Harald Martin May Resign from AUHSD Board

The Orange County Register is reporting this morning that Harald Martin may resign his appointment to the Anaheim Union High School District (AUHSD) Board of Trustees in order to avoid a costly election.

“My ego is not so big that I would want the district to bear the cost of a special election because of me,” said Martin, 52. “Even if I’m the guy being thrown around, I respect the process.”

As you may recall, Harald Martin was appointed to the board to fill a vacany on the board.  Martin had previously served on the AUHSD from 1996 to 2004 when voters tossed him out of office.  He ran in 2006 and was soundly rejected as a choice by the voters.  But the current members of the board felt that “his experience” would be valuble and appointed him over several other candidates from the previous election.

The voters turned in 5,000 signatures, more than double the 2,300 needed, on August 20, 2007 demanding that Martin be removed and a special election conducted.  The Orange County Registrar of Voters has until September 19, 2007 to validate the signatures. If there are enough Martin would be immediately removed and a special election held to fill the vacancy.

If Martin were really the man of character and respectful of the process, then why has he waited so long to consider resignation to settle the matter?  I wonder if the board has convinced him that they won’t fill the vacancy with Jordan Brandman, who narrowly missed winning the seat in the 2006 election?

I guess we’ll have to wait and see what happens, but proponents told the Register that they still want an election because they no longer trust the board to appoint an acceptable candidate.

So tell us what you think. 

Should there be a special election even if Martin resigns? 

If there isn’t an election, who do you think should be picked to fill the vacancy.