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Ref Rodriguez
Ref Rodriguez is a former member of the Los Angeles Unified School District Board of Education in California. He served District 5 seat from 2015 until July 23, 2018.[1] Rodriguez resigned after pleading guilty to a felony conspiracy charge and four misdemeanor counts of reimbursing 2015 campaign donors.[2] Read more about the investigation that led to his resignation here.
Rodriguez was initially charged with three felony counts of conspiracy, perjury, and procuring and offering a false or forged instrument and 25 misdemeanor counts of assumed-name contribution on September 13, 2017, after an investigation into donations to his 2015 campaign.[3] He pleaded not guilty to the charges.[4] Rodriguez stepped down as board president on September 19, 2017, but he retained his seat on the board.[5]
On October 13, 2017, a conflict of interest complaint was filed against Rodriguez by a charter school network he founded, but the California Fair Political Practices Commission (FPPC) closed the complaint one week later. It was FPPC policy to not open a complaint case if a felony case was pending. There was no apparent connection between the conflict of interest complaint and the felony case. Click here to read more about the conflict of interest complaint.
Biography
Rodriguez was born and raised in Cypress Park in Los Angeles. He returned to his home neighborhood after college to start Partnerships to Uplift Communities (PUC), a public charter school program. In addition to his work with PUC, he has lectured at Loyola Marymount University's School of Education. He has also served on the California Commission for Teacher Credentialing. He was appointed to the position by California Governor Jerry Brown in 2013. He previously worked as director of administration and development for Divine Savior School.[6]
The son of two immigrant parents, Rodriguez was the first in his family to graduate from college. He earned a bachelor's degree from Loyola Marymount University and a doctoral degree from Fielding Graduate University. In the past, he has served as a board member for the California Charter Schools Association, the Los Angeles Boys and Girls Club, and the Small Schools Alliance.[6]
Elections
2015
Four of the seven seats on the Los Angeles Unified School District Board of Education were up for primary election on March 3, 2015. Only one candidate, unopposed District 1 incumbent George J. McKenna III, received more than 50 percent of the votes cast in the primary. Because of this, he won his seat outright, and the top two vote-getters in Districts 3, 5 and 7 advanced to the general election on May 19, 2015.
Incumbents Tamar Galatzan, Bennett Kayser and Richard A. Vladovic from Districts 3, 5 and 7, respectively, received enough votes to advance to the general election. They each faced at least two challengers in the primary. In District 3, Galatzan faced five challengers, Elizabeth Badger Bartels, Filiberto Gonzalez, Ankur Patel, Carl J. Petersen and Scott Mark Schmerelson. She and Schmerelson faced each other again in the general election. Kayser and challenger Ref Rodriguez defeated challenger Andrew Thomas to continue on to the District 5 general election. In the District 7 primary, Vladovic ran against challengers Euna Anderson and Lydia Gutierrez. Gutierrez received enough votes to advance to the general election with Vladovic.
In the general election, both Galatzan and Kayser were unseated by their challengers. Schmerelson won the District 3 seat, and Rodriguez was elected to the District 5 seat. In District 7, Vladovic defeated Gutierrez to secure another term on the board.
Results
General election
| Los Angeles Unified School District, District 5 General Election, 5-year term, 2015 |
||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
| Nonpartisan |  Ref Rodriguez |
53.3% | 14,201 | |
| Nonpartisan | Bennett Kayser Incumbent | 46.7% | 12,421 | |
| Total Votes | 26,622 | |||
| Source: Los Angeles City Clerk, "Certified Final Bulletin," accessed May 28, 2015 | ||||
Primary election
| Los Angeles Unified School District, District 5 Primary Election, 5-year term, 2015 |
||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
| Nonpartisan | Ref Rodriguez |
38.6% | 10,355 | |
| Nonpartisan | Bennett Kayser Incumbent |
35.5% | 9,510 | |
| Nonpartisan | Andrew Thomas | 25.9% | 6,946 | |
| Total Votes | 26,811 | |||
| Source: Los Angeles City Clerk's Office, "Primary Nominating Election: Official Election Results," accessed March 23, 2015 | ||||
Funding
Rodriguez reported $268,567.47 in contributions and $251,517.78 in expenditures to the Los Angeles City Ethics Commission, which left his campaign with $24,316.24 as of May 13, 2015.[7]
Endorsements
Rodriguez received endorsements from the following organizations and elected officials:[8][9][10][11]
- Los Angeles County Young Democrats
- Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce Political Action Committee
- California Charter Schools Association
- Honor PAC
- Los Angeles Times
- Los Angeles Daily News
- Los Angeles Unified School District Board of Education Member Tamar Galatzan
- Los Angeles Unified School District Board of Education Member Monica Garcia
He also received endorsements from municipal officials, former school board members and community leaders. A full list of his endorsements can be found here.[8]
Campaign themes
2015
Rodriguez highlighted the following issues on his campaign website:
| “ | LOCAL CONTROL
