campaign contributions should be above reproach

From: lee de cesare [tdecesar@tampabay.rr.com]

Sent: Tuesday, August 12, 2008 10:29 AM

To: candy.olson@sdhc.k12.fl.us; doretha.edgecomb@sdhc.k12.fl.us; april.griffin@sdhc.k12.fl.us; susan.valdes@sdhc.k12.fl.us; jack.lamb@sdhc.k12.fl.us; jennifer.falliero@sdhc.k12.fl.us; carol.kurdell@sdhc.k12.fl.us

Cc: 'Linda Cobbe'

Subject: information

In ’06, I believe it was, Dr. Hamilton delivered an essay to the board that made recommendations about the comportment of new board members, including the way they should dress.

I understand some board members expressed dissatisfaction with some of his recommendations and that he slammed out of the conference room in a snit.

I would like to have a copy of that recommendation under the public-information aegis. Ms. Cobbe says she can’t locate the document. Board members must have it as well as the attorney because I exchanged comments about it with him. Would you please give Ms. Cobbe the document so that she can make a copy for me?

Thank you.

lee drury de cesare

Ms. Kurdell:

In reviewing contributors to your campaign, I see contractors, roofers, architects, etc. You were on the board when Mr. Erwin was trying to get the administration and board to do something about the leaking, waterlogged new schools with ACs that pooped out after five years when they should have lasted twenty. You and others on the board were authorizing taxpayers to pay first-rate prices for third-rate schools to the businesses that built those shoddy schools.

So it looks ill now for you to be receiving contributions from people who may have had busniness in the past or may have business in the future with the board. If I were a board member and wanted to be above suspicion that I granted favors to commercial people who contributed to my campaign, I would return their contributions with a polite thanks and an explanation that I did not want to appear to have a conflict of interest.

Lee Drury De Cesare

Ms. Bricklemeyer:

I read the Erwin report and your part in his treatment appalled me. He went to you in desperation and asked for your help because he believed you were ethical.

You took him to Tom Gonzalez, who promised that if he were forthcoming that the Whistleblower Act would protect him, and Mr. Gonzalez seemed to promise he would protect him too.

Then when Mr. Erwin delivered his statement and trusted himself to yours and Mr. Gonzalez's protection, you both deserted him and left him to the foul treatment of Dr. Lennard, Dr. Hamilton, and Mr. Davis.

The ugly truth is that everybody in ROSSAC ganged up on him because they knew keeping their job depended on it.

What a shameful episode in the history of the school board, and what a shameful part you played in it.

Your failure to deal with theft from the schools, bid rigging, and new schools that leaked and suffered major water intrustion repeatedly reported by Mr. Erwin is not a proud record of your time on the school board. You betrayed the voters, the teachers, the students, and the concept of ethics that should rule a board member by not insisting that someone be fired after the court case vindicated Mr. Erwin. My candidates would be Dr. Lennard, Dr. Hamilton, and Mr. Davis. Not a single person was fired, however; they were simply reassigned at the same bloated salary.

That fact speaks ill of your responsiblity to the community and schools during that despicable time for the schools.

Lee Drury De Cesare
15316 Gulf Boulevard 802
Madeira Beach, FL 33708