Larry Coonrod, Lebanon Express writer | Posted: Tuesday, June 17, 2008 5:00 pm
Alexander casts recall as showdown with school superintendent
The Lebanon Citizens Alliance for a Responsible Education System (CARES) PAC announced Monday that it was suspending its recall effort against school board member Debi Shimmin but would continue to collect signatures to recall Josh Wineteer and Rick Alexander.
The decision came after a two-hour meeting last Friday between Shimmin and representatives of the group during which both sides discussed their concerns, according to a press release from John "Tre" Kennedy, CARES president.
"I hope this paves the way for a continuing dialogue with Ms. Shimmin," Kennedy said.
Shimmin declined to comment on the meeting with CARES.
When the recall petition against Shimmin was filed on June 2, Kennedy said she was being targeted because she has three years remaining on her term, and voters could deal with Alexander and Wineteer next May if they choose to run for reelection.
The group reversed direction and filed recall papers against Alexander and Wineteer after school board chair Sherrie Sprenger announced her resignation on June 2, Kennedy said.
The filing statement on the Alexander petition, dated June 5, alleges that he has consistently violated board policy, failed to act in the best interest of the school district and pursued a personal agenda against the district administration. Alexander's support for increased funding for Sand Ridge Charter School and refusal to support the hiring of two Lebanon High School administrators also are listed as reasons for the recall.
Former school board member Warren Beeson is the chief petitioner for the Alexander recall.
According to the filing statement, "Mr. Alexander's actions have cost the school district thousands of dollars in litigation and unnecessary costs."
In a written statement, Alexander said that in pursuing his campaign platform of accountability and change, he has ruffled the feathers of public officials who previously were not held accountable for their actions.
"My diligence on behalf of the public interest has earned me some powerful political enemies, and they have begun to attack me as a single organized group," he wrote.
Alexander's statement cast the recall as referendum on Lebanon Schools Superintendent Jim Robinson's performance.
"This recall will define whether the community truly wants change, or whether they want the same stagnation and alienation we have had for the past 10 years," Alexander wrote.
"I'm glad it happened. It's time to go to the mat," Alexander said while giving a copy of prepared remarks about the recall to the Lebanon Express.
The recall petition for Wineteer lists failing to follow board policy and not acting in the best interest of the school district. Wineteer's involvement in amending a contract that increases per student funding for Sand Ridge Charter School without consulting the district's attorney and financial officer and failing to disclose that his daughter attends the charter school are also cited as reasons for the recalls.
Wineteer said he wasn't concerned about the recall attempt and felt he and no obligation to identify where his daughter attends school.
"It's a public school just like any other school in the district so it doesn't matter," he said.
Joyce Weatherly is the chief petitioner for the Wineteer recall.
To qualify the recalls for a vote, supporters have 90 days to collect 1,398 valid signatures of Lebanon voters for each petition, said Linn County Elections official John Ramirez when the Shimmin recall petition was filed. After signatures are verified by the Elections office, board members would be given five days to resign or file a statement of justification as to why they should not be recalled. An election must be held within 35 days of the justification statement filing.