I know that decisions for schools are best made by local parents, teachers, and administrators. I will work for local control so that stakeholders are able to make decisions and place resources in those areas that will improve outcomes for the students and families served. PARENTS AS PARTNERS Parents are our most important partners. I will work to make sure schools unite with parents in a common vision for the success of every child. EMPOWER TEACHERS Teachers are the most important people in the District. I will work to empower teachers, provide them with increased salary, excellent working conditions, meaningful decision making opportunities, and high quality professional development. TRANSFORM MIDDLE SCHOOLS I know that middle schools are often the most challenging for both students and parents – I’ve seen too many parents leave the District after elementary school because of a lack of high quality middle school options. I will work to transform middle schools so that students in the District are prepared for a rigorous high school experience. HIGH QUALITY OPTIONS I don’t believe that your zip code should determine the quality of your education - parents deserve a range of high quality public school options in every neighborhood. I will work to increase the number of high quality school options (pilot schools, magnets, small learning communities, theme based academies and charter schools) available in every community.[12] |
” |
| —Ref Rodriguez's campaign website (2015)[13] | ||
Noteworthy events
Rodriguez was charged with three felony counts of conspiracy, perjury, and procuring and offering a false or forged instrument and 25 misdemeanor counts of assumed-name contribution on September 13, 2017. The charges came after an investigation into donations to his 2015 campaign. The Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office alleged that Rodriguez contributed $24,250 to his campaign but represented that money as donations from 25 individuals.[3] Rodriguez pleaded not guilty at his arraignment on October 24, 2017.[4]
According to the criminal complaint against him, Rodriguez cashed out a $26,000 business investment after he filed to run for the District 5 seat on the Los Angeles Board of Education in 2014. The complaint said that Rodriguez gave the $26,000 to his cousin, Elizabeth Tinajero Melendrez. Melendrez, who was a campaign volunteer, allegedly deposited the money into an account connected to Rodriguez's parents. The complaint said that Rodriguez's mother then used that money to pay family members and friends who had donated to Rodriguez's campaign.[3]
A formal accusation published by the Los Angeles City Ethics Commission on September 13, 2017, said that Rodriguez's mother convinced 25 people to donate to Rodriguez's campaign by promising to reimburse them. Those 25 people "gave between $775 and $1,100, for a total of $24,250," according to the Los Angeles Times. The formal accusation said that Rodriguez's campaign finance report from that time period showed $51,001 in individual donations. “However, nearly half of the reported funds were actually Rodriguez’s own money,” the formal accusation said.[3]
Rodriguez's personal contribution to his campaign at that time was listed as $1,100. Candidates are allowed to spend as much of their own money on their campaigns as they want, but they cannot present that money as contributions from others. That practice is considered political money laundering by the Los Angeles City Ethics Commission, as it “deprives the public of information about the true source of a candidate’s financial support.”[3]
"As I understand it, candidates fund their campaigns often," Daniel Nixon, Rodriguez's lawyer, said. "I think it’s a question of simply the details, the nuances, concerning how that takes place."[3]
Melendrez was charged with one felony count of conspiracy to commit assumed-name contribution and 25 misdemeanor counts of assumed-name contribution. In reaction to the charges, her lawyer said, “This is a harsh and draconian response to a minor alleged transgression.”[3]
The school district issued a statement from Rodriguez on September 13, 2017. “As the product of an immigrant family, nobody has more respect for the integrity of the American justice system than I do. I have cooperated with authorities and hope these issues will be resolved expeditiously and fairly,” Rodriguez said. “Above all, my commitment to the students, teachers, parents and families of Los Angeles remains unwavering.”[3]
According to the Los Angeles Times, the case is unusual because it involves a candidate rather than a donor and because it was not settled before it was revealed to the public. Rodriguez and Melendrez were notified of the results of the investigation in May 2017, but they did not reach a settlement with the ethics commission.[3]
Rodriguez stepped down from his position as board president on September 19, 2017, but he retained his seat on the board.[5] He was under no legal obligation to step down as board president or to resign from the board, according to David Holmquist, general counsel for the school district. “To be accused of a crime does not preclude from being able to serve as a board member. He’s the sitting board member, the board president. We’re going to continue to treat him as such,” said Holmquist. “And he’ll retain all his rights with respect to that, unless and until he decides to do something.”[14]
“In order to allow the board to remain focused on the hard work ahead of us, I have decided to step aside as board President,” Rodriguez said in a statement on September 19, 2017. “I do not want to serve as a distraction to my colleagues, or to any of the other dedicated teachers, principals and employees who do the hard work of educating students every day.”[5]
The other six members of the board of education expressed surprise at the charges against Rodriguez. They said they had not known of the investigation when they voted to make him board president in July 2017. “Today’s news about our Board President, Dr. Ref Rodriguez — a longtime educator and advocate for kids — is unsettling,” said board member Nick Melvoin, who was elected to the board on May 16, 2017. “The serious allegations are not connected to the work of the Board or L.A. Unified; our focus today, as it is every day, has been on our students and school communities.”[14]
The election of Melvoin and Kelly Fitzpatrick-Gonez in May 2017 changed the board's majority. Prior to that election, a majority of the board was supported by the teachers union, but after the election it became a 4-3 majority supported by charter school associations for the first time, according to the Los Angeles Times. Rodriguez was a member of that majority.[14] The board elected Mónica García, another member of the board's majority, as president of the board on September 26, 2017. García then named Melvoin vice president, as she had to vacate that position in order to become president.[15]
