Ruehlig Accuses Belle of Falsifying Ballot Statement, Sends Letter to DA Encouraging Punishment

Contra Costa County Board of Education Trustee Cynthia Ruehlig has filed a complaint with the District Attorney alleging her opponent falsified his educational and professional status in his bid for Trustee.

As it stands today, Jeff Belle is 366 votes ahead of Ruehlig for the the Contra Costa County Board of Education Trustee seat, Ruehlig has submitted a 4-page letter (33-page document) to contra Costa County

In a 4-page letter to Contra Costa County District Attorney Mark Peterson, Ruehlig highlighted false information intentionally being presented to the public by Mr. Belle. She concluded the letter by encouraging Peterson to charge Belle with a felony.

“Mr. Belle has made a mockery of the election process and should be charged with a felony punishable with the maximum penalty allowed by law of $1,000 fine and 3 years imprisonment,” said Ruehlig.

It should be worth noting that at no point during the campaign did Cynthia Ruehlig challenge Mr. Belles candidate statement or ballot designation.

We attempted to reach Mr. Belle for comment and had no response.

Here is a copy of the letter sent by Ruehlig to the DA:

Dear Sir:

I would like to request the investigation of Mr. Jeffrey Belle for violation of California Election Code 1803:

“Any person who files or submits for filing a nomination paper or declaration of candidacy knowing that it or any part of it has been made falsely is punishable by a fine not exceeding one thousand dollars ($1,000) or by imprisonment pursuant to subdivision (h) of Section 1170 of the Penal Code for 16 months or two or three years or by both that fine an imprisonment”

Apparently, Mr. Belle knowingly provided false information in his declaration of candidacy filed with the Election Office on August 6, 2014, in an effort to maliciously influence the election result for the position of Area 5 Trustee of the Contra Costa County Board of Education.

Mr. Belle made false claims in his candidate statement which appeared in voter information pamphlet (A), distributed to approximately 88,000 eligible voters of Area 5. Mr. Belle also made false claims on his ballot designation worksheet (B) to gain the designation of “Educator”, based on training of students and health care practitioners in respiratory therapy.

Information verified by journalist Matthias Gafni printed in the Contra Costa Times on October 17, 2014 (c) repudiated Mr. Belle’s claim, to wit:

Voter Pamphlet: “I owned… an institute for training students in health care… a Registered Respiratory Therapist” (A)

Ballot Worksheet: “I trained respiratory therapy students by lecturing and tutoring them as well as other health care practitioners” (B-2)

CC Times: The investigator informed Belle he was illegally representing himself as a practitioner and Belle signed an affidavit saying he would no longer do so, according to the report (C-2).
“… on June 20, the state board cited Belle for “misrepresenting himself as a respiratory care practitioner and engaging in the practice of respiratory care without a current and valid license in California.” He was fined $8,200… Belle has not paid the fine” (C-3)

One June 20, 2014, the Respiratory Care Board of California issued a citation order (D) stating:

“On March 14, 2011, Subject… acknowledging he understood the following:… “No person shall engage in the practice of respiratory care or represent him/herself as such through verbal claim, sign advertisement, letterhead, business card, badge/name tag, or other representation unless he or she uses a valid license issued by the Board.” Jeffery Johura Belle was and is not licensed to practice respiratory care in the State of California nor was he ever issued a work permit.” (D-2 – D-3)

“Jeffery Johura Belle shall immediately cease and desist any and all unlicensed activities pursuant to the Respiratory Care Act.” (D-3)

“Jeffery Johura Belle shall pay civil penalties in the amount of $8,200 imposed for a violation of Business and Professions Code section 3760 (a) and (c) and 3761 subdivision (a) by misrepresenting himself as a respiratory care practitioner and engaging in the practice of respiratory care in California without a valid license. Jeffery Johura Belle shall pay the assessed $8,200 civil penalty to the Board” (D-3)

Mr. Belle signed and understood the order made by the Respiratory Care Board of California not to practice respiratory therapy, nor represent himself in any manner, shape or form as a respiratory therapist. Yet, he claimed to 88,000 voters that he was a “Registered Respiratory Therapist” (A) and that he trained students and health care practitioners in respiratory therapy (B-2)

Voter Pamphlet: “… Bachelor’s degree in Political Science” (A)

CC Times: “… claiming he had a bachelors degree from American University in Washington, DC… it appears Belle has no college degree. An American University registrar said Belle spent only one semester at the school and di not graduate.” (C-2)

Voter Pamphlet: “I’m completing a Master of Public Administration (MPA) degree in Health Policy” (A)

CC Times: “… claiming… a master’s degree from Oklahoma City University… an Oklahoma City University spokesman said Belle studied there, but received no degree” (C-2)

Oklahoma City University does not offer a Master of Public Administration degree (E-1). Even if it did, Mr. Belle would not qualify as “Admission to Oklahoma City University master’s degree programs is open to all students holding bachelor’s degrees”. (E-2)

Mr. Belle’s action is deliberate, calculated and not due to negligence. He has repeatedly submitted false credentials to other government agencies (switching schools and courses at different times) to obtain appointments to boost his profile in the voter information pamphlet.

Voter Pamphlet “ on the County’s Transit Authority Advisory Committee”

Mr. Belles application for appointment as representative to the County Transit Authority Advisory Committee falsely claimed he has the following educational credentials (F-2)

• MPA-Master of Public Administration (2014) Grand Canyon University
• Certificate in Public Health (John Hopkins University)
• B.S. – Political Science (Oklahoma City University / American University)

The admission requirement for Master of Public Administration at Grand Canyon University is a “Degree Bearing Transcript- an undergraduate degree from an accredited, GCU-approved college, university…” (G)

John Hopkins School of Public Health does not offer a Certificate in Public Health for non-degree Hopkins students (H-1) Even if it did, Mr. Belle is not eligible since “Eligibility- the Certificate is open to non-JHPH students with at least a baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university…” (H-2)

Voter Pamphlet: “…Emergency Medical Care Committee”

Mr. Belles application for appointment as representative to the emergency Medical Care Committee falsely claimed his resume that he has the following educational credentials (I-4):

• University of Penn, Certificate, health Policy and Affordable Care Act
• Stanford University, Certificate, Critical Writing in the Sciences
• John Hopkins University, Certificate, Changes in Community Health

The University of Penn does not offer a Certificate in public Health Policy and Affordable Care Act. (J)

Stanford University does not offer a Certificate in Critical Writing in the Sciences (K-1 and K-2) Even if it did, Mr. Belle does not meet the requirement of “a conferred Bachelor’s degree (K-3)

Mr. Belle is not eligible for a certificate program at John Hopkins; aside from the fact that John Hopkins does not offer a Certificate in Changes in Community Health. (H-1)

Mr. Belle knew, or should have known, at the time he signed the declaration of candidacy, the consequence of providing fake educational credentials in election documents. His criminal action is made even more egregious as Mr. Belle aspires to a position of Trustee in an educational agency. Mr. Belle has made a mockery of the election process and should be charged with a felony punishable with the maximum penalty allowed by law of $1,000 fine and 3 years imprisonment.

Your immediate action is highly appreciated

Yours truly

Cynthia Teves-Ruehlig

Editors Note: Letter + documentation was 33-pages