Politicians call for trustee's ouster

Monday, September 21, 1998

IRVINE (AP) - Republicans and Democrats joined forces at a fundraiser to back the recall campaign against a college trustee accused of being a bigot.

About 100 political figures from both parties gathered Saturday for an effort aimed at recalling Steven J. Frogue from the South Orange County Community College District board.

Reps. Christopher Cox, R-Newport Beach, and Dana Rohrabacher, R-Huntington Beach, said the registered Republican should not hold the nonpartisan trustee's post.

Rep. Loretta Sanchez, D-Santa Ana, said the movement epitomizes the need for political parties to work together to make ''Orange County a good place to live.''

The event raised $40,000 that will be used to pay for collectors to gather signatures to qualify for a special recall election.

Critics say Frogue, who teaches history at Foothill High School in Tustin, was insensitive for proposing a seminar on conspiracy theories that included a view that the Israeli government assassinated President John F. Kennedy.

Dozens of newspaper stories and sworn affidavits from Frogue's former students also quote him as claiming the Holocaust is exaggerated, denouncing the Anti-Defamation League and referring to Asians as ''yellow people,'' among other things.

He repeatedly has denied the accusations.

Jim Scott, who defended Frogue outside the gathering,described the event as a ''Frogue lynch mob.''