Candidate acknowledges she lacks listed credentials

Union Tribune (2008-09-12) Chris Moran

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By Chris Moran
STAFF WRITER

September 12, 2008

EAST COUNTY – County school board candidate Rose Urdahl acknowledged she doesn't have the credentials for two jobs she listed, nor does she have the degree she initially claimed on her statement of candidacy.

A Superior Court judge has ordered the Registrar of Voters to strike the word “teacher” from the occupation line under Urdahl's name on the ballot and to remove the words “teacher” and “nurse” and the phrase “business degree from Kansas State University” from her statement of candidacy.

The ruling was prompted by a lawsuit filed last month by Heather Bass, a legal secretary. Urdahl is running for the 4th District seat on the county school board representing a large swath of East County, including parts of El Cajon, Santee, Alpine, Ramona and Julian.

Urdahl asked the registrar to remove the words but was informed that her statement and ballot designation could be changed only through a court order. Urdahl then agreed to most of the demands in Bass' lawsuit, and the order was issued last Friday.

Urdahl explained she considers herself a teacher even though she is not credentialed as one. She said she has taught arts and crafts to Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts and foster children and trained employees at the collections agency she runs with her husband.

She said she identified herself as a teacher at the suggestion of her campaign manager. Urdahl said she objected at first but ultimately agreed.

Urdahl said that although she is not a licensed nurse, she got training and functioned as one in the 1970s in a small Kansas town. “I don't have the license, but I had the qualifications,” she said. “If I went in and took the (licensed practical nurse) test now, I'd pass it with flying colors.”

She will continue to be listed as a businesswoman on the ballot. Urdahl said the business degree was on her statement of candidacy because of a misunderstanding with her campaign manager. She said she took classes but never completed the degree.

Her campaign manager, Ken Moser, said he assumed she had obtained an associate's degree because Urdahl said she had attended a community college for two years.

During the primary election campaign, Urdahl's husband, Larry, successfully sued one of her opponents. Mark Anderson of Santee had to change his job title on the ballot from community college professor to community college instructor.

“I had nothing to do with that lawsuit. My husband did this without me,” she said.

Urdahl, Anderson and businessman Chuck Taylor of Alpine ran for the county board seat in June. No one received 50 percent of the vote, so top vote-getters Urdahl and Anderson advanced to a run-off in November.

Moser tried to connect Bass to Anderson by alleging that American Federation of Teachers, a union in which Anderson is a leader, is behind the suit. Bass would not respond to the allegation, nor would her Santa Monica-based lawyer. Anderson said he knew nothing about the lawsuit until he was informed about the court order.

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Chris Moran: (619) 498-6637; chris.moran@uniontrib.com

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Rose Urdahl is the wife of, Grossmont Union High School board member, Larry Urdahl (who is running for reelection). Larry is one of the board members to sue the state over a bill signed by the Gov., and to support Prop 8 -

Both acts are signs of discrimination. He also supported Liberty Charter School (founded by Debbie Beyer) - A way to get around school vouchers, and a way to privatize public schools (with public money).