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Frank A. Tarantino
Frank A. Tarantino was a member of the Sweetwater Union High Board of Education in California, representing Area 3. Tarantino assumed office in 2014. Tarantino left office on December 9, 2022.
Tarantino won re-election to the Sweetwater Union High Board of Education to represent Area 3 in California outright after the general election on November 6, 2018, was canceled.
Biography
A retired educator, Tarantino worked in the Sweetwater District for over 30 years as a teacher, administrative intern, and guidance counselor.[1]
Elections
2018
The following candidate won election automatically as the election was canceled due to lack of opposition.[2]
General election
The general election was canceled. Frank A. Tarantino (Nonpartisan) won without appearing on the ballot.
2014
The election in Sweetwater featured five seats up for general election on November 4, 2014. There was no primary election.
The only sitting incumbent at the time of the election, former board president John McCann, did not file to run for re-election, but former members Bertha J. Lopez and Jim Cartmill, both of whom pleaded guilty to misdemeanors of accepting gifts above the state limit while serving on the school board, ran to reclaim their seats. A total of 21 candidates ran for the five open seats.
In Trustee Area 1, Arturo Solis won the election. Kevin J. Pike defeated former member Lopez as well as three other challengers to win election to Trustee Area 2. Cartmill was also defeated. His former seat representing Trustee Area 3 was won by Frank A. Tarantino. Newcomers Nicholas Segura and Paula Hall won election to the Trustee Area 4 and 5 seats, respectively.
Results
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nonpartisan |  Frank A. Tarantino |
35.7% | 4,560 | |
| Nonpartisan | Richard F. Arroyo | 23.1% | 2,948 | |
| Nonpartisan | Jim Cartmill | 20.6% | 2,638 | |
| Nonpartisan | Chris Shilling | 20.6% | 2,631 | |
| Total Votes | 12,777 | |||
| Source: San Diego County Registrar of Voters, "Gubernatorial General Election Tuesday, November 4, 2014," accessed January 2, 2015 | ||||
Funding
Tarantino reported $6,675.00 in contributions and $3,576.62 in expenditures to the San Diego County Registrar of Voters, leaving him with a cash balance of $3,098.38 as of September 30, 2014.[3]
Endorsements
Tarantino was endorsed by the Democratic Party of San Diego County.[4]
Campaign themes
2014
In response to a survey published by La Prensa San Diego, Tarantino answered several questions outlining his campaign themes and vision.
| “ | What do you believe is the number one issue with the district? My campaign slogan: Let’s put the “we” back in Sweetwater sums up my vision for the district. For too long the district has been governed by an “insiders’ club” and individuals who are interested in their personal, financial and/or political gain. … It is time we change things. It is time we take back our school district. What qualities are will you looking for in hiring a superintendent? The following personal qualities are important for me when looking to hiring the next superintendent of the SUHSD: Integrity, Honesty, Fairness and a Moral Compass. The superintendent is essentially the face of the district. He/she must be an educational leader, with a unique, broad skill set in order to be effective. Board accountability has been lacking, how will you hold the board accountable? As we have seen … if serious lapses occur at the highest level of the institution’s governance, confidence in overall district management inevitably will suffer. The quality of a board’s conduct of its business should be a model that guides the rest of the district, setting standards that invite emulation in system-wide governance and management. What do you believe is your role in interacting with teachers? Unions and collective bargaining are often the topics of heated political debate among the public and those who would argue that this is what inhibits educational reform. I do not agree with this premise and the present context in the Sweetwater District provides an ideal opportunity and a pressing need to re-examine the relationship the district has with its employee bargaining units. What are your financial priorities? Among the responsibilities of governing boards, maintaining fiscal integrity is fundamental. Like it or not, the board is the ultimate fiduciary of the district. As a member of the Sweetwater UHS District Board of Trustees, my financial priorities would include focusing special attention on: · Auditor independence; · Audit committee independence, composition, and activity; · Whistle-blower protection; · Transparency and accountability in governance; · Enhanced financial disclosure; · External annual Forensic Audit of school district finances to increase transparency[5] |
” |
| —La Prensa San Diego survey (2014)[6] | ||
See also
- Sweetwater Union High School District, California
- Sweetwater Union High School District elections (2018)
- Sweetwater Union High School District elections (2014)
External links
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Personal |
Footnotes
- ↑ Frank Tarantino 2014, "About," accessed October 15, 2014
- ↑ County of San Diego Registrar of Voters, "Candidate List," accessed September 27, 2018
- ↑ San Diego County Registrar of Voters, "TARANTINO 2014 SWEETWATER SCHOOL BOARD-460 Recipient Committee Campaign Statement," October 6, 2014
- ↑ San Diego Democratic Party, "Endorsed Democratic Candidates," accessed October 15, 2014
- ↑ Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
- ↑ La Prensa San Diego, "Sweetwater board races provide an opportunity for a fresh start!" September 26, 2014
| Sweetwater Union High School District elections in 2018 | |
| San Diego County, California | |
| Election date: | November 6, 2018 (canceled) |
| Important information: | What was at stake? |
