The subject of this Report Card is Jose Solache, President of the Lynwood School Board and former Chair of the Long Beach based California State Student Association (CSSA). Jose and I met as undergraduates when we served our respective campuses in the above mentioned CSSA. This Tuesday was the final day in Jose’s campaign to continue serving on Lynwood’s School Baord, a campaign in which he was vehemently attacked in a city infamous for its political drama.
After a contentious election in which he was attacked on the grounds of sexual orientation, Jose Luis Solache, former Chair of the California State Student Association (CSSA), was reelected to the Lynwood School Board. Of five candidates vying for only three open seats, Solache swept all opponents by large margins—a huge testament to his first term serving Lynwood students and a slap in the face to those attempting to defame his character.
“I inherited a city where corrupt politics is commonplace,” said Solache. “My strategy was to run a clean campaign and focus on accomplishments… the result is that I was elected to serve another four years.”
Attacks on his image came by way of a mail piece where an image of his face was superimposed on the body of Juan Gabriel, a popular gay Mexican figure. Described by Solache as a “typical piece of Lynwood election hate mail,” it accused him of preying on high school boys and advised the electorate that a gay man is unfit to represent students in the city of Lynwood. There was also a reference to Solache turning the school board into a gay dance club, evidence that his opponents were extremely nervous about their chances of victory.
Running as the current School Board President, Solache highlighted not only his own record but that of his colleagues in supporting the construction of four new public schools, initiating all day kindergarten, funding free preschool for every elementary school and reducing class sizes. “We’re creating change in a city where the public is used to scandals and smear campaigns,” Solache strongly emphasized from his campaign victory party, where over 75 family members and friends gathered to watch the election results Tuesday night.
A Los Angeles neighbor about fifteen minutes up the 710 Freeway, Lynwood is laden with scandal and an image of dirty politics. Earlier this year, four of the five city council members were recalled for their questionable and aggressive push to build an NFL Football Stadium in the city. Their plan included the displacement of over 1,000 homes, three schools and many small businesses. Cries from the public were ignored, resulting in a campaign that successfully recalled all four officials.
In separate scandals, five former mayors are currently being indicted on the misuse of public funds and another former council member was removed from office for spending $1,500 in taxpayer’s money at a Guadalajara strip club. The most significant corruption case culminated on March 20, 2006, when former Mayor Paul Richards was sentenced to 16 years in federal prison after being found guilty on Federal political corruption charges—including defrauding the public in a slew of financial schemes. Richards’ sister and an Anaheim based consultant were also convicted to five and ten year federal prison sentences, respectively.
According to Solache, these are examples of what he and his neighbors have lived with for a long time. As a result, his work includes restoring public trust, something that has been a tenet of his public service since he was a student. In addition to serving as Chair of the California State Student Association—the Long Beach based CSU system’s statewide student advocacy organization—Solache was a two-term student body president of Cal State Dominguez Hills and the first in his family to graduate from college. In 2003 he earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Liberal Studies.
“It was at the university level that I began understanding and gaining an appreciation for the complex world of public policy,” Solache stressed when asked him why he ran for school board. “My college experience is why I’m here today, and I have many stakeholders in the CSU system to thank for that.”