existing school in CUSD

tion has confirmed that Measure M meets the association’s minimum criteria for school bonds; however, the association does not endorse measures. The South Orange County Economic Coalition announced its opposition to Measure M in September because it is “too large and its impacts too broad to support.”

4. How CUSD will spend the potential new funding is a topic of contention. Measure M states that the proceeds from the sale of bonds would be used for “construction, reconstruction, rehabilitation, or replacement of school facilities.” The measure lists 53 school sites, including charter schools. Additional expenditures may include “student transportation, food service, maintenance and operations facilities” (excluding the district office). By law, none of the bond’s funds can be used for administrator salaries or pensions. Critics of the measure say the ballot language lacks specificity and transparency.

5. Should Measure M pass, the district will be required to establish an “independent Citizens’ Bond Oversight Committee to ensure that bond proceeds are expended only for the school facilities projects” listed.

The district will also conduct an “annual independent financial audit of the bond proceeds until all of those proceeds have been spent for the school facilities projects” listed in the measure.

Wondering what specific improvements are planned for your school? For a complete list of facility projects included in the ballot measure, visit www.capousd.ca.schoolloop.com.

South OC Community College District The South OC Community College District encompasses Saddleback College in Mission Viejo, Irvine Valley College in Irvine and the Advanced Technology and Education Park in Tustin. The board is comprised of seven members, who are voted in at-large. This year, Trustee Areas 3, 4 and 6 are up for election (two areas are unopposed), and the candidates for those Trustee Areas must live within its boundaries. One seat is available in each area.

Trustee Area 3 Includes Laguna Beach, Aliso Viejo, Dana Point and parts of Laguna Hills, Newport Beach, San Clemente and unincorporated areas

Trustee Area 4 Includes San Clemente, Ladera Ranch, San Juan Capistrano, Coto de Caza, parts of Rancho Santa Margarita, Las Flores and unincorporated areas

TERRI WHITT, INCUMBENT Whitt touts analyzing budgets and carrying out “due processes” in all matters during her time on the board.

Her priorities include the Emeritus Program for seniors, supporting K-12 partnerships, expanding veterans’ curricula and supporting the transition program with California’s state universities. Whitt has spent 40 years at Saddleback College as a nursing professor.

BARBARA “BOBBIE” JAY, INCUMBENT Jay was appointed to the board two years ago to fill a vacancy. She has worked as a teacher and business owner for 42 years, and has volunteered with Saddleback College and Irvine Valley College. Her priorities include fiscal responsibility with no new taxes, lifelong learning for seniors, job training, expanding K-12 and community partnerships and improving student access.

JOHN ALPAY, BOARD MEMBER, CAPISTRANO UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT Alpay touts business experience at Oakley and Samsung, as well as a board position with the South Orange County Economic Coalition. His priorities include increasing public-private partnerships between community colleges and businesses. As a CUSD board member, Alpay says he advocated for reducing property taxes, saving residents $61.1 million in Mello-Roos payments. He says he also helped refinance bond obligations in South Orange County.

PETER J. ESPINOSA, COLLEGE PROFESSOR Espinosa touts 41 years of experience in the field of higher education as a professor, counselor and administrator at the college and university level. He served two terms as a school board trustee for Capistrano Unified School District. His goals include cutting the cost of administrators, streamlining financial aid, improving technical and career training and more.

JIM LEACH, DIRECTOR OF COMMUNITY OUTREACH Leach served two terms as president of the Saddleback College Foundation Board.

During his tenure, he claims growing the Foundation endowment from $500,000 to $5 million, increasing scholarship funding by 157 percent, and increasing the number of students receiving support. One of his foci is on using tax dollars on student achievement, instead of getting caught up in bureaucracy.

KIMBERLY CLARK, NON-PROFIT DIRECTOR/ EDUCATOR Clark has 22 years of experience in areas of management, collaboration, staffing and facilitation of programs. She’s served as school-site administrator and counselor, coordinated programs and volunteered as a court-appointed CASA advocate. She has a doctoral degree in education and runs an education non-profit organization.

Her priorities include fiscal responsibility, improving educational quality and hiring a new chancellor and president for the district.

GARY V. MILLER, RETIRED TEACHER Miller’s focus is on providing students more opportunities.

This includes offering meaningful internships by partnering with businesses; offering college courses to high school students; and ensuring the district remains committed to returning students, especially veterans—Miller himself is a veteran. Miller previously served eight years on the Mt. San Antonio Community College board of trustees.

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Trustee Area 6 Includes Lake Forest, parts of Irvine and unincorporated areas

JAMES “JIM” R. WRIGHT, INCUMBENT Wright is a current trustee and a former college administrator and chemistry professor.

He also served as the Math/Science Dean at Saddleback College. His priorities include ensuring tax dollars enhance student success, maximizing programs for transfer, vocational and life-long students and keeping in line with his “values as a fiscal conservative.”

MIKE DALATI, EDUCATOR Dalati is a professor at ORT Jewish College and co-founder of the OC Latino Outreach nonprofit organization. His two kids attend Irvine Valley College. His focus is not on politics, but on “leveraging and maximizing our resources” to meet future educational needs. He says the time is now for an overhaul of leadership on the board.