Déjà vu, sort of, re weird machinations

.....There’s a story in today’s OC Register about South County school board candidates and their curious peekaboo financial contributors (CUSD recall group relied on PAC).
.....It may inspire déjà vu among denizens of the SOCCCD and its two colleges.
.....As you know, the Capistrano Unified School District has endured a series of embarrassing controversies in recent years: the building of the infamous "Taj Mahal"; the compiling of a secret list of parent foes, etc.
.....A recall campaign was launched against some trustees. Parents were hopping mad.
.....Eventually, in 2006, three pro-Recall candidates won seats on the board, in part owing to the support of the CUSD teachers union. But it turns out that the chief financial support those candidates received came from Education Alliance, a Christian right organization that has fought teachers unions since 1994.
.....According to the Reg,

.....The contributions have raised concerns about the CUSD Recall Committee's intentions as it endorses and helps fund the campaigns of candidates in a June recall election that could oust two longtime trustees.
.....The $17,000 donation by the Tustin-based Education Alliance, made days after the three candidates in early November 2006 denied accepting money from the political action committee, created speculation among their opponents that the self-described "back to basics" group had secretly influenced the election.
…..
.....Financial disclosure statements show the Education Alliance donated $17,000 to the committee on Nov. 2, 2006, five days before the election. The Education Alliance also gave $5,000 to Bryson's individual campaign that day, according to records.
…..
.....Bryson's campaign reported receiving the Education Alliance's $5,000 donation a day after it was made; the recall committee reported getting its $17,000 donation 11 days later, after the election had ended....
.....News of the donations stunned the Capistrano Unified teachers union, which endorsed Addonizio and Christensen in August 2006 after the two candidates orally assured the union that they were not connected to the Education Alliance, said Vicki Soderberg, president of the Capistrano Unified Education Association. The Education Alliance opposes what it calls the political clout of teachers unions.
....."We're concerned about any candidate with a connection to the Education Alliance," she said. "The CUSD Recall Committee is connected much more closely to the Education Alliance than they are letting on."
.....Now the teachers union is much more skeptical about trusting the recall committee and the candidates it endorses, Soderberg said.
…..
.....About a week before the election, Addonizio, Bryson and Christensen told The Orange County Register they had not received financial contributions from the Education Alliance.
.....
Bryson said Friday that she did not know she would be receiving the Education Alliance donation at the time she made her statements to the Register.
…..
.....But opponents say the donations from the Education Alliance appear to be part of a plan for one special-interest group to wield influence over the school board….

.....You’ll recall that Education Alliance supported Don Wagner and Nancy Padberg (aka "Wagberg") during their successful 1998 run for the South Orange County Community College District board of trustees.
.....But guess what? Wagberg also got support from the SOCCCD teachers union! At the time, a mystified OC Weekly reported that

.....Donald P. Wagner and Nancy Padberg will join Steven Frogue on the South Orange County Community College District board of trustees. Wagner and Padberg were backed by the anti-union, Christian Right Education Alliance and by the district's anti-union teachers union (sadly, you read that right). ”Jeeeeeezuz Christ!” (OC Weekly), Nov. 5, 1998

.....The union’s support came in the form of a pro-Wagberg flier that touted the candidates as opponents of the El Toro airport—although, of course, college trustees had no say on that issue.
.....Evidently, Wagner and Padberg continue to be affliliated with Education Alliance. Back in September (2007), the SOCCCD Board Meeting Highlights newsletter noted that

.....[Board] Vice President Donald P. Wagner [reported that he] … attended the Education Alliance dinner and encouraged everyone in the community to take a look [at] the organization, of which he is a board member.
.....
.....Trustee Nancy M. Padberg [also] attended ... [the] Educational Alliance dinner....
......
.....Chancellor Raghu P. Mathur ... thanked Trustee Wagner for inviting him to the Education Alliance dinner....

It appears that the fund raiser featured noted blowhard Dennis Prager. For photos of the event, go to Prager and Education Alliance

See also: The board's secret allies