Sweetwater In the News this October 14-22

This article outlines the facts about where our candidates are getting their campaign funds, bringing to mind the old adage of putting one's money where one's mouth is. Who speaks for the community and who speaks for vendors/contractors?* article below

http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/2010/oct/19/contractors-fund-sweetwater-school-board-race/

An article about the Special Ed program in SUHSD

http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/2010/oct/22/sweetwater-special-ed-set-up-faces-state-review/

Two Articles focusing on Arlie Ricasa's campaign monies

:http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/2010/oct/14/fppc-investigating-complaint-against-board-member/ and http://www.10news.com/news/25407723/detail.html

*see below. Please check out the links and commentary from the community

Contractors fund Sweetwater school board race

BY ASHLY MCGLONE

ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED OCTOBER 19, 2010 AT 3:53 P.M., UPDATED OCTOBER 19, 2010 AT 4:18 P.M.

CHULA VISTA — The two incumbents leading the pack for the Sweetwater school board race also lead in contributions accepted by district contractors.

Jim Cartmill and Arlie Ricasa — two of seven candidates running for three seats on the board — both accepted contributions in excess of $30,000, according to the most recent financial disclosures.

More than 10 contractors — including Able Heating & Air Conditioning, Barnhart, Inc., Echo Pacific Construction, Har Construction, Ruhnau Ruhnau Clarke, Seville Group, Marston & Marston, Robert Clapper Construction and Swinerton Builders — all donated money to the candidates. The three latter companies donated $5,000 to each incumbent.

At least 86 percent of Ricasa’s funding, and 57 percent of Cartmill’s money raised since January comes from contractors currently on the district’s payroll, many of which are working on projects funded by $644 million voter-approved Proposition O bond money.

Councilman John McCann has also received contributions from contractors, totaling at least $15,000, or 56 percent of his money raised.

McCann, Lorenzo Provencio and Hector Rivera are competing for Seat No. 3, which will be vacated by trustee Greg Sandoval.

Provencio has loaned himself nearly $10,000 for the campaign. Rivera has raised nearly $2,500.

Cartmill leads in total expenditures at more than $49,000.

Cartmill’s challenger, Karen Janney, has raised $29,000 mostly from teachers in the district.

Andrew Valencia — Ricasa’s challenger — has raised nearly $13,000.

Multiple community members took issue with the contractor donations at Monday night’s board meeting.

Sweetwater Union High School District trustees earn $759 per month for their service.

ashly.mcglone@uniontrib.com • (619) 293-1725 • Twitter @newswriter_gal