Voice of OC (https://voiceofoc.org/tag/rancho-santiago-community-college-district/)
A scaled-down version of a controversial consulting contract between the Rancho Santiago Community College District Foundation and an entity funded by the Saudi Arabian government was approved by the foundation’s board in December.
With his own victory, and those by other police union-backed candidates in Santa Ana City Council races, Mayor Miguel Pulido appears to have regained much of the power he lost in the 2012 “Santa Ana Spring” election.
The election heats up for seats on the Rancho Santiago Community College District. Ethics in question may not be illegal but to some they are certainly unethical.
Dr. Barry Resnick, long time professor at Rancho Santiago Community College District (RSCCD), argues that the RSCCD board has been tone deaf to faculty and the community. He points to an agreement to assist in the operation of colleges in Saudi Arabia as problematic.
After a plea from a resident to “let the people speak” in November, board members decided not to appoint someone to the board seat, which was held by Jose Solorio before he resigned last month to run for Santa Ana City Council.
Trustees at the Rancho Santiago Community College District are considering filling a vacancy on the board less than three months before the November election – and thus giving their choice the advantage of incumbency.
Rudy Diaz is running for a seat on the Rancho Santiago Community College District arguing it’s time to replace trustees who violate the public trust
The ban follows a Voice of OC series that revealed lavish gifts given to a high-level district official by district contractors. District trustees say the ban is a model for other community college districts to follow.
Sources confirmed they were called in for interviews by the grand jury as part of an ongoing probe of the Rancho Santiago Community College District. The FBI is also asking questions.
Board trustees at the Rancho Santiago Community College District are arguing over how strict a new gift ban should be. Meanwhile, Orange County ethics watchdog Shirley Grindle said the current proposal is “very weak.”