Mike Spence – “Here He Goes Again”

Mike Spence once again shows his true colors.  At the recent reorganization meeting at the local school board which Spence serves, Spence stormed out in anger when he did not get his way.  This is what happened.  During the reorganization meeting of the local school board other members of the local board stated their opinion that Board members should have the opportunity to serve or participate in areas of interest while they are on the board.

 

Spence has served on the local Regional Occupational Program (ROP) Board for many years.  Other members of the board wanted an opportunity to serve on the board.  The majority of the board felt it fair to give others an opportunity to serve the community.  This did not make Spence happy.   

 

Spence said by tradition, when a member of the local board is selected to serve on the ROP board they hold the seat until they resign the seat or leave the local school board.  Sounds reasonable, until one discovers Spence got the seat by stealing it from another board member (Pete Sabatino) many years ago.  Also, no other school board has such a tradition.  It looks like the tradition started with Spence and only with Spence.

 

Here is another example of Mike Spence’s complete inability to work with others or come to a compromise on issues.  Spence stated he was scheduled to serve as the ROP Board President this coming year.  A member of the local school board offered to have him serve the one year of the two year appointment, then be replaced by another board member.  He refused.  He must have his way and only his way.

 

We can always hope and pray that some day Mike Spence will learn how to play nice with others.  I would not recommend holding one’s breath.

 

Mike Spence – The Real Story Part V

As Ronald Reagan would say, “There he goes, again.”  Spence does another flip flop that would make an Olympic gold metalist in gymnastics proud.  Or, is this a case of Spence not paying attention to his elected duties?

If you look at the record you will quickly notice the answer is both.  Not only does he not pay attention to his elected duties, he changes his position more often then a person changes lanes during a televised high speed chase on Los Angeles freeways.

Recently, Mike “I was against it, before I was for it” Spence and the WCUSD Board decided to eliminate a class which taught life styles.  The class did not meet local or state curriculum requirements.  Also, anyone who knows Spence knows he does not want “public” educators to teach about life styles.  In Spence’s mind teaching “life styles” is a code word for something un-American.

Guess what Mike “John Kerry West” Spence did at a school board meeting.  Spence changed his mind, again.  This “conservative” leader in the Republican Party has spoken out in favor of public schools teaching “Psychology of Family Lifestyles.”  Spence fought to keep this “lifestyles” class after receiving letters from students stating how they appreciated the sections on how to prevent pregnancy when they have sex.  This class has children pretend they are having babies to learn how to take care of those children.  The same subject matter Spence objects to when taught in Health classes.

As a side note, Spence fought to have the health book changed because it referred to “partners”, not married couples.  District staff spent weeks looking for the book Spence claimed Texas used during the George W. Bush administration.  Turns out Texas did not use the book while Bush was Governor.

Under the “Does he pay attention” section, a couple of years ago, Mike Spence wanted a special class to teach students how to balance a check book, compute APR, and other basic math skills needed in life – good idea if you do not pay attention.  Some board members pointed out the need to add a class did not exist as they already had those type of classes.  The classes were called basic math taught from the first grade through high school in every school in, not only West Covina, but the country.  It seems that after 16 years on the school board, Spence would know this by now.

Here is another example of not paying attention.  Spence wanted Fashion Design brought back to WCUSD.  Only problem with bringing it back – it is already taught in the ROP school for students.  Thus, two governmental entities serving the same population would have the same class.  I thought Spence would call this a waste?  Spence must think ideas that duplicate programs are wasteful spending, unless he comes up with them.

What makes this the most amazing, Spence is not only a member of the Board of Education for WCUSD and does not know what they teach, but Spence represents WCUSD on the ROP Board.  So, does he just ignore everything related to education?

Mike Spence has more knowledge of the workings of the City of Claremont than he does of the school district he has represented for the last 16 years.  Spence also appears to have more concern about nail and tanning salons in the City of Claremont than he does for the education of the children in his district.

http://www.flashreport.org/blog0a.php?postID=2008033112292551&post_offsetP=0&authID=2005091915442370

Mike Spence needs to start, after 16 years, paying attention to his duties as member of the school board or get off of the school board.  Spence has a responsibility to the people who elected him to the school board.  If he wants to spend all his time writing about Supreme Court nominees, Presidential nominees, California State Budget, and nail salons in Clarement, then resign from the school board.  It is painfully obvious he does not care about his school board job.

But, then again, I am not sure which thought is more horrifiying.  Mike Spence not paying attention to his school board duties or Mike Spence actually paying attention to his school board duties.

