Former SMC President Piedad Robertson's Paid Propaganda

On or about December 1, 2004, Santa Monica College's Missed Information published an online article about the resignation of then SMC President Piedad Robertson. There were several quotes of praise for Robertson by the following individuals: Mike Huckabee, Merle Arnold, Richard Riordan, Lloyd Torgerson, Margaret Quiñones, and Bobby Shriver. Did these individuals have a vested interest in plugging Robertson? Let's take a closer look.

Mike Huckabee was the governor of Arkansas. He is also chairman of the Education Commission of the States, the non-profit organization in which Robertson was to assume power on or about January 1, 2005. Of course Huckabee would have a vested interest in promoting Robertson in order to justify her appointment as president of the ECS. Huckabee, as chair of the ECS, would in turn "focus his initiative on arts in education." On or about March 10, 2005, when Robertson assumes power at the ECS, Huckabee would establish his new Governor’s Commission on the Arts in Education. ECS President Piedad Robertson would act as Ex officio member. Robertson's friends Joan Abrahamson (president, The Jefferson Institute) and Dale Franzen (director, Santa Monica College Madison Project) would become members. Remember that both Abrahamson and Franzen sit on the SMC Advisory Board for the Academy of Entertainment and Technology. Both women acted as program directors to help Robertson create the Academy's vocational school.


From left to right: Margaret Quinones, Mike Huckabee, and Bobby Shriver

Margaret Quiñones, then Chair of the SMC Board of Trustees, would also owe Robertson a word or two of praise. After all, Robertson contributed to Quiñones' 2004 Board of Trustees re-election campaign. You can view the "Friend of Margaret Quinones" campaign disclosures HERE. Richard J. Riordan, the California Secretary of Education, also Quiñones' "friend". You can view his campaign contributions HERE. Riordan would also have to praise Robertson in order to justify her appointment to his special advisory team. Of course, Quiñones rewards Robertson's campaign contributions with Riordan and her loyal SMC employees by giving Robertson a $25,000 salary increase.

What about Merle Arnold? He was Chair of the SMC Physical Science Department. He also sat on the Santa Monica College Foundation President's Circle with Robertson. For some background on the President's Circle, read our blog article, "How the SMC Foundation Robs Peter to Pay Paul." According to a September 21, 1999 SMC press release, Robertson convinced both federal and state governments to establish a new $30 million state-of-the art Santa Monica College Science Complex. The College Science Complex officially opened on October 5, 1999. Arnold is quoted as follows: "With this new facility in place, the sky's the limit."

Bobby Shriver, Santa Monica City Councilman-Elect, is the brother of Maria Shriver. Maria Shriver is the wife of Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger. Robertson was named to Schwarzenegger's Transition Committee to advise the governor on education issues. Schwarzenegger is an alumnus of Santa Monica College who received a public outcry when he spoke at the 2005 SMC Commencement ceremony.

Reverend Lloyd Torgerson was the Pastor of St. Monica’s Church (of which Robertson is a congregant). On or about October 1, 2004, Torgerson presented an award to Robertson on behalf of the California Heritage Museum in Santa Monica. Of course he would need to praise Robertson two months later. Here's the photo of Reverend Torgerson presenting the award to Robertson:



Reverend Torgerson also endorsed Robertson's Measure U. According to Robertson, "This is a $160 million bond measure that will be used to replace obsolete buildings, complete earthquake recovery projects, improve parking and circulation, and modernize energy, safety, technology, and environmental systems. This is the first such bond measure for SMC in a decade, and only the second in its history since the college separated from the Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District." According to SMC's 2005-2006 catalog: "In March 2002, Santa Monica and Malibu residents approved Measure U, a $160 million safety and modernization bond issue to upgrade and enhance SMC’s facilities. In November 2004, local voters approved Measure S, a $135 million bond measure, also to upgrade and enhance facilities."

So, everyone who praised Robertson in the December 1, 2004 article appeared to have a vested interest in doing so. However, as we've shown in the SMC 2004 CSEA Survey Comments, many people inside SMC did not share this praise. As we've mentioned several times, Robertson left SMC after receiving an almost unanimous vote of no-confidence. Is it any wonder why SMC would conveniently fail to omit the CSEA anti-Robertson quotes from their article?

-- Des Manttari,
Editor-in-Chief,
Phoenix Genesis

(c) 2006: Phoenix Genesis/MBS LP

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