CTA Secretary-Treasurer Voted Out in Upset
An unbroken line of succession to higher office is well established in NEA circles. The position of secretary-treasurer is the gateway office to move from the representative elected bodies to the executive ones. Incumbent secretary-treasurers move up to vice president. Incumbent vice presidents move up to president. It works the same way in most state affiliates, and the California Teachers Association has been no exception – until now.
Current CTA President David Sanchez held both the vice president and secretary-treasurer positions, as did his predecessor, Barbara Kerr. Current CTA Vice President Dean Vogel was secretary-treasurer. But Dan Vaughn, elected two years ago as secretary-treasurer when Vogel moved up, was defeated in his bid for reelection by an unlikely candidate, Gail Mendes, former president of the United Teachers of Richmond.
Mendes is a member of the union’s State Council, the body that elected her, but did not sit on the board of directors, making her jump to an executive position quite remarkable. I’m checking into what was behind the upset victory since, as usual, there is very little to distinguish the candidates on issues.
The CTA State Council also voted to support all six budget-related initiatives on the May 19 special election ballot, even though the California Nurses Association opposes all six, and the California Federation of Teachers opposes all but one.
March 25th, 2009 at 01:30
Dan Vaughn was expected to win overwhelmingly in the election. What happened was a perfect storm of events immediately preceding the election. CTA support staff were protesting against the CTA administration during the actual voting time, which caused some voters to decide to “send a message” by voting for Gail. None of them actually believed she had any chance of winning, so it was a complete shock when the results were announced that she won by a very small margin. In fact, when her name was announced, not a single person in the room applauded. Instead, many were fighting back tears of sadness and anger that such a thing could happen to such a good man who has devoted many years to the union. Everyone agrees that nothing personal was intended and that the outcome was a complete fluke. Unfortunately, not a lot can be done about it now. Gail is completely unqualified for the position and does not have the experience nor support to succeed. She will most likely be challenged in two years for the position of vice president, and hopefully will lose to a more qualified and well-liked candidate.
March 25th, 2009 at 21:55
State Council members should have talked to members of UTR about Mendes tenure as President. She was dictatorial at Rep Council meetings, using her interpretation of Roberts Rules to shut down members. She has no people skills: she verbally attacked a UTR member at a Good Teaching Conference ( this member called Mendes a bully), verbally attacked another UTR member and threatened her job, and insulted a parent community activist after a school board meeting. She committed a huge public relations blunder by stating that UTR would not support Measure G, the District parcel tax. Actually, UTR Rep Council voted to take no position on Measure G. Mendes and UTR were criticized in an editorial in the local newspaper, The West County Times: “Any educational union with such warped priorities does not deserve the support of teachers, the vast majority of whom are dedicated to educating their students.” Measure G was defeated. Mendes has no union consciouness or sense of solidarity: she initiated a grievance against a UTR member with the District Superintendent, Rick Werlin.This is ratting out a fellow union member. A former WCCUSD school board member has described Mendes as “vindictive” and said that she costs the taxpayers hundreds of thousands of dollars for second parcel tax vote. CTA members deserve better. I hope for a better candidate in two years.
March 26th, 2009 at 02:55
Gail Mendes’ tenure as President of UTR was counter to prinicples of union democracy. Rank and file and UTR board members’ rights were trampled on (a UTR board member described her leadership as unsupportive and divisive and a rank and file UTR member said that Mendes leadership at rep council was “fascistic”). During a UTR election a first time candidate was running for a position on the executive board. This candidates name was left off the ballot. Mendes went to the candidates school site unannounced and strongly suggested that the candidate withdraw from the race. Unsuspecting any foul play the candidate agreed. Some UTR members wrote letters to then Vice President, David Sanchez about Mendes undemocratic hositle leadership. A UTR member at Mendes school described her as “dangerous.” I filed a complaint with the Public Employees Relations Board (PERB) charging Mendes with these abuses of office. November 30, 2006, Mendes reported me to Rick Werlin, WCCUSD Assistant Superintendent of Human Resources demanding that he discipline me for an alleged contract violation. Mendes’ action, asking a boss to punish a fellow teacher and an Assocation member would be universially reviled and condemned by any class conscious union member. I met with the UTR Executive Board and asked that she resign her position as President. On another occassion Mendes interfered with members right to elect a site representative of their choice. She had the election overturned. When CTA members learned Mendes had been elected Secetary-Treasurer, one member said, “it’s time to get out.” CTA members who decided to “send a message” and vote for Mendes, made a mistake that they will live to regret. The only way to correct this mistake is through a RECALL campaign. I would not wait two years.
March 28th, 2009 at 02:21
When crossing a rapids, know the footholds ahead of time. Seems Mendes outfoxed a lot of folks, quite a few of whom outfoxed themselves. Our lack of solidarity makes such victories possible. To all, I apologize for not having been more active in the union. So many battles cry for good fighters, it’s hard to be present on all the fronts where one’s needed. I disagree with the idea that people get the “leaders” they deserve, but I do believe we need to always remember “the price of freedom is eternal vigilance.”
March 30th, 2009 at 16:32
Definitely worth the read
March 30th, 2009 at 19:22
Would like to read the last one.