Mike Spence – The Real Story Part VI

Mike Spence continues to amaze those who pay attention to such stuff. Spence on 2/12/2008 http://insidewcusd.wordpress.com stated “The new board majority thinks convicted felons, those that have abused their spouse or child and those that leaked information should be board President.” The fact the people elected the person makes no difference to Spence or does it?

Now, this were it gets interesting. A member of the school board wants to bring before the board a policy that board members comply with the same requirements as employees, volunteers, and staff to gain access to a school grounds without an escort – they get fingerprinted and have a background check. Spence is against such a new policy. Why, you will not believe this and I am not making this up, Mike Spence says the people elected him so that is sufficient.

Mike “Mr. Consistency” Spence believes once elected, your background is no longer relevant unless he wants to make it relevant. The most troubling aspect of this inconsistency from Spence is he has a problem with a person who may have “abused their spouse or child” holding a ceremonial position on the school board, but has absolutely no problem allowing someone who may “abuse their spouse or child” from gaining unrestricted access to the schools and your children.

Another example of Spence saying do as I say, not as I do.

Maybe the title for this piece should be “SPENCE WANTS CONVICTED FELONS TO HAVE ACCESS TO YOUR CHILDREN.”

West Covina High School Among Best In Nation

Newsweek announced the best high schools in the country for 2008. West Covina High School was rated in the top 5% of high schools in the nation. This is major news for the West Covina Unified School District and the City of West Covina. This is the first time Newsweek has so ranked West Covina High School. The ranking reflects the success of the programs and policies of the “new board majority”, the leadership of the Superintendent and staff. Most importantly the honor reflects the hard work of those who make education happen everyday, the teachers in the classroom.

West Covina High School ranked 1195 out more than 27,000 high schools in the country, thus placing it in the top 5% of high schools in the country.

http://www.newsweek.com/id/39380/?q=2008/rank/1101

Why is Mike Spence not yelling from the roof tops about this honor?  Could it be it would contradicts Spence’s belief that public education is worthless?

Congratulations to the students, teachers, and staff of the district for working so hard to show public education does have value.

Mike Spence – The Real Story Part IV

In the past the question has been asked “Mike Spence, do you have no shame?”  The “leader” of the Republican Party will say whatever he wants to make a point – no matter how mean, vicious, or untrue.  Spence recently (March 3/April 2) posted comments regarding AB2352.  This bill would criminalize having overweight children.  This writer, as many others, agree that making the weight of children a criminal offense is government overreaching to the obsurd.

But, as is Mike Spence’s habit, instead of making a valid point, he had to ridicule children with weight problems calling them “Fatty Patty”, “Burley Hurley”, and “portly pupils.”  Mind you, this is coming from a person who sits on a school board and is a leader of the Republican Party.  Spence complains from the highest mountain when he is quoted about his own children, but he has no problem viciously attacking and ridiculing other children who have weight problems.

Nothing is off limits to this mean self loathing individual.  It is hard to call a person who will make such over the top comments about children a man – he isn’t.  Spence instantly assumes these children are overweight only due to parents allowing them to overeat.  As a member of the leadership of the Republican Party and an elected member of the West Covina Unified School Board of Education, we must all ask him what has he done to help give the children in his school district physical activity.  The answer is simple when looking for a Spence accomplishment – NOTHING.  Unless you count demeaning comments an accomplishment.  Spence is absolutely amazing.  Spence believes his horrible comments towards children have an impact on the California Assembly changing the bill.

Spences ridiculous comments are another clear example of Spence demanding, from others, a certain level of decorum, expecting he be treated with a high level of respect, but does not “practice what he preaches.”

http://www.flashreport.org/blog0a.php?authID=2005091517162583

http://www.flashreport.org/blog0a.php?postID=2008040219123177&post_offsetP=0&authID=2005091915442370

Mike Spence – The Real Record Part III

Mike Spence spends a vast amount of time writing on various blogs.  Spence, in many instances, portrays himself as leader of the Republican Party.  Spence likes to act as if he is the moral center of the Republican Party who can solve all the ills of the world, if us mere mortals would just listen to him.

Let’s take a look at this “moral” center of the world.  Mike Spence is the Chief of Staff for a member of the State Assembly from San Diego.  How Spence represents the people of San Diego, living in West Covina (about 120 miles North), and working in Sacramento is something many people would like to hear answered.  One has to wonder if this job is to further someone’s political career at the expense of the people and taxpayers of the State of California.

