SUISUN - Solano College faculty are charging the district with shoddy campaign tactics for having used college district stationery for a fund-raising event for two incumbent trustees who are running for re-election.
Charges by the Solano College Faculty Association (SCFA) were made after a number of staff on campus received a copy of an invitation to a fundraiser hosted by Stan Arterberry, immediate past president of the college, for incumbent board members Pam Keith and Willie McKnight. The invitation, as well as the advertising and campaign flyers for the political fund-raiser, all featured the Solano Community College logo and letterhead.
Members of the faculty association maintain the use of the logo on campaign material is in violation of California's State Education Code 7054 that strictly prohibits the use of district "funds, services, support or equipment" to promote candidates.
"The incumbent candidates certainly used poor judgment in this matter. We are equally shocked by Stan Arterberry's misuse of public funds for campaign purposes," said Esther Pryor, president of the Solano College Faculty Association. "The political use of the college's logo is exactly what Ed Code section 7054 is designed to prevent - the use of public state resources to influence the electoral process.
"We expect more from our candidates in our local elections," Pryor said. "Shame on them."
Pryor said the use of the college's logo misleads the voters into thinking the entire college community is united in support of the incumbents, when in reality, the Faculty Association supports challengers Mel Orpilla, Gerie Bledsoe and Phil McCaffrey.
The California Teachers Association's legal counsel is investigating and reviewing legal options, including a referral of the matter to the Solano County Grand Jury.