The question isn’t going away: Was Alexander Bronson and Ashley Drain legal residents of the Manteca Unified School District let alone the area they were running to represent when they filed last August to seek election?
The actual filing candidacy papers that triggered the voter fraud investigation now underway by the Secretary of State’s office aren’t the only documents listing Bronson and Drain being housemates in the 600 block of Verda Drive in Manteca.
The two filed Form 700s — state-required conflict of interest forms — that again list the same Verda Drive address. In each case Drain’s form had the original address crossed off and different location in Weston Ranch written in.
Bronson’s 700 form was filed on Aug. 5 and Drain’s on Aug. 6.
As an added note, neither one claimed any reportable income which means they had neither a job nor a business.
The landlord that owns the house as well as the long-term tenants never heard of Bronson or Drain until such time as their use of the address raised red flags.
Makes you kind of winder what pillars of the district’s much ballyhooed Character Counts the two may be emulating as role models for 23,000 youth.
• • •
Young men of character at Weston Ranch
Speaking of character — the strong kind that is — an impressive undertaking at Weston Ranch High deserves ink.
Under the leadership of head coach Seth Davis, the daily drills for Cougar football player including hitting the books in a 45-minute study hall where they receive tutoring if they need it.
During the off-season the study hall is mandatory before players can hit the weight room. And during football season it is a prerequisite before heading out to the practice field.
It’s paid off dramatically. Since 2013 the grade point average of football players has bulked up to 3.0. That also means the ranks of Cougar football players are now in the 40 plus range, almost double two years ago when eligibility sidelined have the team.
Assistant coaches are paired with four to six players. They not only work with them in study hall but keep tabs on them as well as mentors. It has produced impressive improvements in attendance and citizenship.
At the same time, high school football players serve as similar mentors to middle school youths playing football.
While it does definitely build a stronger and more unified football program with a growing feeder crop of future players as well, that’s a side benefit. Davis and his coaches believe an education is the biggest pay-off of high school sports. At the same time winning in school is helping Weston Ranch win on the football field as well.
Manteca Unified trustee Sam Fant, who represents Weston Ranch, lauded it as an effective way to help build strong futures for students by keeping them connected to school and obtaining and education.