García, Melvoin, and Fitzpatrick-Gonez issued a joint statement on October 24, 2017, asking Rodriguez to take a leave of absence while his case was going on.[16]
| “ | Nobody should be tried in the press or the court of public opinion without having a fair hearing. But in order to keep making progress towards our goal of 100 percent graduation, we have asked Dr. Rodriguez to take a leave of absence from the board. As with any employee of the district who is accused of misconduct, this allows for a quicker resolution while enabling the district to continue its work.[12] | ” |
| —Mónica García, Kelly Fitzpatrick-Gonez, and Nick Melvoin (2017)[16] | ||
Rodriguez said he would not step down and that he was elected to serve a five-year term.[16]
| “ | I have dedicated my life to provide better educational opportunities to all students in our communities. I have worked with parents, community members and students to tear down barriers to success, and together, we have proven that grassroots policy-making is alive and well.
I am a dedicated public servant and I have faith in the truth. I believe in the integrity of our justice system where I will respond to the allegations. In the interim, I wish to thank those who continue to believe that together, we can transform schools and communities.[12] |
” |
| —Ref Rodriguez (2017)[16] | ||
Rodriguez ultimately resigned on July 23, 2018, after pleading guilty to a felony conspiracy charge and four of the misdemeanor charges. According to the plea agreement, Rodriguez received a sentence of three years probation and 60 days of community service.[2]
Charter school network files conflict of interest complaint against Rodriguez
Partnerships to Uplift Communities (PUC Schools), a charter school network Rodriguez co-founded in 2004, filed a conflict of interest complaint against Rodriguez with the California Fair Political Practices Commission (FPPC) on October 13, 2017.[17] With regard to the felony charges against Rodriguez, the FPPC closed the complaint without prejudice on October 20, 2017. The FPPC's communications director said it was policy to not open a complaint case if there was a pending felony case.[18]
The conflict of interest complaint had no apparent connection to the felony case against him, according to the Los Angeles Times.[18][17]
The conflict of interest complaint named $285,000 in payments that Rodriguez authorized to be paid from PUC Schools accounts in 2014. A majority of the payments questioned in the complaint went to Partners for Developing Futures, a nonprofit for which Rodriguez served as chief executive, according to the Los Angeles Times.[17]
PUC Schools said the payments were a potential conflict of interest because Rodriguez appeared to be on both sides of the transaction. Officials for the charter school network said they discovered the payments while fulfilling a public records request from the Los Angeles Times. An attorney hired by PUC Schools to investigate the payments said he found little or no evidence of services provided to PUC Schools in exchange for the payments.[17]
“As soon as we uncovered this information, we launched an internal investigation,” said Manuel Ponce Jr., chairman of the board of directors for PUC Schools. “We are taking this very seriously, and our commitments to our students, families and schools remains our highest priority.”[17]
According to the Los Angeles Times, the conflict of interest complaint questioned 14 checks signed by Rodriguez that were made out to Partners for Developing Futures. Each of those checks was less than $50,000, which was below the threshold that would have required authorization from PUC Schools' board of directors. The checks were designated as payments for expenses at six charter schools that Rodriguez oversaw as part of his position at PUC Schools.[17]
The signature or stamp of Jacqueline Elliot, the other co-founder of PUC Schools, was also included on a majority of the 14 checks. Elliot did not comment on the presence of her signature on those checks, but she said she trusted Rodriguez. “You’re talking about someone who’s created opportunities for thousands of children and who demonstrated a commitment day in and day out to acting in the best interest of students,” said Elliot. “Ref’s track record was unquestioned.”[17]
Elliot was one of the PUC Schools officials who filed the FPPC complaint. “It is my obligation to do the right thing for everyone I serve,” she said. Rodriguez did not comment on the conflict of interest complaint.[17]
After the conflict of interest complaint was filed, the Los Angeles Unified School District sent a notice to PUC Schools, asking why it took the charter network years to report its allegations against Rodriguez. The notice also alleged "fiscal mismanagement, conflicts of interest, failure to provide information and poor governance and leadership," according to the Los Angeles Times.[19]
PUC Schools released a statement saying that its leaders had “alerted the district about money transfers from PUC to the nonprofit as soon as they were uncovered.” Elliot and Ponce also denied any wrongdoing.[19]
The Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) sent a second letter to PUC Schools in December 2017 claiming that PUC Schools had not provided district officials with documents requested in October and expressing concern "about the pattern of PUC neglecting to provide comprehensive responses and accurate information" to school board officials. PUC Schools spokeswoman Naush Boghossian said charter school leaders were cooperating with the LAUSD and had submitted documents the district claimed were missing.[20]
Recent news
The link below is to the most recent stories in a Google news search for the terms Ref Rodriguez Los Angeles Unified School District. These results are automatically generated from Google. Ballotpedia does not curate or endorse these articles.
