Top Aide to Zacarias Says He’ll Resign

Claiming he has become a victim of “intimidation tactics” in the battle for control of Los Angeles Unified, the school district’s top spokesman said late Sunday that he will resign his $101,000-a-year post in protest.

Brad Sales, communications assistant to embattled Supt. Ruben Zacarias, lashed out at what he said were attempts by newly appointed chief executive officer Howard Miller and board President Genethia Hayes to control information.

He said the two have repeatedly told him to stay silent regarding Zacarias’ efforts to maintain his control over the 700,000-student school system.

“I prefer to be on the side of the truth than with Darth Vader, and I feel there is a horrible shadow of darkness falling over the agency,” said Sales.

About himself and other high-ranking district staffers, Sales added: “We are the subject of gag orders and intimidation tactics and comment control. . . .”

Reached at home late Sunday, Miller said he was “saddened that Brad Sales has chosen to resign” and called him a “valuable spokesman for the district.”

But Miller denied that he ever told Sales to withhold information or had “done anything that I think can be interpreted as intimidation.” Hayes couldn’t be reached for comment.

Sales’ comments are sure to turn up the heat in a district that some say is already reeling out of control. Last week, the newly constituted board severely isolated his boss, Zacarias, by stripping him of direct control of the district and giving it to real estate attorney Miller, whom it named chief executive.

Although Miller reports directly to Zacarias, the move was seen by many--especially in the Latino community--as a bureaucratic coup, prompting cries of protest and a vow from Zacarias that he would not resign voluntarily.

Since 1995, Sales has served as Zacarias’ spokesman and advisor, helping the 70-year-old superintendent negotiate the shoals of public opinion while the system has undergone wrenching change.

Sales said the word came down some weeks ago that neither he nor top officials could comment on the ongoing developments at the Belmont Learning Complex, a $200-million high school construction project that is mired in environmental problems.

Sales said he came to his decision to quit last week, when he was prevented from giving a reporter agenda notices from the closed meeting at which Miller was appointed CEO.

Sales blamed that pressure on the board and Miller.

“I feel the board, the board president and the new CEO are involved in deceit, deflection and denial and are trying to squelch anyone who has anything to say to the contrary,” Sales said Sunday.

Sales added that he will announce his resignation at a news conference today.

Meanwhile, two high-ranking school district sources confirmed Sunday that the board has offered buyout packages to Chief Administrative Officer David Koch and general counsel Richard K. Mason--two of nine senior staff members who were recommended for discipline by the district’s internal auditor for their roles in the Belmont fiasco.

The sources said, however, they didn’t know if the offers would be accepted. Mason couldn’t be reached for comment.