Dear Saugus School Board, Here's How You Get Rid of Stephen Winkler

Lost in the glare of Tuesday's digital billboard debate was this most excellent piece by Perry Smith and the state of affairs with Stephen Winkler and the Saugus USD Board of Trustees.

The legal action against Stephen Winkler drags on. The next scheduled hearing on the case (BC537547) is in June. The case was filed some 30 days ago and court records don't yet show a response from Winkler, so it's possible that the district can speed things up and ask for a default judgement, but you never know how that's going to work out, especially when the defendant is a guy who can't afford his own lawyer. So maybe it will, maybe it won't.

It appears that the County was either over-zealous or extra-cautious when it insisted the district ask for a quo warranto, a petition that inexplicably took months to file. There are past cases where the AG and the courts have acknowledged that elected boards can boost their own members if the seat is vacated under the law. If it bothered Mr. Winkler so much, he could get a quo warranto himself to oust his replacement if he feels his seat was vacated unjustly.

But residence is a tricky question, even when you have two sworn statements that declare a residence out of the district. That's probably why the County wanted to be extra certain.

But there's a number that's far less ambiguous: zero. In the last eight months, Stephen Winkler has attended zero meetings. Seven months if you cut him a break between his initial ouster and the board's formal action to proceed with getting a quo warranto. As Smith points out, the Government Code and the board's own bylaws are quite clear: if you don't do your job as a board member for three months, you've vacated your seat. Smith also points out that Winkler is aware that the seat is his to take, but he didn't want to be a distraction, so he's stayed away (thanks, man).

So please, let's get this over with. I mean, have you seen his Facebook page recently? (keep scrolling, it gets worse) He's back to his old tricks on YouTube as well. 

On the next agenda, place an item to declare his seat vacant under CA Government Code 1770(g) and open up the process for a replacement. We'll show up and let you know we've got your back. Yes, even you, Doug Bryce.

Just do it.