June 27, 2006

The Honorable Arnold Schwarzenegger
Governor of California
State Capitol Building
Sacramento, CA 95814

Dear Governor Schwarzenegger:

With both the California State Assembly and Senate controlled by liberals, the Governor's veto–his constitutional power and duty to protect Californians from dangerous legislation–is the only hope left for the men, women and families of California. But this power is useless if the willingness is not there. The people of Los Angeles County need your help.

The actions of Mayor Villaraigosa, the California Legislature and the leaders of the teachers’ union supporting the mayor's efforts to take over Los Angeles Unified School District, would result in legislation designed to take away control of the duly elected school board thus thwarting the electoral process. This legislation needs to be overturned, i.e., vetoed.

Governor Schwarzenegger, we the people of Los Angeles County ask that you exercise your right and duty and veto AB1381. We ask that you announce that any legislation which circumvents the rights and votes of the people will be VETOED.

Please do not let this become an issue of your re-election campaign (such as the one created by Gray Davis when he signed the drivers’ license bill for illegal aliens).

Please do not allow this Mayoral takeover to take place. Please do not turn me and other Republican voters away.

On a personal note: one of the most exciting nights in my political career was spending it with you on the evening of the recall election when you were elected Governor. Every hour sacrificed away from my family, business and friends was worth it.

Sincerely

David Hernandez
Two-time Republican Nominee US House of Representatives, District 28
Board member Republican Party of Los Angeles County
Chairman, Committee to Support the Los Angeles County Seal
Former Chairman, Greater Los Angeles Republican National Hispanic Assembly
2006 Candidate Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors
Valley Vote Board
Republican Jewish Coalition
Economic Alliance of San Fernando Valley
Volunteer- Elect Arnold Schwarzenegger 2003(in which a 40-line telephone bank in Panorama City was set up to contact Hispanic decline-to-state voters to support Arnold)

Subject: Help Mayor Villaraigosa Improve LA Schools?


Dear Senator:

I am writing to urge you to NOT support AB1381 which would give authority to the Mayor of Los Angeles to take over the school board of the LAUSD. The school board is a duly elected body and if they are not doing their job efficiently and with the best interest of the students in mind, then they should be removed from their elected positions.

This bill thwarts the election process and undermines the value--and more importantly, the voice of all Californians--those with children in LAUSD and those without.

WHAT ARE WE DOING HERE? Didn't we just defeat a bill giving the Governor too much power over state spending? And now we want to put the education of our children into the hands of "mayoral boards" with the mayor at the helm?

Doesn't this bill just set up more bureaucracy?

And what kind of a deal did he make with UTLA and the CTA? Why and since when are teachers' unions being consulted on issues regarding the "education" of students? Isn't their first loyalty to teachers? Shouldn't we be consulting parents and teachers and the rest of the citizens of Los Angeles (taxpayers) who have a real stake in and interest in the quality of education in their community?

I urge you to please vote "NO" on AB1381 and put this issue back where it belongs in the hands of the citizens of Los Angeles County and the elected members of the LAUSD Board of Education.

Sincerely,

Donna C.