Lack Loses School Contract

The Santa Barbara school board voted to yank the contract of Santa Barbara builder David Lack-politically tight with many nationally prominent Republican candidates and advisors-for improvements at Washington Elementary School worth $860,000. The school board had been notified by Bank of Santa Barbara that Lack failed to pay off a $700,000 loan by its expiration date. He also had failed to provide the necessary bonding by the school district’s deadline. Even though Lack-who has brought such GOP luminaries as Rudy Giuliani, Christine Todd Whitman, and Michael Steele to town-showed up at last week’s meeting with a letter from his bank saying the two sides were negotiating to resolve outstanding issues, as well as a certificate showing he’d obtained the necessary bonding, school board members were not moved. The work was too far behind to meet the school district deadlines, they argued. Lack had been sued earlier this summer for failing to retire his loan when it came due. Furthermore, the bank charged Lack knowingly provided false information on his loan application, claiming to own a property that he, in fact, only rented. Lack said he planned to issue a statement next week. Because the contract was withdrawn, work at Washington School-moving several portables and carrying out Americans with Disabilities Act upgrades-will be postponed.