KHTS Radio Santa Clarita Radio – Santa Clarita News
KHTS received several vulgar text messages from a Saugus Union School District board member that show profanity-laced insults directed at members of the Santa Clarita community.
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Julie Olsen, the newest of the elementary school district’s governing board, sent the texts over a period of at least a year, with the earliest messages obtained by KHTS dating back to December of 2016, the year she was elected.
In the messages, Olsen referenced several people, calling them expletive-laden and insulting names.
Some of the texts from Julie Olsen that were provided to KHTS anonymously. They show her using crass language to describe members of the community.
Among them, a Santa Clarita resident named Jill G. was called a “total c**t” in a text Olsen sent referencing former Castaic School Board member Bruce Fox, who ran against her in 2016.
Another text called Castaic resident John Z. “an impotent little troll,” and said he hated Olsen because “I won’t suck his d**k. I won’t suck his d**k because he doesn’t have one.”
California delegate Shawnee B. was called a “psycho drama queen,” in similar texts. And Democratic activist Julie Hannant was referred to as a “snapchat addicted teenager” and a “f***ing weirdo.”
Sandra Cattell, a representative from the Sierra Club, was referred to as a “f***ing b***h.” Olsen said she wished Cattell and Santa Clarita businessman Nate Imhoff would “crash into each other in a fiery fatal blaze.”
Cattell said although she was unaware of the texts, Olsen had apologized to her for her conduct sometime after they were sent.
“Julie and i talked quite a few months ago,” Cattell said. “She apologized months ago to me and told me ‘I’ve seen how hard you work and how much you care about people. I was wrong and I apologize.’”
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The messages reviewed by KHTS were sent over a year-long period, starting in 2016, the same year she was elected to the board.
Imhoff was “shocked” upon learning of the texts, he told KHTS.
“I am shocked and dismayed to hear that a fellow parent and a person of power in our education system would say that about anyone,” he said.
KHTS made numerous attempts to contact Olsen about the texts, but she did not return multiple requests for comment before this story went to print.
In a statement, the Saugus Union District said the other members of the governing board are aware of the situation, and are looking into it “in accordance with board policy.”
KHTS spoke with several Saugus Union School District Board members who expressed their concern upon hearing about the text messages, especially after the previous challenges with ex-trustee Stephen Winkler.
In 2013, Winkler was censured over inappropriate comments comments he allegedly made through social media accounts, and accusations of maintaining a residence in Sylmar, outside of school district boundaries.
The school board voted 4-1 to remove him from the district’s governing body, and a lawsuit in 2014 officially ended his term.
Related Story: Judge Finds For Saugus Union In Effort To Oust Stephen Winkler
After the Winkler incident, the district added provisions to their bylaws to address possible future incidents, officials said.
District officials are still working to determine if the multiple texts, sent over a 12-month period, are enough to activate those board policies.
Ed. Note: We heard from our listeners after posting this story and realize it serves no purpose in naming specific names who were innocently referred to in the Julie Olsen texts, so we have eliminated their last names from the story. To make it totally clear, we have been sitting on these texts and many others for many weeks and did not report on this until after we were told the Saugus Union School Board was investigating this matter.
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I’m not shocked at all about that with Julie. For years I have witnessed her hateful behavior. She would literally try and pick fights with my husband and I for having conservative beliefs. What’s ironic is I met Julie at church.
Says “Anonymous…” LOL
I’m offended that I was not included in any of Julie’s texts.
How would you know that?
Just like “the boys”, it takes only one person to come forward before others come forward also. So, give it time, you still have a chance.
I’ll keep the hope alive.
You’re offensive in general Marxist boy.
Gracias comrade.
This is ridiculous. The fact that someone turned over these alleged texts makes it obvious that someone is looking to “get” Julie because she doesn’t tow the party line in this town. How sad. This garbage is a story to KHTS, yet you continue to give a racist, homophobic bigot a platform: Your poster child Joe Messina. Pathetic.
