School Chief Disavows Political Ad

By Marilynn Young | LB Indy

Barely four months into his new job, Laguna Beach school district Superintendent Jason Viloria found himself unintentionally embroiled in a political controversy over complaints about a political advertisement that some say implied he endorsed school board candidate Howard Hills.

In a statement issued district-wide this past Wednesday, Viloria disavowed any involvement with the ad’s creation and made plain he had not issued an endorsement of any candidate.

“I consider it my professional and ethical obligation to be neutral on Laguna Beach Unified School District Board elections, to ensure that I work collaboratively and productively with whomever the citizens of Laguna Beach elect to represent them,” the statement says.

School board challenger Peggy Wolff criticized the ad, which ran in the Indy on Sept. 30, as an improper implied endorsement of a rival candidate.

“Our district leaders do not endorse school board candidates,” Wolff wrote in an email seeking her reaction to the ad. “And school board candidates should not imply to have their endorsement. It’s poor form. This is a democratic process. Voters can draw their own conclusions,” Wolff said.

Incumbent Jan Vickers, who is seeking re-election, declined to comment on the ad.

Three candidates are running for two, four-year terms on the five-member school board.

Hills disagreed with critics’ interpretation of his ad, which compares his comments with those made by Viloria. “I don’t think there’s any content in the ad that lends itself to be an endorsement of me by the superintendent. It is my endorsement of him as a superintendent,” Hills said.

“As a candidate, I have the right to endorse the superintendent and doing so does not explicitly say that he is endorsing me. It’s a great and positive ad. Reading it as an endorsement is a misinterpretation and I’m glad he issued the clarification. And I concur with his statement,” said Hills.

The school district lacks a formal policy regarding employee prohibitions on political involvement, but relies on state education and government code restrictions, said district spokeswoman Leisa Winston.

Even though California Education Codes permit political activity by public employees on their own time and outside public facilities, the ad’s message angered some parents.

Parent Carrie Reynolds, who has publicly endorsed Wolff, was critical of Hills’ message. “I think it’s dirty pool. I think he has to play fair and even if it isn’t illegal, it is a matter of scruples.”

Parent Christine Fugate responded to the ad as well. “I’m disappointed to see Howard Hills lower the bar with this unethical political maneuver by insinuating that Superintendent Viloria endorsed him.”