Three will challenge school district incumbents
CUSD Update

Three challengers have emerged as Capistrano Unified School District candidates for the board of trustees. Ellen Addonizio, Jack Brick and Larry Christensen have each declared their intention to run in the November election. Trustees up for reelection are Sheila Henness, Crystal Kochendorfer and John Casabianca.

Addonizio, a Mission Viejo resident, is a Certified Public Accountant. For the past 20 years, she has represented large and small companies, as well as individuals. Her practice has included auditing, investigative accounting and tax services. Her background includes general accounting, tax planning, long-range capital and operational budgeting and cost accounting. She will challenge Sheila Henness for the Sixth District seat.

Jack Brick is an aeronautics industry professional with administrative, budgeting and personnel experience. His background includes management of multimillion dollar budgets and hundreds of professionals. Brick is a former harbor-master and police chief with experience in campus security. He has a teaching credential and a family with longstanding roots in public education. Brick will challenge Crystal Kochendorfer for the Fourth District seat.

 Larry Christensen of Coto de Caza has owned and operated a civil engineering firm for 33 years and has developed extensive experience in facilities planning, real estate development and matters involving the California Environmental Quality Act. Christensen will challenge Casabianca for the Seventh District seat.

In 2005 more than 177,000 signatures were obtained from south Orange County residents calling for the removal of all seven CUSD trustees. The attempted recall campaign focused on allegations of financial mismanagement and corruption.

CUSD is one of the largest school districts in California. Rancho Santa Margarita, Mission Viejo, Coto de Caza, Wagon Wheel, Las Flores and Ladera Ranch. Approximately 50,000 children are enrolled in CUSD schools.

Sixth-district candidate Addonizio described her concern about district issues. “Just like me, thousands of people across south Orange County have come to realize how serious the financial problems are at CUSD. The current CUSD trustees have squandered millions of taxpayer dollars, and by so doing they have relegated our children into overcrowded and substandard conditions. Now is the time to restore fiscal responsibility into our broken CUSD public school system. I have the financial, financial, accounting and auditing expertise to ensure that our scarce tax dollars are spent wisely. ”

To learn more about the candidates and CUSD issues, visit www.cusdrecall.com.