RHA is not supporting Searles or anybody else running for the office. But the rancor that is part of our national political scene has no place in what has always been non-partisan and responsible elections in a community of high values.
The letter was on the surface written by former RCSD general manager Jim Ruth, who left his post two years ago and has seldom been heard from since.
To those who know Ruth, the letter seems out of character, though it carried his signature. It also bore the RCSD official seal and was paid for by the West District 2 Community Coalition, a group formed by Rossmoor resident Kevin Pearce who has close ties to the RCSD board.
On Wednesday, RCSD posted a notification on its own website about the matter, saying,
“The district is aware that letters bearing the official RCSD seal have been sent to Rossmoor residents from a private organization regarding the sample ballot & voter information guide. Please be aware that these letters do not come from the district, nor has the RCSD board of directors approved either their contents or the use of the district’s seal.”
The statement is deficient. Voters deserve to know far more. The Ruth letter is clearly an endorsement for the incumbents on the RCSD board who are running: Michael Maynard, Tony DeMarco and Jeff Barke.
No doubt the board did not approve the letter, but it strains credulity that nobody on the board or in its employ knew anything about the letter before it showed up in more than 3,000 mailboxes or the use of the district’s seal. That’s not the way aggressive politics work.
The Rossmoor Homeowners Association earlier this month conducted a candidates
forum where these candidates had every opportunity to address many important issues that confront our community.
RHA, a volunteer organization that has served our community for more than 60 years, has always supported good government and fair elections. We strongly disapprove of this letter, the way it was distributed and the lack of transparency in how it came about.
Ralph Vartabedian
RHA president
