California’s Fair Political Practices Commission has reviewed a complaint filed in April by Measure A opponent Thomas Randall Jr., and apparently will not take further action in the matter.

Randall had complained about a letter sent prior to the election to more than 900 local homeowners who are senior citizens, and who already claim the senior citizen exemption for existing school parcel taxes approved by Davis area voters.

The complaint argued that the letter — which offered instructions on how to claim a senior homeowner exception under Measure A — actually qualified as campaign literature, based on the wording of the letter, and the fact that it was sent before the mail-only election concluded.

In a brief letter to Superintendent Winfred Roberson and the five members of the Davis Board of Education, the FPPC said, “After review of the evidence in this matter, we are closing our file.”

But the FPPC reminded Roberson and the trustees “that the district may qualify as a campaign committee … subject to campaign reporting provisions, if the district sends a mass mailing that unambiguously urges a particular result in an election. Remember to ensure that your mass mailings contain only factual information and do not contain inflammatory or argumentative language.”

Said Roberson, “I am pleased to learn that the FPPC has assigned no fault to DJUSD and has closed the file. It is our goal to comply with all the guidelines established by the Fair Political Practices Commission. In the future, any mass mailing conducted by the district that potentially has political implications will first be forwarded to the FPPC for review and approval.

“We will remain transparent in our actions,” he added.

School board president Richard Harris said that in the future, when preparing a letter on district stationery relating to a ballot measure, “we will call the FPPC and get their free advice.”

Added school board vice president Susan Lovenburg, “Having placed a measure on the ballot, the district obviously has an interest in its successful passage, but as public servants we also have a responsibility to protect the integrity of the election process. I am pleased we did not, even with good intentions, inadvertently stray over the line into wrongdoing. We will be doubly mindful not to do so in the future.”

Trustee Sheila Allen echoed their sentiments.

“I am pleased and not surprised that the FPPC swiftly cleared the district of any wrong-doing,” she said. “Transparency and following all legal requirements are of the utmost importance to me as a community representative of the public school system. The allegations brought forward by the opponent of Measure A appeared to be a political move to cast doubt on the election. I appreciate the fact that the community was not swayed by such distractions.”

Randall sent out a news release announcing his complaint just a few days prior to the May 3 deadline for votes to be received in the monthlong vote-by-mail election. Davis area voters approved Measure A, which will charge owners of local single-family homes $200 per year for two years, with 67.21 percent of voters casting a “yes” vote.

While that percentage represents a large majority of voters in favor, it was less than 1 percent more than the required two-thirds majority needed for passage. Some 16,476 ballots were cast in the election — a 38 percent voter turnout, which is considered fairly high for a single-issue special election.

As a result of Measure A’s approval, the Davis school board voted to rescind dozens of layoff notices that had been sent to teachers in March.

— Reach Jeff Hudson at [email protected] or (530) 747-8055.

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