Ref Rodriguez
Ref Rodriguez | |
|---|---|
| Los Angeles Unified School District Board of Education, District 5 | |
| In office May 19, 2015 – July 23, 2018 | |
| Preceded by | Bennett Kayser |
| Succeeded by | Jackie Goldberg |
| President, Los Angeles Unified School District Board of Education | |
| In office July 7, 2017 – September 19, 2017 | |
| Preceded by | Steve Zimmer |
| Succeeded by | Monica Garcia |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 1972 (age 52–53) Cypress Park, Los Angeles |
| Alma mater | Fielding Graduate University (PhD) Loyola Marymount University (B.A.) |
| Criminal charge | One felony count each of conspiracy[1] 25 misdemeanor counts of assumed name contribution[2] |
| Penalty | Three years’ probation, 60 days of community service |
Refugio “Ref” Rodriguez (born 1972) is adjunct professor and a former member of the Los Angeles Unified School District Board of Education representing District 5 and former president of the Board. He resigned from both positions in July 23, 2018 after an accounting scandal.[3]
Early life and education
Rodriguez grew up in Cypress Park, Los Angeles and was the first out of five children to graduate from college.[4]
Career
Early career
Governor Jerry Brown to the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing in 2013.[5]
LAUSD Board of Education
District 5 election and tenure (2014–2018)
In November 2014, Rodriguez announced that he would be running for a seat in the Board of Education and raised $50,000 during the first campaign reporting period.[6] He ran against incumbent Bennett Kayser and Andrew Thomas, a professor at Walden University.[7] He retained that he would do more for the District than pander to charter schools.[8]
On July 7, 2017, Rodriguez was elected as the president of the Board of Education with a 4-3 vote. The four votes were newly elected members Kelly Gonez and Nick Melvoin, reelected member Mónica García, and Rodriguez himself.[9][10]
Campaign contribution scandal (2017–2018)
On September 20, 2017, the United Teachers Los Angeles called on the resignation of Rodriguez.[11]
LA County District Attorney Jackie Lacey charged Rodriguez with three felony charges of conspiracy, perjury, and procuring and offering a false or forged instrument. The case was linked back to Rodriguez's bid for the board in 2014, with he and cousin Elizabeth Tinajero Melendrez reimbursing $25,000 to his campaign donors, most were family and friends.[12] In January 2015, Rodriguez reported in his first campaign disclosure statement that more than $51,000 came from family, friends, and other people, but half actually came from himself.[13]
On September 19, 2017, Rodriguez stepped down as president amid charges of perjury and other felonies. Although stepping down, he remained on the board.[14] On July 23, 2018, Rodriguez plead guilty to a felony count of conspiracy and four misdemeanor counts, and as part of a deal with prosecutors, resigned from office.[15] Ten candidates ran to replace Rodriguez,[16] and was replaced by Jackie Goldberg in 2019.[17]
Controversies
Conflict of interest case
On October 24, 2017, the California Fair Political Practices Commission closed the case against Rodriguez, citing his conspiracy charges filed by the Los Angeles District Attorney’s Office.[18]
2018 arrest
On March 16, 2018, Rodriguez was arrested at The Paseo for suspicion of public intoxication.[19] He was released without being charged or cited, with Rodriguez thanking the officers for "being kind and seeing this for the non- event that it was.”[20][21]
Elections
| Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ref Rodriguez | 10,355 | 38.6% | |
| Bennett Kayser (incubment) | 9,510 | 35.5% | |
| Andrew Thomas | 6,946 | 25.9% | |
| Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ref Rodriguez | 14,201 | 53.3% | |
| Bennett Kayser (incubment) | 12,421 | 46.7% | |
References
- ^ Espinosa, Elizabeth (July 23, 2018). "Ref Rodriguez Pleads Guilty to Conspiracy, Resigns From Los Angeles School Board". KTLA.
- ^ "LAUSD President, Cousin Charged Campaign Contribution Case". KNBC. September 13, 2017.
- ^ "Ref Rodriguez resigns from school board". United Teachers Los Angeles. July 23, 2018.
- ^ {{cite web|url=https://www.laprogressive.com/lost-honor-ref-rodriguez/%7Ctitle=The Lost Honor of Ref Rodriguez|website=LA Progressive|author=Leibner, Joshua|
- ^ "Ref Rodriguez Biography". LAUSD.
- ^ Quednow, Cindy Von; Pamer, Melissa; Spillman, Eric (September 13, 2017). "LAUSD Board President, Cousin Charged With Conspiracy in Alleged Campaign 'Money Laundering Scheme'". KTLA.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ^ "District 5: LAUSD school board race snapshot". LA School Report. February 24, 2015.
- ^ Romo, Vanessa (January 20, 2015). "Rodriguez, seeking an LAUSD seat as more than a 'charter guy'". LA School Report.
- ^ "Ref Rodriguez elected LAUSD school board president". Beverly Press. July 13, 2017.
- ^ "DR. REF RODRIGUEZ ELECTED LAUSD SCHOOL BOARD PRESIDENT". PUC Schools. July 7, 2017.
- ^ "UTLA calls for the resignation of Ref Rodriguez from the LAUSD School Board". United Teachers Los Angeles. September 20, 2017.
- ^ Favot, Sarah; Szymanski, Mike (September 20, 2017). "Ref Rodriguez Resigns in Los Angeles: Why the School Board President Stepped Down". The 74.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ^ Koran, Mario (July 23, 2018). "Ref Rodriguez resigns: 3 things to know about the Los Angeles Unified school board member's departure". LA School Report.
- ^ DeSocio, Jeffrey Thomas (September 19, 2017). "Ref Rodriguez steps down as LAUSD president amid charges". KTTV.
- ^ Stokes, Kyle (July 22, 2018). "Ref Rodriguez Pleads Guilty To Felony And Misdemeanor Charges, Resigns From LAUSD Board". LAist.
- ^ "Meet the 10 candidates running for the LAUSD school board seat left vacant by Ref Rodriguez". Los Angeles Daily News. March 3, 2019.
- ^ Plachta, Ariella (March 5, 2019). "LAUSD Election 2019: Jackie Goldberg tops field in LA school board race that appears headed for May runoff". Los Angeles Daily News.
- ^ "Dr. Ref Rodriguez's Conflict of Interest Case Dropped". La Comadre. October 24, 2017.
- ^ "Eastside school board member Ref Rodriguez arrested for allegedly being drunk in public". The Eastsider LA. April 5, 2018.
- ^ "LAUSD Board Member Ref Rodriguez Arrested In Pasadena On Suspicion Of Public Drunkenness". KCBS-TV. April 5, 2018.
- ^ "Only On 2: Video Released Of Arrest Of School Board Member". KCBS-TV. June 13, 2018.