With Spence’s busy job one has to wonder how he finds time to make all these postings.  If one looks at the various sites, one quickly will see the time and date of the postings from Spence occur during normal working hours for state employees.  Looking at the FlashReport web site, Spence has posted 7 comments on work days during working hours.   The dates and time are 3/31 at 9:24 AM, 3/17 at 11:50 AM, 3/5 at 11:37 AM, 3/3 at 3:57 PM, 2/28 at 3:59 PM, 2/21 at 11:44 AM, and 2/7 at 9:26 AM.  In all fairness, not all of his postings are on public time, but just 1 too many. http://www.flashreport.org/blog.php?authID=2005091517162583

 Of course, this is assuming Mike Spence, for his salary, works 5 days a week, 8 hours a day.   For his $89,000 yearly salary, we all hope this pay is for a full time job.

The reason this is mentioned, is Spence has no problem complaining about the blotted inefficient government and those who work for them.  Spence accuses people of being communists, socialists, thieves, incompetent, and much worse if they disagree with him.  Everyone would agree what he does during his off hours is Spence’s business.  What he does at work while being paid by the State of California and taxpayers becomes our business.  When Spence is at work does he use government equipment in government offices for his personal political agenda?  As a leader does he set an example for others to follow?

One has to wonder about the answer to the above question.  Others have questioned Spence’s tactics, methods, and leadership.  Back in 2005, when Spence was the “leader” of the Save Our License initiative, others were concerned about how he went about doing things in his various leadership positions.  Please read http://www.angelfire.com/in4/save187/Viewpoint.html for more information.  Of course, the savy reader will find places that this person was attacked, but not the message.

If Spence heard about a chief of staff of a Democratic member of the Assembly doing what he may be doing, you can be assured he would be writing on blogs, probably during work hours, about this waste of taxpayer money, while demanding a criminal investigation.  Wonder if he will practice what he preaches or is this another case of “do what I say, not as I do”. 

Mike Spence – The Real Record Part II

Mike Spence has held the position of Board Member from the West Covina Unified School District for 16 years.  During most of that time Spence has been able to belittle and threaten fellow board members so he could get his way.  No matter the topic or the importance, Mike Spence has to win at all cost.

Here are some examples.  In 2006, the WCUSD updated board policy regarding the qualifications of people in position of authority over students.  A majority of the Board agreed the wording proper for a policy statement.  Spence disagreed.  When his attempts to belittle fellow board members did not work, he promptly went into a “take no prisoner” mode. 

Spence started telling people some board members wanted rapists and drug dealers in-charge of students.  This was a complete and total lie on the part of Mike Spence.  Spence backed-off his false charges when they came to light in the local newspaper.  Even a former board member publicly noted the misinformation passed out by Spence.

Recently, the WCUSD school board voted in a rotation policy.  It mirrors the policy of the West Covina City Council.  The basic idea behind the rotation policy is to prevent rancor when selecting fellow board members for positions which are mostly ceremonial.  Mike Spence wanted to add an item which would disqualify members of the board of education from assuming these positions.  When a majority of the board disagreed, Spence goes into “attack” mode.  Spence accuses other board members of wanting felons, convicts, and others of poor character running the school district.  Again, alienating fellow board members with distortions of the truth.

During the last election, Spence claimed in a letter published at http://www.capoliticalnews.com/s/spip.php?article361 the California Teachers Association was trying to take over the WCUSD School Board.  The only problem, one of the members the local union supported, Spence himself supported.  A rather major item to leave out, but if he had given the whole truth Spence’s fund raising letter would not have been effective.  It must be noted that the three re-elected board members received, individually, almost twice as many votes as the challengers.

When this fellow board members was re-elected and would not go along with Spence on the Edison contract he threatened to support a recall effort.  This, again did not endear Spence with board members, but did reduce his overall effectiveness.

The sad part of this whole Mike Spence issue is he does have, from time to time, good ideas.  It is unfortunate that he has to “get” his way, no matter what the issue.  When Spence does not get exactly what he wants Spence acts like a spoiled child.  Spence continues to hurt his own cause by alienating others who could help him and would support him on other issues.

Spence will claim in various blogs what Spence is against, but he will not state what he is for.  In my humble opinion, Spence wants to cause trouble since he has no vision of the future, thus he wants to destroy even those who may support him for the most part.

MIKE SPENCE – THE REAL RECORD

Mike Spence enjoys dishing out comments about others, but does not want anyone to comment about him.  As a person far smarter than I once said, “If you can’t take the heat, get out of the kitchen.”  Spence likes to believe he is a heavy weight in the big leagues with his many comments posted on various blogs about issues and people.  Well, lets take a look at some of these comments.

