If you live outside of the Los Angeles area, you most likely have not been following this story. If you live in the LA area, you probably haven't either. But you should.
Independent Sources has been closely watching the campaign of Christopher Arellano for Los Angeles School Board. Arellano's record is so undeniably questionable that it's a joke he's still even in the running. The explanation for this, however, is that he's in the pocket of the Teacher's Union. What they want, they get. Unfortunately.
Here's the breakdown of the story:
1. Arellano and other candidates are approached by the LA Times and asked to take a rudimentary algebra quiz, just to test their basic knowledge of the subject. The others take it. He refuses and becomes irate at the Times for even suggesting it.
Read the short report here. (Let it be known I used "rudimentary" before seeing it in the post.)
2. Independent Sources discovers that Arellano has been lying about his college degrees supposedly obtained from UCLA and USC. Both universities deny awarding him any degree.
3. Turns out, Arellano has been arrested a few times for shoplifting before the Teacher's Union gave him a job. Shouldn't that say something?
Read about those here.
Finally....
4. Arellano actually won a primary and is now in a run off with Monica Garcia, not a fraud. Thus far, the teacher's union shows no desire to distance itself from Arellano.
That and more is here.
This should be very interesting and indicative of the Teacher's Union and educational board's ethics and interests.
More to come as soon as I get it.
UPDATE: Arellano's web site still chalk full of false statements.
Posted by Portia at March 9, 2006 01:27 PM | TrackBack