See also
- Los Angeles Unified School District, California
- Los Angeles Unified School District elections (2015)
- Clean sweep for school board incumbents... (March 4, 2015)
- Embroiled incumbents see differing outcomes in May 19 school board elections across five states (May 21, 2015)
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ Los Angeles City Clerk, "Election Night Results (Unofficial)," accessed May 20, 2015
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Los Angeles Patch, "From LAUSD Board President To Felon: Ref Rodriguez Resigns," July 23, 2018
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 3.6 3.7 3.8 Los Angeles Times, "L.A. school board president faces felony charges over campaign contributions," September 13, 2017
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Los Angeles Times, "L.A. school board member Ref Rodriguez pleads not guilty to campaign charges," October 24, 2017
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 Los Angeles Times, "Ref Rodriguez, facing criminal charges, resigns as L.A. school board president," September 19, 2017
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 Dr. Ref Rodriguez for LAUSD School Board, "About Ref," accessed February 3, 2015
- ↑ Los Angeles City Ethics Commission, "2015 City and LAUSD Elections," accessed May 18, 2015
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 Dr. Ref Rodriguez for LAUSD School Board, "Endorsements," accessed February 3, 2015
- ↑ California Charter Schools Association Advocates, "CCSA Advocates Endorses Four Candidates in LAUSD Elections," January 9, 2015
- ↑ Los Angeles Daily News, "Endorsements: Tamar Galatzan, Ref Rodriguez, Richard Vladovic for L.A. school board," February 12, 2015
- ↑ LA School Report, "LA Times endorses Rodriguez, Galatzan, Vladovic," April 24, 2015
- ↑ 12.0 12.1 12.2 Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
- ↑ Dr. Ref Rodriguez for LAUSD School Board, "Ref's Vision," accessed February 3, 2015
- ↑ 14.0 14.1 14.2 Los Angeles Times, "Charges against school board president stun L.A.'s education world," September 14, 2017
- ↑ 89.3 KPCC Southern California Public Radio, "LAUSD board, hoping to move past Rodriguez drama, selects García as president," September 26, 2017
- ↑ 16.0 16.1 16.2 16.3 Los Angeles Daily News, "3 LAUSD board members ask Ref Rodriguez to take leave of absence," October 24, 2017
- ↑ 17.0 17.1 17.2 17.3 17.4 17.5 17.6 17.7 Los Angeles Times, "L.A. school board member Ref Rodriguez faces conflict-of-interest complaint over $285,000 in payments," October 16, 2017
- ↑ 18.0 18.1 Los Angeles Times, "Rodriguez won't have to defend himself against conflict-of-interest complaint — for now," October 20, 2017
- ↑ 19.0 19.1 Los Angeles Times, "L.A. Unified says PUC Schools should have unearthed alleged Rodriguez conflict three years ago," October 30, 2017
- ↑ 89.3 KPCC, "LAUSD ramps up conflict-of-interest inquiry at Ref Rodriguez's former charter school," December 13, 2017
| 2015 Los Angeles Unified School District Elections | |
| Los Angeles County, California | |
| Election date: | Primary election - March 3, 2015 General election - May 19, 2015 |
| Candidates: | District 1: • Incumbent, George J. McKenna III District 3: • Incumbent, Tamar Galatzan • Elizabeth Badger Bartels • Filiberto Gonzalez • Ankur Patel • Carl J. Petersen • Scott Mark Schmerelson District 5: • Incumbent, Bennett Kayser • Ref Rodriguez • Andrew Thomas District 7: • Incumbent, Richard A. Vladovic • Euna Anderson • Lydia Gutierrez |
| Important information: | What was at stake? • Key deadlines • Additional elections on the ballot |
