Four running for two SC seats
Current board trustee raises budget issues
Two seats on the Sierra Community College board of trustees are contested in this year’s election. Incumbent Aaron Klein will face challenger John Vodonick for Area 7 (Colfax/Nevada City). Rocklin resident Elaine Rowen and Granite Bay resident Dennis Cota have both qualified to run for the Area 4 (Rocklin/Loomis) seat. Jerry Simmons, who did not file for reelection, previously held the seat. Incumbent Scott Leslie is uncontested in the race for Area 3 (Roseville/Dry Creek). The race is already facing some controversy. Current trustee Bill Martin recently released a 25-page report about the college’s past and present financial history. While the report does not single out individuals and is based on facts, Martin said, a concurrent press release states that two incumbents and one former trustee have made inaccurate campaign claims. Martin said that the three, Klein, Leslie and Simmons, have wrongly stated that prior to their elections to the board, the college’s budget was unbalanced and fiscal management was poor. Instead, he argues that the college’s condition became worse after the three took office. Klein has responded to Martin’s report saying it’s inaccurate. He said Martin’s attempts to have the board “abolish” its current budget policy were defeated 6-1. He also described Martin’s budget balance ideas as “ridiculous.” “Despite Bill’s desperate attempts to paint the college in a negative light, respected community leaders agree: Sierra College is better off than it was four years ago,” Klein said in a news release. “Bill needs to issue a retraction and apology to all six of his board colleagues.” Leslie added that Martin has voted in approval of past budgets. “I do believe Bill is trying to manufacture a controversy where none exists because every vote on a balanced budget policy for the past several years has unanimous,” Leslie said. “So the reality is Bill is the only board member out in left field on our balanced budget policy.” Simmons did not return comment as of press time. Martin contends that his budget proposal, which is different from the board’s current policy, was compiled after “carefully interviewing” campus staff, the chancellor’s office and several other experts. “It isn’t my budget process, it’s the state community college budget process,” Martin said. “Any assertion that I don’t understand the budget process is a political absurdity.” This isn’t the first time Martin, Klein and Leslie have been on opposite sides of controversy. Martin is backed by Save Sierra College, a group that was originally organized in May 2006 to lead a recall of Klein and Simmons. In September 2006, the committee changed its focus on electing non-political trustees, according to a statement on its Web site. They are endorsing Klein’s challenger Vodonick and Rowen. Vodonick, a Nevada City resident who describes himself as a businessman, attorney and student, says he wants to run for the board for several reasons including the fact that he is a product of a community college education. “I believe that education is our future,” Vodonick said. “I believe we should all be involved in it. I also believe that those of us that can make a difference have an obligation to make a difference and I think I can.” Vodonick said he wanted to acknowledge upfront that he was on probation as an attorney for not immediately paying a fee due a client. He said the incident was resolved and his company paid its full dues. He added that the probation was removed. His opponent, Klein, said he is running again for a second four-year term because he’d like to continue working toward partnering the college and local high schools among other goals. “I’m running again because it’s so critical to continue the agenda for change that we started four years ago,” Klein said. “We have a balanced budget four years in a row generating $2 million in new surpluses and now we’ve got to use that advantage to make Sierra College an even greater engine of economic recovery during this downturn.” In the Area 4 race, Rowen, a retired school superintendent, said she is running because she wants to enhance the college’s relationship with the community. “I want to strengthen the community’s trust in the Sierra College Board so that the stake holders will be partners in identifying the needs and addressing them,” Rowen said. Her opponent, Granite Bay resident Cota, said he is also the recipient of a community college education. He said he believes his experience as the foundation president for Chaffey Community College in Southern California will help him as a board member. “I decided it’s important to jump in and really give back to the system that helped me start,” Cota said. “Sierra College is a great resource in the various communities it serves. It could be a greater and more important one if we preserve it in these times when resources are strained.” The Journal's Jenifer Gee can be reached at jeniferg@goldcountrymedia.com or post a comment.
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Do a google search of "John Vodonick". On the first search page there are multiple links to the facts. He STOLE money from a client and was put on probation TWICE for not giving the money back! Interesting spin to call stolen money a, "fee due a client." What can you expect from a corrupt attorney...
repauburnite: He's still preferable to Klein.
I didn't see anywhere it said he stole money. He paid back what his defunct law firm owed a client who didn't like the outcome of a case and sued for repayment of fees. I don't call that stealing. Get your facts straight repauburnite!
I'm with stellybob, anyone but Klein.
Say what you want about Klein, he's never been convicted (or even accused) of stealing money from his clients. Used to be if you stole money, an employer would never let you near a till. Now if you steal, your automatically qualified to be a politician (at least in California).
I think I understand steelybob: a thief is better than a conservative any day of the week, am I right? B Clinton, though a perjurer and an adulterer, is not half as bothersome as constitution loving Tom McClintock and his evil followers!
grammy,
I'm no attorney (I think that means I'm credible), but taking money that doesn't belong to you used to be stealing. Now the definition of words is changing faster than I can keep up with (marriage for example), but I think the principle still applies.
He was ordered by the court to make restitution for taking money that did not belong to him. Five years later he still had not made restitution and he was placed on probation AGAIN.
I bet he stole the money from a conservative, so that made it ok. Am I right?
repauburnite: You conservatives are at fault for the sorry state Sierra has been in-you voted that trio of idiots in office--they had no business there--read Bill Martin's scathing report. Klein is destructive to that fine fine institution & won't be re-elected.