Your article fails to note that these were private messages obtained by KHTS from whomever acquired them, by nefarious means, no doubt. That said, some of them contain a shocking misuse of pronouns and numerous spelling errors.
Dear Ms. Bratslavsky, In defense of KHTS, I think its appropriate that the station provides
a place for the free and open expression of all points of view, including the views of Joe Messina, well known California State Republican leader, Shock Jock, and Hart Unified High School District Board of Trustees member responsible for some of the more scandalous verbiage in the City’s history. My only concern is that intelligent independent spoke persons for the opposite views are not provided with equal time, a decision that probably reflects the views and policies of the owners of the station.
I have never heard Julie speak of anyone this way including one of the people supposedly targeted in these “texts”. I have no doubt this is embellished.
KHTS is not clear in its reporting as to whom Julie Olsen sent the text and how they came to be in possession of the texts if they were not the recipient. Clearly, it seems Julie Olsen does not seem to have the tolerance that one probably needs when getting into local politics. Her coarse language is reflective of the lack of comity nowadays in politics. However, the right to privacy is supposedly a guaranteed right. Could other school members, politicians, KHTS staff’s text messages pass the same scrutiny?
Oh my!!! She’s actually real!! I think I like her even more now. I’m sure all the people she’s “insulted” deserved the “compliments”… Lol. Everybody else thinks the things she’s said. She’s the voice of reason.
Not surprised. I’ve had several encounters with Julie and wish I was smart enough to save them. I doubt this is the only time or last time we hear about her crass behavior.
Swearing at Democrat activists and (environmentalist wackos (Sierra Club Reps)
I’m beginning to kind of like Julie Olsen!
Maybe there is hope for our town.
Clarification: Verbally attacking Democrat activists and environmental wacko’s from the Sierra Club is a good thing, and something that all patriotic Americans should be doing regularly. Apparently, Julie Olsen (of the Saugus School board) is also a Democrat activist, if that’s the case she needs to go!
All Democrat activists need their heads examined and be swiftly removed from office and not allowed anywhere near our children.
Wow! Is KHTS considered an authentic news source? More like a gossip rag, no better than the National Enquirer. Publishing private conversations? Is that the new definition of integrity? How were these private texts obtained?! Shame on you for so obviously trying to cause division over so.ething so silly and unimportant. Perhaps it’s poorly veiled tactic to distract from the real crimes being denied by the conservatives.
This isn’t news, it’s gossip.
Julie is a died in the wool liberal. They all talk like that. Give her a pass….it’s the liberal way..now if Joe Messina ever says something like that…scream to the hills cuz thars venom in his veins!!! I want to know if Julie the smart mouth has sexually harassed anyone……..
Do I see you can’t handle the truth KHTS??? Why would you censor my 2 posts? No profanity…
I don’t like Julie. She’s a snot. But you David are a hateful nut job. I would take her over you any day.
Mr McCrory,
Thank you for the opportunity to speak with you about this. I still believe Julie Olsen is a great asset to the community, on the school board as well as in her work throughout our community. Words said in anger in a private forum, while somewhat distasteful, is something we have all done at one time or another. We all grow and have the ability to change. I am still concerned why someone has released what appears to be old private messages at this time, in an effort to discredit her. I believe that is your real story.
Sandra Cattell
Sandra, you and I have known each other for aongbtime though we disagree about a lot of non-local politics, I have come to know you as someone who has the best interests of the city at heart. That is why I am appalled by your claim that this is water under the bridge because she apologized to you. Elected leaders are held to a higher standard than that of 2 sparring community members. Julie has long showed she is more disagreeable and contemptuous of differing opinion than is healthy for the community.
Wow, you’re a hypocrite. What about all the crap Joe Messina has said in public forums.
You might consider studying about the power of forgiveness Kevin. It might work wonders with your attitude toward your fellow man.
You can’t be more mad than the person to whom the words were directed. LOL
I don’t condone such language, but this was all said as a private message. None of it was said in public. How did it come to be public? It appears someone hacked Ms. Olsen’s private messages then turned them over to KHTS. I am sure Olsen is not the only one of any of the above commenters to have used course language in private. Although this should be a warning to everyone to never assume that emails or facebook posts are private, one can only wonder why KHTS has nothing to say about a public officials private messages being hacked. Foul language is inappropriate, but it is certainly not illegal. What is really going on here?
