Tuesday, November 12, 2013
Open Board of Directors Meeting
San Bernardino Community College District
114 S. Del Rosa Drive
San Bernardino, CA 92408
Minutes
Present: Dimitrios Alexious, Don Averill, Carole Beswick, Erin Brinker, Ann Bryan, Bill Easley, Dick Hart, Fran Inman, Mark Kaenel, Lowell King, Pam Langford, Ed Lasak, Sue McKee, John Mirau, Lou Monville, John Prentice, Kristine Scott, Paul Shimoff, Shelli Stockton, Steve von Rajcs, Phil Waller, A.J. Wilson and Ray Wolfe.
Guests: Todd Warden
Announcement: 1) The Decision Time Ahead event held in partnership with Cal State held on November 6, 2013 was well attended and informative. A focus to build the business coalition regarding express lanes will be pursued. 2) Inland Action will co-host with Mobility 21, a reception for the California Transportation Commission. The event will be held on December 11, 2013 from 5:30 -7:30p.m. at the Mission Inn.
M/S/P: Minutes from November 5, 2013
Lou Monville introduced Dan Schnur, Director, The Jesse M. Unruh Institute of Politics, University Southern California.
Dan Schnur has extensive political experience and is one of the leading political and media strategists. He has launched Fixing California, an organization dedicated to campaign and finance reform.
Hyper polarization has gridlocked our politicians in all areas. The moderates are frustrated and enraged that there is unwillingness to work together and compromise. Needed reforms are impossible to achieve without cooperation.
Needed changes like redistricting and the “top two”, also known as the open primary, are steps in the right direction to help California move to a less polarized legislature. The next logical step is campaign finance reform.
Since serving as Chairman of the California Fair Political Practices Commission in 2010-2011 Mr. Schnur was inspired to begin an organization and petition to ban fundraising while the legislature is in session. Most legislators are actively fundraising and trying to do their job simultaneously. The need for fundraising is a necessary part of politics but should be pursued after their work is complete and the legislature is no longer in session. Focused fundraising can be accomplished in the 3-4 months per year that the legislature is not in session and allow our electeds to concentrate on the job we elected them to do. This format is already implemented in 15 other states. It is estimated that our electeds spend some 5-6 hours per day on fundraising and related activities that could be used to help solve problems in California.
Dan Schnur’s petition and further information can be obtained at www.fixingca.com
A Q & A period followed.
Meeting adjourned at 8:30a.m.