I’m compelled to write this letter in response to a Republican political mailer, sent out last week on behalf of Judy Luchsinger’s campaign for Lake County superintendent of schools.

This mailer quotes a grand jury report from 1994 regarding a complaint about business practices at the Kelseyville School District, when Wally Holbrook was superintendent.

I was on the Board of Trustees at that time and have specific and detailed knowledge about this complaint. Judy Luchsinger was the Lake County superintendent of schools at that time and therefore knows the results of that investigation, since the Lake County Superintendent’s Office participated in the determination of the District Attorney’s Office.

The facts are that a subsequent investigation and annual independent audit showed no mismanagement of district funds. The 1994 audit also was provided to the county superintendent of schools, which confirmed these findings.

For Judy Luchsinger, in concert with the leadership of the Republican Party, to participate in disseminating this misleading, incomplete and false information, while knowing the truth, calls into question the honesty and integrity of her campaign.

In responding to this mailer, there are three key questions:

1) What happened?

2) Why was the issue raised then?

3) Why is the issue being raised now?

What happened?

School districts manage funds for many different programs and each of these programs have budget codes which are used to be sure that funds allocated to specific budgets are spent for the purposes for which they are intended.

In the case mentioned in the grand jury report, funds from one program were miscoded to the wrong fund (less than $500 total). At the end of the year, this miscoding was noted and a transfer was made of the expenditures to the proper fund.

Why was the issue raised then?

When this transfer was made an employee of the district noted the transfer and incorrectly thought expenses were being charged improperly to that fund. This individual reported this to authorities outside the district.

The complaint was investigated, as it should have been, and it was found that the transfer was appropriate.

The grand jury report only notes the complaint and the referral to the District Attorney’s Office for investigation. The grand jury report does not mention the outcome of the subsequent investigation, since it determined that it was not within its jurisdiction.

The final resolution of any question like this is ultimately addressed when the annual independent audit is conducted by an outside auditor, who reviews all expenditures and certifies that those funds have been spent appropriately.

In the end, the Board of Trustees must accept the audit, which we did in the fall of 1994. The fund in question was specifically included in the audit and no exceptions were found.

Why is the issue being raised now?

Judy Luchsinger makes a false and calculated attack when she attempts to use incomplete information to discredit Wally Holbrook, and in doing so also falsely implicates the Board of Trustees and the loyal employees of the Kelseyville School District.

Politics can be tough, but it shouldn’t alter the truth.

Mike Adams served on the Kelseyville Board of Trustees from 1983 to 1995. He lives in Kelseyville.