Front Page  »  

Cuesta College trustee refuses to step down

November 13, 2020

Pete Sysmak

After listening to dozens of community members ask for his resignation while claiming he is racist and homophobic, Cuesta College Board President Peter Sysak on Thursday refused to resign.

Elected in 2014 to the Cuesta College board, Sysak is a Republican who has shared a number of controversial memes on social media. In response to an onslaught of Black Lives Matter protests, Sysmak wrote that we do not have a “police problem, we have a disrespectful criminal thug problem.”

BLM leader Tianna Arata, who is charged with 13 misdemeanors regarding alleged rioting, said during public comment that it is “utterly disgusting” that Sysmak is permitted to remain on the board.

In response to allegations he is a racist, homophobic, Sysmek said, “I will say for the record that I’m a supporter of All Lives Matter; for Black, Latino, Asian, LGBTQ, people of color, the unborn. I’m against discrimination, hate crimes, racist groups. And I’m against defunding the police department and blue lives do matter.”

While the majority of public commenters asked Sysak to resign, he said he would not be bullied.

“These written and verbal attacks have been an assault on my character and integrity,” Sysak said. “I will not be bullied by these attacks.”

In the end, the board voted unanimously to create an internal advisory committee of two members, Mary Strobridge and Patrick Mullen, to investigate the social media posts.

The committee will present their findings at a Dec. 9 meeting.


Loading...
Related:


48 Comments
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments

Because he doesn’t subscribe to a left-wing agenda makes him a bigot?


47

I haven’t seen the social media posts in question. But stating he supports all lives, Black, Latino, Asian, LGBTQ etc, against hate, discrimination, and supports law enforcement hardly makes him a bigot. That’s ridiculous. And Tiana Stats is chiming in?? I don’t know this man but already support him.


72

So a bigot was accidentally elected. Oh well, it’s not the first time and it won’t be the last. Just vote him out next cycle.


-58

As far as I can tell from reading and studying various qualifications and requirements contained in state and local statutes, there is nothing anywhere that states a person running to serve on a community college board of trustees must subscribe to a liberal agenda – nor conservative agenda nor any agenda for that matter.


Go pick on someone else.


90

Forcing someone to resign because of private, !st Amendment protected, free speech rights, is the height of Fascism. Those who are calling for Sysmak’s resignation, including The Tribune, are Fascists. How do these Fascist like it when others call them disparaging names?


79

Just because we have free speech, doesn’t mean there are no consequences.


For example let’s say you hire me to improve your home. Mid-way through the project I mention that I think your mother is a harlot — you have the right to ask for my resignation, just as I have the right to my speech.


-52

Pete Sysak absolutely has the right to say whatever the hell he wants. But his constituency also has the right to call for his resignation. His posts claim all Muslims were responsible for 9/11, that gays are immoral perverts, that white supremacist groups like the Proud Boys aren’t so bad. If you want to think that people calling for his resignation are fascists because of that, I’d suggest you go do some research on what actual fascism looks like because it sure as hell isn’t this.


-31

Isn’t caving to the mob, thank you!


60

Clap, clap, clap! Good for him!


89

I don’t understand why you would post this. He seems like a bigot to me. So, not worthy of being an elected official. But maybe I am missing something. Thanks for commenting.


-72

Yes, George. You are missing something.


41

What specifically makes him seem like a bigot?


18

Maybe it was the posts blaming all Muslims for 9/11? Or maybe it was the posts asking what’s wrong with white supremacist groups like the proud boys? Or maybe the posts implying gays are immoral perverts? Maybe it was that….


-31

It has been said, I may not agree with what you say but I wii defend to the death your right to say it.


55

I clearly understand that everyone has a right to their opinion however, I question Sysmak’s judgement on not tightening the privacy screws down on his social media outlets to just his immediate circle.


Lord knows we don’t want Tianna’s panty’s in a bunch (just kidding).


37
1 2 3