The Cabrillo College Governing Board voted Monday to censure Trustee Steve Trujillo for a second time, citing findings from an investigation into professional misconduct and violations of board policies.
The board approved the censure at its May 4 meeting following a two-month inquiry by an ad hoc committee made up of Trustees Donna Ziel and Ken Wagman. The committee was formed in March to investigate Trujillo’s conduct, including comments directed at a college employee during a February board meeting.
According to the college, the investigation also examined Trujillo’s social media posts, phone calls to the Watsonville city manager’s office and complaints he filed with the California Community Colleges Chancellor’s Office regarding matters the board said were outside the agency’s jurisdiction.
The committee concluded that Trujillo violated District Board Policies 2200, 2430 and 2715.
“When a Trustee repeatedly violates the District’s Board Policies, the Board must take a firm stand that such behavior is unacceptable,” Board Chair Donna Ziel said in a statement. “I am grateful for the Board’s support of the recommendation by the Ad Hoc Committee to issue this second censure.”
Trujillo was previously censured by the board in November 2023.
A censure does not remove a trustee’s voting rights but serves as a formal public reprimand. Under Cabrillo board protocols, censured trustees are barred from holding board leadership positions or serving as officers for three years.
The board also approved an amendment Monday extending that restriction to board subcommittee assignments, preventing censured trustees from serving on subcommittees for three years.
In an emailed response, Trujillo called the action retaliatory.
“This censure was a revenge measure by the board chair as a result of my complaint to the CCC Chancellor office about her discrepancies in the hiring process of our new college president,” Trujillo wrote. “And I am proud to have advocated for a 3 minute response time from WPD, for any gun violence incident on our Watsonville campus.”
THANKS FOR PUBLISHING THE ARTICLE. i am so proud to stand up against a board chair, Donna Ziel , who has shown disregard for nearly all of my proposals since i came to the board in 2020. this censure is ABSURD ! that is why the American Civil Liberties Union is taking me on as client. why?
1. i apologized to Travaris Harris. i should have sent him an email in February telling him i wanted him to speak about Black history month. i apologized. he accepted. my relationship with him is intact.
2 . i had every right to complain to the CCC chancellor about the board chair’s disregard of the rules and protocols to be followed in appointing a campus president. alll 7 trustees have a say in who gets hired. she ignored that completely.
3. i do not apologize for my characterization of Vance or the Trump cabinet. as Gabriel Medina reminded me: ” they cannot punish you for your political opinions. ”
4. i had EVERY RIGHT to demand the city manager let the police chief know we have a right at our Watsonville campus to expect a 3 minute response window if our campus is attacked by snipers. we are ONE BLOCK from the police station on Union street.
Fascism is in fascism, folks, even in places you might not expect. let the college know you dont like it. you can reach board chair at : dz***@**************lo.edu
Steve Trujillo 774 Bronte avenue 831-251-3329
I think most people are tired of your comments & opinions. It’s just attention seeking now. Every time your name comes up I switch platforms. Newspaper, Nextdoor, x. Over it dude.