Mike Spence calls Dean Logan, interim Los Angeles County Clerk, an ”Election Thief”.  It appears all this person did was count votes until a person Spence thought should win lost.  Well, we are all aware of people who the other side has called “Election Thief” in the past.  Let me name them, 5 conservative members of the U.S Supreme Court and Katherine Harris.  One continued to count in accordance with the law and the others stopped counting in accordance with the law of the land.  Does Spence only want the law followed when it benefits him?  Let’s us all not forget how some refer to the President of the United States as the “Thief Executive”.   http://www.flashreport.org/blog0a.php?postID=2007091313323464

What is even more appalling is how Jon Fleishmann (www.Flashreport.Org) threatened to pull the posting rights from a person for making, in Jon Fleishmann’s opinion, unfounded statements.  Well, Mr. Fleishmann, when are you pulling Mike Spence off your web site for calling Dean Logan a “Thief” on multiple occassions.  I guess the rule is, if someone disagrees with either of you, they must be wrong and banished.

As many of you know, Spence has been on the West Covina School Board for over 16 years.  What does Spence think of public education, as he is a leader in his community and the California Republican Party.  Well, this is what Mike Spence thinks about public education: “… Soon public schools will be completely worthless…” You can read Spence’s comments and see many others at http://www.redcounty.com/national/2008/03/sb-1322-red-dawn-in-california/#c55746

Spence goes on to say, “… It (indoctrination) doesn’t necessarily teach us to “love” gays, rather it teaches us to love homosexuality, and variant sexualities. Those who truly love homosexuals would share with them the truth (in love) about not only the dangers of their chosen lifestyle, but also what the Bible says about it, and how Christ can free them from it.”

A person replying to Spence’s comments says it better than I, “…Unfortunately, Mr. Spence’s colorful summary of it was cheapened by his “gay loving” remark. Quite frankly, I think we ought to love “gays” just like we ought to love all people. Perhaps that’s just my Christian upbringing, or perhaps its my authentic conservative philosophy, that government should neither intrude nor regulate Americans’ private lives.”

What do we now know about Mike Spence?  Spence is a long time public school board member who thinks public schools are worthless or about to become worthless, a man with no criminal record – appointed to his position as Los Angeles County Clerk with the votes of two conservative board of supervisor members is a thief, and gays are deviants.

Obviously, an open minded understanding type of person – not.

MIKE SPENCE DO YOU HAVE NO SHAME – STOP THE LIES

First, I want to thank the owner of this blog for allowing me to reply to Mike Spence and his continued lies, mistatements, and other inaccuracies.   Spence may think he is on my mind, but I work for a living and do not have time to track Spence, but I will take the time to respond to unfounded attacks and crazy rantings.

 

Spence wants you to believe only one person disagrees with him and that person is out to get him.  Mike Spence, others follow your idiotic comments and distortion of reality. Have you not claimed to many the “anit-Spence” faction in West Covina has come alive, again.  You will notice Mike Spence’s blog blocks public comments – why?

 

Mike Spence, to quote Ronald Reagan, “there he goes again”.  Spence thinks if he says it must be true.  Spence wants to blame others for his troubles, not himself.  He makes someone else out to be the bad guy.  When someone accurately states his record and comments for the public to see, he complains that he is unfairly attacked.  Mike Spence is good at deflecting statements by making general comments attacking the motives of another without denying the accuracy of the statements.

Let us list out the inaccuracies:

 

1.  Mike Spence’s children were not attacked.  Spence himself has stated publicly how he arrived at the names of his children.  Why is Spence ashamed of his own comments? 

2.  Mike Spence has stated, as reported in the San Gabriel Valley Tribune letters to the editor, comments about no hungry children in West Covina.  If there are hungry children, it is because the children’s parent spent their welfare money on drugs.  Spence and his own supporters did not deny the accuracy of those statements in written replies.

3.  Mike Spence stated in front the City Council that anyone should be allowed to carry a gun on a school campus if they feel they need it for protection.  Again, this statement comes from a letter to the editor in the Tribune.  Once again, Spence nor his supporters denied the accuracy of the statement in written replies, published by the newspaper.

4. Spence sued Bill Robinson of the Water Board to have his ballot statement thrown out.  Unfortunately for Spence, he failed to serve Robinson, although he claimed through his attorney that he did serve him.

5. Spence has denied that he took a “real job”, as his supporters have put it, so he can increase his pension.  He gave that reason to many others for taking the job, but again, when his comments come to light he tries to change the subject or attack the motives of the writer.

6. Mike Spence fought against a provision in the contract with the Edison Academy that made the “blind” draw open to the public.  This came from public complaints that Edison was selecting students based on the influence of the parent.  Many found it strange that every person running for or elected to the school board, city council, or other office had their children selected to attend the Edison Academy.  In the last election, a candidate for school board magically jumped 15 slots on the waiting list to attend Edison.

