During my almost 13 years in Culver City, David Mielke, president of the Teachers Union, is one of the kindest, the most sensitive and the funniest persons I have met.
A grievous faux pas has been committed, though, by Mr. Mielke and the union leadership. It must be publicly acknowledged.
At times, the obvious demands explication. It must not be lazily, glibly assumed.
For a few dollars this month, the hungry, spectacularly misjudging Teachers Union sacrificed banker Vernon Taylor, the rare black candidate for electoral office in Culver City. So rare that a black man never has been elected in this enlightened community.
To the blare of trumpets in late August, the Teachers Union and the Assn. of Classified Employees endorsed Karlo Silbiger, Claudia Vizcarra and Mr. Taylor.
When the Teachers Union solicited a helping green hand from perhaps the roughest labor organization in Los Angeles, the County Federation of Labor, where nice boys do not go to play, the embarrassment of Mr. Taylor spun into motion.
The County Fed supposedly interviewed the three candidates. They loved Mr. Silbiger. They loved Ms. Vizcarra. They kicked Mr. Taylor in the shins and screeched, “Go away.”
According to Mr. Mielke, the County Fed, like any self-respecting sneak, lurked in the bushes. Shhh. They insisted on certain hush, hush conditions.
One was that when Mr.Mielke dutifully sat down and penned a recommendation letter, he only was permitted to tout two names. As if he were a free man, Mr. Mielke wrote cheerfully that Mr. Silbiger and Ms. Vizcarra were the best darned candidates available for the three School Board seats open for the Nov. 5 election. You know, what’s-his-name. He still in town?
Eh, wot?
Who made No. 3 disappear?
What an astounding snub.
A case can be made that banker Taylor is the nicest of the seven School Board candidates – and his credentials are spotless.
Except to the genteel judges of human flesh over at the County Fed, where they drink sewer water at tea time.
Mr. Mielke says it was a difficult decision for the Teachers Union whether to embrace the Make Taylor Disappear conditions set by the would-be Godfathers or blow them off.
Money often triumphs over intelligent human welfare. See above for the latest example.
After a moment, the decision to embrace the bad guys was made by the Teachers Union with a clean heart.
Mr. Taylor? The Teachers Union dumped him into the nearest gutter – until the next time they need him to brighten their showcase.
