In a surprising move, ABC School Board member Lynda Johnson has left her post at the Compton District Attorney’s Office and is now working for Los Angeles County Supervisor Janice Hahn as a deputy field representative.
The ethics on the surface seem troubling, as Ms. Johnson will represent the cities of Artesia, Cerritos, Bellflower, Hawaiian Gardens, Lakewood and Paramount.
With the exception of Paramount, all other cities are within the border of the ABC Unified School District, which could cause conflicts of interest for Ms. Johnson in a number of areas.
It is well known that Ms. Johnson is seriously contemplating running for Cerritos City Council in April.
Many are questioning where Ms. Johnson’s loyalties will lie as she represents both the ABC and Ms. Hahn’s office in the communities.
It is a surprising hire for the progressive Ms. Hahn, as Ms. Johnson has demonstrated obstructionist tendencies during her tenure as an ABC Board M\member.
Supervisor Hahn is very labor friendly while Ms. Johnson has shown her dislike for local labor several times during Board meetings. In an awkward move, at an August Board meeting, Ms. Johnson attempted to block the committee appointment of longtime employee and volunteer Gavin Riley.
ABCUSD Board Member Lynda Johnson Tried to Block Union Appointee Gavin Riley
Ms. Johnson also refused a cost of living increase for teachers and staff at ABC then pushed for a vote to upgrade to lunch area overhead structures that would cost $10 million.
Supervisor Hahn would also advocate that the wealthy pay their fair share of taxes.
In October, Ms. Johnson inexplicably “abstained” from supporting a non-binding Board resolution in favor of Prop. 55, which would provide $27 million to the ABCUSD every year.
The state analyst indicated that Prop. 55 would not raise taxes and provide billions in funding to all state schools by keeping in place the tax on people making more than $250,000 per year, $500,000 per couple.
But Ms. Johnson said, “I am not really comfortable with voting to support this resolution.” No reason was given.
Also going against Ms. Hahn’s views, Ms. Johnson has made it well known that she wants to close schools in some areas of the ABC and bus the affected children to other schools in the district.
In addition, the appointment will now accelerate Ms. Johnson’s recent request to have ABC’s attorney at every school Board meeting.
With the likely conflicts of interest caused by the appointment, the possibility of Ms. Johnson having to recuse herself from Board votes rises dramatically as will the need for legal advice.
Sources tell Hews Media Group-Community Newspaper that move would cost an additional $100,000 per year.
We emailed Ms. Johnson for comment, asking her if she saw a conflict of interest between her Board position and the deputy position.
Ms. Johnson did not answer, instead forwarding the email to Supervisor Hahn’s office for comment.
In a prepared statement, Ms. Hahn said, “Lynda Johnson brings years of knowledge and experience to the job as my field representative in the cities of Artesia, Bellflower, Cerritos, Hawaiian Gardens, Lakewood, and Paramount.
“Additionally, as the daughter of a Filipino veteran, she is keenly aware of the challenges our veterans face and will be advising me on veterans issues. She will also be working closely with our County Dept. of Parks and Recreation on the many programs and services they offer to the residents of the Fourth District. She is a dedicated, compassionate public servant, and I am confident that our communities will be well served by her.
Ms. Hahn’s office indicated that they had researched and found no conflict of interest exist. We requested the research documents. Sources tell us that ABC’s attorney is researching the conflict but there is no decision as of yet.
This story originated at www.loscerritosnews.net