Harris selects Prescott resident Cyndy Nyman as Treasurer for the election fundraising committee; Nyman is Second Vice Chair of the Yavapai Community College Foundation; sits on Foundation Board with College President Wills, and heads its fundraising arm; slips past state conflict of interest law
The Prescott/Foundation/College influence has begun to trickle into the Verde Valley Governing Board election. The influence comes in the guise of Ms. Cyndy Nyman. Ms. Nyman, a Prescott resident, has taken the position of treasurer for Connie Harris, who is challenging Paul Chevalier for the open seat on the Community College Governing Board here in the Verde Valley. (Recall Harris was appointed to the seat despite revealing to the County Education Superintendent she had not lived in the Verde Valley for even a single year.)
Nyman is the Second Vice Chair of the Yavapai Community College Foundation. She sits on the Foundation Board with current Community College President Penelope Wills. She also co-chairs the Foundation fundraising committee.
State law prevents a College employee from holding such a political position as that now occupied by Nyman. However, because Nyman is a volunteer and the College Foundation a 501(c)(3) organization, she is able to just slip past state law conflict of interest provisions. Even so, the Blog believes taking a campaign office as a part of a political campaign involving the College while hold a College Foundation officer position presents at least a serious appearance of a conflict of interest. She should resign from the Foundation.