 

Mike Spence hates not getting his way.  He takes votes by school board members and distorts what happened.  He calls it politics.  Everyone else calls it lies.  Let’s give some examples:

 

The board majority voted to support a “stable source of revenues”.  Tell me, which right thinking person wants to continue the current method of high periods of revenues followed by low periods of revenue with massive layoffs, school closings, etc.  This causes good people not to enter into the teaching profession.

 

Spence claimed that the “Board Majority” would allow convicted felons to serve as an officer of the school board.  He failed to mention that they first must be elected and the board has the power to change the rotation in the best interest of the school district.

 

Mike Spence a couple of years ago wanted the school board to place in policy that “rapist and drug dealers” could not be in a position of authority in the school district.  When the board rightfully stated the clause “good character and moral standing” and state law that he helped write took care of that, he accused the other board members of supporting “rapist and murders”.  Spence blew a fuse when a letter to the editor of the local newspaper brought it to light and asked, does Spence say it is OK to allow “child molesters and murders” since he did not mention them.

 

Mike Spence, I am willing to debate you in a public forum on your record.  But, who would want to support your record?  I will assure you of one thing.  I will continue to spread the word about your comments, lies, and distortions from sources that are truthful.  Considering your response, this one is true.

 

 

 

 

The Truth About Mike Spence

Why is Mike Spence so angry about everything?  The person who thought he would be Governor of the State of California by now and can’t even get off the local school board.  Spence even lost his claim to fame when another person took the title of “Youngest Board Member” in WCUSD history.  When he ran for the Water Board a few years ago, he spent more than $50,000, 10 times the amount of the other candidates combined and lost 2 to1.

Mike Spence complains of how long time government employees are over paid when they retire.  What does this fiscal conservative do – he uses the fact that when he was elected as a member of the school board he was covered under PERS.  Spence takes a job for one year in state government at $89,000 per year so his pension goes from a few hundred dollars per year to tens of thousands of dollars per year.  Spence continues to show his hyprocisy over and over.  If Spence is complaining about it – he is probably doing it. 

UPDATE:  Mike Spence realized that his one year pledge would cost him thousands on his government pension, he decided to continue to work for two more years to get the 3 years he discovered he needed to live off the taxpayers – those indivduals he claims to work hard to protect.

Since Mike Spence has become the President of California Republican Assembly, membership has dropped to levels not seen in decades.  Spence claims 10,000 members, but the total is closer to 2,000.  Under Mike Spence’s leadership the California Republican Party has not won a single state wide race in which the CRA backed the candidate, except 1.  Steve Poizner won the insurance commissioner race against Cruz Bustamonte.  The CRA did not support Govenor Arnold.  The CRA and CRP wonder why Arnie ignores them.

Spence has held the elected position of Board Member in West Covina for 16 years, yet if not for the Charter School and political pressure, he would not let his own children attend school in the district he has run for 16 years.  Mike Spence has openly advocated allowing “anyone” to carry a gun onto school grounds, including the same criminals he accuses other school board members of allowing to hold an elected position.  Mike Spence was quoted in the LA Times as saying the school district in which he is elected has “no hungry children and if they do it is because the parents spent the welfare money they receive on drugs.”

This is the same Mike Spence who voted against a bond to modernize schools in his district, but had no problem claiming how wonderful the outcome of the expenditures were for the school district during re-election campaigns.  This is the same Mike Spence who was reprimanded by a Superior Court Judge in Los Angeles County for making false claims in court documents – another word for “telling” lies.

Mike Spence names his daughter “Reagan” after, you guessed it Ronald.  He wanted to name his son “George”, but a local official who Spence dislikes is named George.  At least, he had the common sence not to pick Richard.  He did not pick Dwight as the teachers union president has that first name.  You know he could never pick Theodore, because he would be called “Ted” as in Kennedy.  That left Herbert ”Great Depression” Hoover, Warren “Corruption” Harding, and Calvin “I am so boring” Coolidge.  If he had picked Calvin everyone would probably ask “Where’s Hobbs”  I am not sure why he did not pick William (McKinley/Taft) - they could call him Bill (Clinton), but enough of 20th Century Republican Presidents.

Spence claimed in fundraising letters that the CTA was trying to take over the WCUSD.  The only problem was one of the people he accused of being a “lacky” for the CTA – a candidate he was supporting.  Again, this guy will say anything, except the truth.

It is easy to tell when Mike Spence is factually challenged – he is either speaking or writing.