School Official Faces Inquiry for Role in Campaign

The head of the Whittier Union High School District has been placed on paid administrative leave pending an inquiry into accusations that he improperly used district staff to influence political campaigns last year.

Supt. Lee Eastwood acknowledges making anonymous contributions to two incumbents who won in November’s school board elections, as well as discussing with other administrators fears of a shake-up should the challengers take office. And, he says, he did ask one school board challenger to reconsider his candidacy.

But Eastwood denies accusations that he asked employees--including several principals--to make phone calls and donations in support of the incumbents. And besides, Eastwood says, he has “a personal and political right to . . . support whomever” he pleases.

But a board majority asked Eastwood to resign last week after reviewing a confidential 35-page report by district lawyers on his involvement in last year’s elections. Eastwood refused to resign, and the board--disregarding the advice of its legal counsel--voted 3-2 in a private session to place him on leave.

Eric Bathen, attorney for the school district, said the state education code forbids school employees from using district equipment, facilities or supplies to further a political campaign. However, he said, “It doesn’t say that public employees can’t talk about it.”

On Thursday the same board majority voted to hire a new legal team to continue the investigation. The two incumbents Eastwood supported voted against placing him on leave and against continuing the inquiry.

Secrecy surrounding the accusations has raised concern among many parents and community members who credit Eastwood for bringing state and national acclaim to district schools during his nine years as superintendent.

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On Tuesday a committee of community members calling itself Fire Incompetent School Trustees threatened to recall three board members unless they back off their “witch hunt” and reinstate Eastwood.

“They want to dismiss a superintendent who is looked upon very highly by his peers,” said FIST co-Chairman Mike Mendez, who is also a Norwalk city councilman. “They haven’t [said] why they’re doing what they’re doing.”

Board member Eve Burnett confirmed that Eastwood’s involvement in the reelection campaigns of Ralph Pacheco and Cathy Warner is a main concern among the other three members. Although his leadership through difficult financial times has shown him to be “a great idea man,” she said Eastwood should have taken a back seat during board elections.

Another reason for the investigation, Burnett said, was the selection process Eastwood used to hire two new principals this year. She said Eastwood should have provided the board a host of potential principals instead of forwarding just one name for appointment by the board.

“We just feel we need a change” of superintendents, she said.

The recent scrutiny--consisting primarily of informal depositions by as many as 20 district employees--has clearly shaken Eastwood. “This is like an inquisition to me after all these years,” he said in an interview with The Times.

Support for incumbents has long been an unspoken policy within the district, he said. Such was the case last year when a discussion arose among him and several other top administrators about the upcoming election, he said. Of particular concern that day was candidate John Sherman, a former superintendent at the nearby El Rancho Unified School District, Eastwood said.

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Many who gathered for the meeting shared fears that the quick turnover of administrative personnel that had been experienced at El Rancho could spill over into Whittier Union if Sherman were elected, Eastwood said.

Soon after a candidate registration deadline had passed, Eastwood said, he called Sherman and asked him to consider withdrawing from the race. When Sherman confided that he had already thought about dropping out, the superintendent said he would see about finding district funds to cover any fees for late withdrawal, Eastwood said in an interview.

“I thought [Eastwood’s offer] was highly unusual,” Sherman said in an interview. “I think it’s wrong for school district people, especially at the level of the superintendent, to try to manipulate the outcome of the election, if in fact that was done,” Sherman said. He decided to continue his campaign.

November’s elections saw both incumbents win by large margins.

Warner confirmed that in the weeks before the elections, more than a dozen employees offered her campaign donations of $99. She said she decided against accepting the money, despite the fact that political contributors of less than $100 need not be identified. Pacheco, on the other hand, said he chose to accept similar donations from administrators.

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Several employees also volunteered to help call voters from Warner’s son’s Santa Fe Springs business office. Among those making calls was Pioneer High School Principal Pat Mascorro.

“I wanted to make sure that [the incumbents] stayed in office,” he said. Mascorro added that his main concern was to support candidates he already trusted, and that Eastwood never tried to influence him.

School officials say Eastwood is the sole target of the probe that began last month after board member John Rios received confidential accusations against Eastwood. Last week the board named Steve Cary, assistant superintendent of business, Eastwood’s temporary replacement during the inquiry.

School board attorney Bathen would not confirm it, but board members on both sides of the issue say he advised calling off the investigation during a closed board meeting last week.