Capital Fellows Sign-on Letter
November 14, 2017
Robert Nelsen
President, Sacramento State University
nelsen@csus.edu
Steve Boilard
Executive Director, Center for California Studies
steve.boilard@csus.edu
Dear Mr. Nelsen and Mr. Boilard:
As former Senate, Assembly, Executive and Judicial Fellows, we, like all Californians, are horri ed and
infuriated to learn about the experiences of the Senate Fellow who was placed in Senator Tony
Mendoza’s o ce. On November 9th, the Sacramento Bee published an article where it is alleged that the
Senate Fellow was propositioned multiple times by the Senator as she was applying for a job in his
o ce. We stand uni ed in our belief that no employee, including a Fellow, should ever be placed in this
untenable situation.
While all details of this story are deeply problematic, we are most disturbed to learn that the person who
owed her the highest duty of care displayed the least. According to accounts in the Sacramento Bee,
Senate Fellows Program Director David Pacheco counseled the Fellow to wait and see if she could get a
job in the o ce instead of reporting the harassment and acting to protect her from further harm.
We ask that Mr. Pacheco immediately be placed on leave from his position and a full inquiry into press
reports regarding his actions be initiated. If it is discovered that Mr. Pacheco’s behavior was in any way
re ective of what has been reported, he must be terminated from his employment at the Center for
California Studies. We also request the university review its policies and procedures and ensure that all
employees abide by them.
The Capital Fellows Program was the start of a ful lling career in public policy for us. As alumni of this
esteemed program, we have recruited students to apply to be Capital Fellows, mentored Fellows, and
contributed to the Capital Fellows alumni community. We cannot in good conscience continue to
support a program that puts Fellows at risk until these problems are recti ed. We respectfully ask you to
quickly address these problems and help restore the Capital Fellows Program to its full honor.
Sincerely,
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