It gets so old listening to Bill Martin play his games. It is common knowledge that the college is performing better than before Aaron Klein and the other conservatives were elected to the board. Aaron has done a great job for Sierra College. All Bill Martin has ever done has been to act as a thorn in the side of the entire board. He failed at his pathetic attempt to have Aaron removed from the Board before, and he'll fail again. People of Placer County are on to Bill Martin and his sabotage tactics. Keep up the great work Aaron.
Patrick50: You are absolutely wrong--these 3 bufoons are ather worst thing that has ever happened to Sierra & Klein WILL NOT be re-elected. Bill Martin wants this college to succeed. You say; "Keep up the great work Aaron"??----nobody's buying your BS.
I encourage any of you to simply talk to members of Sierra College's faculty to get their personal thoughts on who they consider as the best trustee candidates. I personally believe, based upon my conversations with colleagues, that they overwhelmingly support the ouster of Trustee Klein and are happy with the departure of Trustee Simmons who the voters resoundingly defeated in his attempt a while back at running for a seat on the Board of Supervisors for Placer County.
As a lifelong Republican, I am offended that what is suppose to be a non-partisan seat is something the Placer Republican organizational machine believes it has the responsibility of filling. I've had to live with the challenges dysfunctional Board members have placed us in, and I'm satisfied that there are candidates in two of the three seats that can hopefully get the Board headed in a proper direction more in line with fixing broken toilets than fixing the budget so that it appears balanced.
Oh please, Steelybob, sierra Professor, or what ever you want to call yourself. We read this dishonest garbage all the time, coming from the radical left. You are not a Republican. Aaron Klein has done a fantastic job at the Trustee position. The numbers tell the story. You Liberal, political activists can't stand it that three conservatives came in and turned things around for the better at that school. You can't argue with the numbers. Oh, of course if you're Bill Martin, you can lie, lie lie.....
Sorry Patrick50, I'll take the word of actual Sierra instructors over your's or the pasty-faced Klein & his phony numbers. I hope he enjoys his last few months in office.
Here's an actual Sierra instructor, from our campaign's web site at www.aaronklein.com.
“Before Aaron was elected, our budget suffered tremendous cuts. He has worked diligently to make sure the budget is balanced, and he has protected our academic freedom. All our community has to do is to look at our financial standing and take a look at the curriculum which has been approved in recent years as proof of Aaron’s performance as a board member. I strongly support his re-election.”
— Lindy Atoms, Sierra College Professor
Aaron--can you any any others--there are many instructors at Sierra & I'm sure all of them have an opinion of you.
I meant to say can you name any others
I'm sure the "can you name any others" game could go on for a long time...our endorsements will come out over the next nine weeks as we've previously planned. Since you asked, here is another Sierra College person who we've already released:
“I’m a firm believer in looking at the results, and Aaron has achieved results at Sierra College. He has worked to balance the budget, build up strong surpluses, and make it possible for the college to make it through this economic downturn without massive cuts. I’m proud to support him for re-election.”
— Don Brophy, Sierra College Executive Dean Emeritus
As per the California State Bar Web Site, it appears that Mr. Vodonick was disciplined on three seperate occasions, 12/04, 9/00, 9/97. Generally the Cal Bar recieves a ton of complaints each month from discguntled individuals. The Bar must triage these complaints. Becuase of a lack of staff, they can only prosecute the really nasty stuff. Clearly, Vodonick falls into that category. I am enclosing what is on the Bar website. The upsot is clear. Any person who supports Vodnick over Aaron Klien is an idiot. Similar to those who support coke snorting Obama. Those who would support Vodonick exemplify the addage, liberism is a mental disorder.
"JOHN VODONICK aka EMIL J. VODONICK [#63089], 54, of Nevada City was suspended for two years, stayed, placed on five years of probation and was ordered to make restitution. The order took effect Sept. 7, 2000.
In 1997, Vodonick stipulated to a public reproval for failing to promptly refund unearned fees owed to his clients. As a condition of the reproval, he was required to make restitution amounting to more than $53,000 to those clients within a year. Vodonick sought an extension of time, which was partially granted, and he was ordered to make full restitution by February 1999.
By that time, he had made no payments, had set aside no money in his trust account and did not seek another time extension. After that, he tried to negotiate a payment schedule with his clients’ attorney, and early in 2000 they worked out a repayment plan of nearly $75,000."
What happened to Steelybob? What the "Instructors" say isn't as important to me as the bottom line is. That job is not a popularity contest. Sometimes one must rattle some cages to get things done. Steelybob, try sticking to the facts and not the denigrating, and angry remarks. Aaron, thanks, again, for all of your hard work. You should be proud of your accomplishments. I hope the surrounding area gets the true information and the people make stheir decision based on the true facts and not the lies and distortions the political left has been spewing.
Patrick50: Excuse me, but what the instructors think is very important--& not what some retired administrator thinks. The instructors--and many of them Professors--are on the front lines of the students' education there, and THEY are the ones who have given Sierra the reputation of being one of the best J.C.s in the state. I don't know if that's still true with what they now have to work with.
Wrong again, Steelybob. The instructors don't have to be in love with the administrators. Often times they're not, as they are not always savvy to political, logistical and financial ostacles the administrators face.
Without getting into the instructors vs. administrators argument -- we have wonderful folks in both of those camps -- I simply must correct steelybob. Don Brophy is not "some retired administrator."
Don Brophy is a man who has given his life's work to furthering education. After teaching and then serving as Executive Dean at Sierra College, he didn't just ride off into the sunset as he should be entitled to. He got elected to the Placer County Board of Education and has served diligently there for many years. He deserves your respect, and I'm very proud to have his strong support.