Larry Coonrod, Lebanon Express writer | Posted: Tuesday, June 10, 2008 5:00 pm
What a difference a year can make in Lebanon politics. The political action committee that was Debbie Shimmin's biggest single campaign contributor when she ran for the school board in 2007, is now the largest single financial contributor to the organization behind an attempt to recall her.
Formed in 1999 to campaign for the $48.5 million school bond issue that passed in May of 2000, the Building Schools Building Futures committee has since supported school board candidates. During the 2007 election, both Shimmin and school board chair Sherrie Sprenger received $650 from the group. Campaign finance records show Shimmin returned $524 of the contribution after she defeated Eric Jefferson for the Zone 4 seat.
The Lebanon Citizens Alliance for a Responsible Education System (CARES) PAC, formed in February of this year to actively promote school board adherence to laws and rules and increase civility, respect and professionalism by board members, according to a press release at the time.
Records show Building Schools Building Futures gave CARES $428 on Feb. 22, 2008. As of June 5, CARES had received $928 in cash contributions and had a balance of $907. The other $500 CARES received came in individual contributions of a $100 or less that do not require the contributors to be listed by name.
On June 9, CARES members Connie Schmidt and Joyce Weatherly filed a petition with the Linn County Clerk's Office to begin a recall petition of Shimmin. The recall announcement came after a contentious May 5 board meeting during which Shimmin, Josh Wineteer and Rick Alexander were the majority in a 3-2 vote to approve amendments to the districts contract with Sand Ridge Charter School. The amendments were written by Wineteer in consultation with Jay Jackson, president of People Involved Education (PIE), the nonprofit organization that runs Sand Ridge.
The contract approval was publicly criticized by many because no public notice was given, board members did not have a copy of the contract to see what was being amended, and they did not consult with legal counsel.
Later that same night, neither Shimmin, Alexander or Wineteer offered a second to board member Chris Fisher's motion to approve the district's recommendation to hire two Lebanon High School academy administrators. All three stated they wanted to see the 2008-09 budget before committing to the hiring of Tami Volz and Kim Masog. In 3-0 vote on May 15, the board approved the hiring of Masog and Volz. Shimmin and Alexander did not attend that meeting.
A filing with the Oregon Secretary of State's Office lists Lebanon residents Linda Darling, Lou Masog and Carol Chervenak as directors of Building Schools Building Futures.
Chervenak is a physician. Lou Masog is the husband of Kim Masog.
At the May 5 board meeting, Darling was approved as the school district's new business manager. Lebanon accountant Dave Benneth is listed at the organization's treasurer.
Darling, whos is not a member of CARES, said although Building Schools Building Futures is not dissolving, it is becoming inactive and CARES was chosen to receive the contribution because of its desire to monitor school board activities. The contribution left Building Schools with a zero cash balance. At the time the contribution was made, she was unaware of any plans by CARES to start a recall, Darling said.