Twin Rivers to appoint Quinn replacement, avoid special election

The Twin Rivers Unified school board voted Wednesday to fill the seat vacated by Cortez Quinn with an appointment rather than a special election, district officials said.

The district would have paid between $56,000 and $112,000 for a special election, according to Twin Rivers officials.

The Area 5 trustee resigned last month after he pleaded no contest to a felony count of conspiracy to obstruct justice in a paternity case and two misdemeanors for illegally taking gifts and loans from a school district employee.

The Sacramento County District Attorney’s Office said Quinn, 47, colluded with a laboratory technician to submit a false DNA sample after the same Twin Rivers Unified employee filed a legal action saying he was the father of the child.

Twin Rivers has until Dec. 15 to find a new board member.

The school board’s bylaws require the board to solicit candidate applications and nominations, and assemble a committee of board members to review submissions. The board will interview the candidates at a public meeting and select an appointee by majority vote.

Applicants for the seat must reside in Trustee Area 5 – North Natomas and Robla – and would hold office until the term expires in 2016.

This story was originally published November 7, 2014 at 6:27 PM with the headline "Twin Rivers to appoint Quinn replacement, avoid special election."