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Sunday, April 16, 2000

Candidates: Saavedra should go
They disagree about suspension or firing
By Deborah Martínez
Caller-Times

At-large candidate forum

Who: 15 candidates for three at-large seats are invited
What: Corpus Christi Coffee Club is holding a forum to discuss the candidates' platforms
When: Tuesday at noon
Where: Casa Blanca Restaurant, 4744 Ayers St.

Even if CCISD Superintendent Abelardo Saavedra hasn't been found guilty of the felony and misdemeanor indictments against him, most of the candidates for the Corpus Christi Independent School District board of trustees say it is time for him to leave.
   The district's welfare, morale and trust depend on Saavedra, the 17 candidates say. But the candidates disagree on whether he should be suspended with pay, without pay, or simply fired.
   At-large candidates Raquel Madrigal, Harry Williams and Jonathan Valdez say Saavedra should be suspended without pay. Former assistant superintendent Tony C. Diaz and William O. Childress, both at-large candidates, want the school district chief fired.
   At-large incumbents Pinky Brauer and Dorothy Adkins have already called for Saavedra's termination, though they have conceded to suspending him without pay.
   "He can no longer be an effective leader of the district," said Diaz, who served as an assistant superintendent between 1986 and 1993. "He's got no credibility in the public. He's lost the trust. He's part of the problems on the board. He's divided them. This is the most embarrassing time for the district ever."
   But the majority of the candidates agree with current board members Frank Reyes, Rene Vela, Bill Hamrick and Manuel Flores that Saavedra should be suspended with pay until he has gone through his felony and misdemeanor trials. Reyes is the incumbent in the District 2 race.
   At-large candidates Rosalinda Bonilla and Michelle Velasquez, and District 2 candidate Lucy Rubio couldn't be reached for comment Friday or Saturday. Other than Rubio and Reyes, the candidates are running for three at-large positions.
   "We do need to get him out of the limelight and back to the goals with our kids, but he needs to have a way to support his family as well," said candidate Veronica S. Gonzalez, who favors suspension with pay. "Sure, he's not being the best role model and now that he's been indicted it's getting worse."
   A Nueces County grand jury Thursday indicted Saavedra on felony charges of tampering with a government document and misdemeanor charges of theft and abuse of office. Saavedra, who has said he did nothing wrong, faces as many as two years in jail and a fine of as much as $10,000.
   Candidate Robert Hinojosa said people still fight for Saavedra because every current board member also used taxpayers' money, and none were found guilty in last month's court of inquiry.
   "Even though he's been indicted, we're innocent until proven guilty by a court of law in America," said Hinojosa, a state correctional officer. "Yes, we go ahead and put him on leave until it's cleared. He's got a lot of support because if you indict one then you have to indict all of them. Everybody broke the law and yet (Brauer and Adkins) put in for re-election."
   Saavedra's guilt isn't at issue here though, said Valdez, one of the candidates who wants the superintendent suspended without pay.
   "If suspension with pay is the only measure then let's take that," he said. "But I personally believe it should be without pay. He's been very irresponsible. I don't believe you should be rewarding irresponsibility with money.
   "This isn't about racism, about getting a Hispanic out and a white guy in," Valdez said. "This comes down to basic ethics, and now with the indictment, legal issues. We need to open our eyes as a community and take care of this problem and not perpetuate it."
   Candidate Mark Lincecum said he thinks the community issue will be resolved fairly quickly, within the next couple of months. Until then, Saavedra should be put on leave with pay until his trials come through, he said. Saavedra himself has placed 26 CCISD employees on paid administrative leave since last March, some prior to the outcome of investigations.
   Lincecum, Madrigal and candidates Ramiro "Gamby" Gamboa and Isaac Valencia said the suspension with pay precedent should be followed. If every other employee is suspended with pay, then so should Saavedra, they said.
   However, Madrigal did say that, precedents aside, she personally would want Saavedra suspended without pay. And that option, Williams said, is the most sensible one.
   "The man needs to go," Williams said. "How we can best do that from a financial standpoint that has the least impact to the district would be the best way to go. I think he ought to use his sick leave and vacation days (until his trials are decided)."
   Whatever the current board decides Monday, candidate Bobby Canales said the district's growth is riding on Saavedra's fate.
   "I feel that the district is now at a standstill and we need to get this over,'' Canales said. "We have become an object of ridicule.''
   Staff writer Mary Lee Grant contributed to this report. Staff writer Deborah Martínez can be reached at 886-3618 or by e-mail at _martinezd@caller.com

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