PUSD Candidate Responds to Report of Arrest Warrant

The campaign for the Pasadena Unified Seat 6 got ugly this week, with reports of a past criminal record for challenger surfacing in media reports, as well as an issued bench warrant which, if current, could lead to Baggett's arrest if he were pulled over by police.

Baggett, meanwhile, has been pointing to a 2008 consulting contract voted on by incumbent Tom Selinske that went to his former campaign manager, a vote that Baggett describes as a "travesty."

The Pasadena Weekly reported Friday that there is a bench warrant out for Baggett's arrest that was issued because of an unpaid fine stemming from a 2008 reckless driving conviction.

Baggett told Patch in an interview Friday that he successfully resolved the warrant by appearing at the Pasadena courthouse Friday morning and paying the fine, though by the time of the interview the courthouse was closed and the status of the warrant could not be confirmed.

He said that people are making too much of the issue.

"It's just an unpaid fine and as soon as I realized it I took care of it," Baggett said.

If the warrant is still active, Baggett would be subject to arrest if an officer of the law were to stop him and run his driver's license, according to Lt. Phlunte Riddle of the Pasadena Police Department, who told the Weekly this week that Baggett should turn himself in to the police and resolve the issue.  She said Friday she could not confirm whether the warrant had now been lifted or not.

Baggett and Selinske were the top two vote-getters in the March 8 primary election and have a runoff election scheduled for April 19.

Baggett said Friday that reports both in the Weekly and in the Pasadena Star News of his 2008 reckless driving case, which happened after he refused a breathalyzer at a sobriety checkpoint, were pushed to the media by campaign members of his opponent, Tom Selinske.

"I think [Selinske] has made poor decisions about who he has allowed inside his campaign, which is more poison to him than beneficial," Baggett said. "I think [Selinske] is an ineffective fundraiser and he is using the media for cheap slander opportunities."

Court records show that in addition to the reckless driving conviction, Baggett also was cited for public urination in 2006, though the case was dismissed. 

Baggett explained the reckless driving conviction as being the result of taking medicine while sick.  He said he refused to take a breathalyzer after being pulled over at a sobriety checkpoint over concerns that he might get a positive reading because of the medicine.  He was arrested for driving under the influence but the charges were thrown out, and he pleaded guilty to the reckless driving charges.

The Star News also reported that Baggett inaccurately stated that he got a Master's Degree at the University of California, San Diego.

In response to the allegations, Baggett has accused his opponent, incumbent Tom Selinske, of improperly voting on a contract that benefited a former member of his campaign team.

He pointed to a 2008 PUSD board-approved $115,000 consultant contract that was granted to Selinske's campaign manager, an accusation which also appeared in the Star News article.

Selinske said in an interview on Friday that he had consulted PUSD attorneys on whether he should recuse himself from voting on the contract, and they gave him the green light.

"I wanted to be very cautious as the new member of the board that we were doing things appropriately," Selinske said. "At first I recused myself, but according to the attorneys just because somebody works on your campaign is no reason not to vote on their contract, as long as you disclose that.  I disclosed it publicly."

He said that his recollection is that his vote was necessary to ensure that the contract passed because there was at least one board member absent from the meeting.

He also said that his campaign is not responsible for leaking any information on Baggett's past.

"I'm not clear who is sharing the information... I just had heard rumors," Selinske said.

He said that he thinks Baggett should reconsider his run for office.

"I had heard rumors about some of the arrest situation and I was shocked about those allegations," Selinske said.  "If some of them were true I don't know if it is best if my opponent serves on the board."

Baggett, for his part, said that Selinske's contract vote is an indication of poor decision making that should disqualify him for reelection.

"The biggest issue in this election are the allegations of lucrative business deals for Tom Selinske's friends and campaign people," Baggett said.  "It's borderline criminal [to do this] at a time when librarians and teachers are being laid off."

Baggett also said Friday that he believes Selinske is inaccurately describing himself as a "college professor" in his campaign materials.  Selinske has taught as an adjunct professor at Glendale Community College, Pasadena City College, and the Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising in Los Angeles, but never as a full-time tenure-track professor. 

Both Baggett and Selinske said Friday they don't believe their campaigns will be hurt by the news: since the reports surfaced both said they have seen a rush of supportive emails and calls, and both said they believe it will ultimately help their campaigns.