With the November election approaching, both candidate and measure campaigns are likely to be topics at the forefront of community discussions. Whether a district has placed a bond or tax measure on the ballot, has board member elections, or its facilities/forums are sought for non-district campaign activity, school districts will need to know the legal parameters for these activities. This workshop will prepare officials to address these challenges and share best practices.
About the Presenters:
William B. Tunick is a Shareholder in the firm’s San Francisco office and Chair of the firm’s Board Ethics, Transparency and Accountability (BETA) and Litigation Practice Groups. His practice focuses on elections, governance issues, and representing school districts in a variety of state and federal litigation. Leveraging his prior experience representing non-profit organizations, candidates, and elected officials on issues involving elections, he specializes in working with districts on ballot measures. This includes developing and implementing parcel tax and bond measures as well as litigating cutting-edge issues related to parcel tax structures. William also works with school districts and county offices of education on questions surrounding board member elections, including application of the California Voting Rights Act. As part of a broader governance practice, he counsels clients on potential conflicts of interest and provides training on the rules regarding gifts and how to avoid conflicts of interest in contracting. This part of his practice also includes advising clients on the open-meeting requirements of the Brown Act, handling public record requests under the California Public Records Act, and navigating the school district re-organization process. Additionally, William has represented clients in litigation on issues ranging from audits by state agencies, including CalSTRS and CalPERS, to special education to state-mandated costs. Focusing on appellate litigation, he has authored briefs on behalf of the California School Boards Association before the California Supreme Court while also successfully representing clients in trial and appellate courts.
Meredith B. Johnson is a Shareholder in DWK's Long Beach office and serves as Chair of the Firm's Public Finance Group. With a focus exclusively on educational facilities financing, Meredith is a seasoned bond attorney with extensive experience in guiding school and community college districts through complex financing and refinancing projects. Her expertise spans a wide range of financial instruments, including general obligation bonds, certificates of participation, bond anticipation notes, and tax and revenue anticipation notes. Meredith also serves frequently as underwriter's counsel. Meredith also specializes in guiding school and community college districts through bond elections and ensuring compliance with legal requirements during bond campaigns. Post-election, she assists school and community college districts in forming and fostering productive relationships with bond oversight committees, thereby ensuring transparency and accountability in the expenditure of bond proceeds. Additionally, Meredith can often be heard speaking at industry conferences across California on school bond topics.
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