PLACENTIA, YORBA LINDA : Candidate’s Mailer Creates Confusion

Campaign literature mailed to households in the Placentia-Yorba Linda Unified School District had some voters thinking that the mailer was a candidate endorsement from the school district.

The mailer, sent last week by school board candidate Jesse Valdez, prompted about 10 people to call district headquarters to express concern that district officials were endorsing Valdez and possibly using taxpayer funds to pay for it.

District officials denied any connection to the Valdez mailer.

“It has come to the attention of the Placentia-Yorba Linda Unified School District that some Board of Education candidates’ brochures appear to imply district support,” said a statement issued by the district last week. “Placentia-Yorba Linda Unified School District does not support any candidate for public office. District support of candidates for public office would not only be unethical and improper, but illegal.”

Valdez did not return telephone calls from The Times.

Placentia-Yorba Linda public information officer Karen Bass said the typeface used on the inside of the mailer resembles that used by the district.

On the outside, in the space for a return address, appear the words “Placentia-Yorba Linda Unified School District Candidate Assessment Report.” Inside, “Placentia-Yorba Linda Unified School District Skills Assessment Report to Parents” appears at the top of the mailer.