In light of the post of text messages from last year attributed to Julie Olsen (one of which is about me) to the putrid new “SCVleaks” site – and KHTS’s questionable decision to re-post them on its site and likewise here without reacting names – I wanted to share my reaction now that this has become public …
Among those who closely follow local politics it was well known that I was quite disappointed in the way some Lou Vince supporters comported themselves in last cycle’s Primary. Julie also knew exactly how I felt – because I shared my thoughts with her directly at that time – so it comes as no surprise to me now that she might have been a tad angry with me then.
Few among us would want their private messages – obviously intended for a friend’s eyes only – to be made public. As rants go, I actually found Julie’s comment about me to be pretty creative, both pithy and funny, and I am not at all upset with her. Instead, I reserve my full disdain for whomever released her private thoughts. Unfortunately, not everyone was born with a “class” gene.
Julie and I long ago buried the proverbial hatchet, and we are now working together to turn the 25th Congressional District blue. This post to the SCVleaks site will not change that, in any way whatsoever, because when Dems vote, Dems win.
#endtheknightmare! #dobettercarlgoldman #khtsfail
You better leave “Lou Vince supporters” out of this discussion before I anonymously release my texts about you.
If theses messages were intended to be public, she should suffer the consequences. That being said, we are not a society which seeks to “police” peoples thoughts, no matter how distasteful they are. It’s her freedom to be dumb, and it’s nobody’s business unless she actually threatens or harasses anyone. Vote For LOGIC
If a student were to send these types of text messages on or off campus, private or not. The student would be punished. Mrs. Olsen should set a better example. If action is not taken against her poor choice in texting her thoughts than no student should be disciplined for doing the same.
I dare any of you to allow a media outlet access to your private text messages and emails. That KHTS found this fit to print says more about it than about the target of the story.
I have a few questions to ask Chris McCrory (name on the byline of this story).
-Who is/are the source(s) of these texts?
-Is there a reason why the names of the source(s) for the texts are not mentioned in the article that you published?
-When you presented these texts to the people you interviewed for their reaction, did you reveal the source for the texts?
-Who were the “several Saugus Union School District Board members who expressed their concern upon hearing about the text messages”?
Thanks in advance for responding to the above questions that I’ve asked.
Ok…so, an easy way to know it came from the person she “trusted* is the format of the conversation.
In FB messenger, incoming msgs are to the reader’s left along with the profile photo of the sender.
The source profile would have their outgoing msgs displayed on their right side of the display and no profile photo.
Had this come from Julie’s FB account, her msgs would be right aligned.
Julie knows exactly who gave up these msgs.
The lack of public comment by Julie Olsen says volumes about her personality. Is this the person you want to sit on the SUSD Board? The example that Julie Olsen displays for the SUSD children is unacceptable. Good job KHTS on bringing this important issue into the public forum.
I made a comment about this article which apparently did not pass the KHTS standard for posting since the website indicates that it is “awaiting moderation” and Ken W. reply which was posted over 3 hours later has cleared moderation. So here it is:
I have a few questions to ask Chris McCrory (name on the byline of this story).
-Who is/are the source(s) of these texts?
-Is there a reason why the names of the source(s) for the texts are not mentioned in the article that you published?
-When you presented these texts to the people you interviewed for their reaction, did you reveal the source for the texts?
-Who were the “several Saugus Union School District Board members who expressed their concern upon hearing about the text messages”?
Thanks in advance for responding to the above questions that I’ve asked.
Some pretty dirty language. I have never heard a woman talk like that except in some r rated film. Is that how she talks to friends ?
We wish she did. But no, she’s pretty boring live.
Will, you need to get out more often. Women cuss! I as a woman freely admit that. (You know, equality and all that) I am not a fan of the c word but, we don’t live in a G rated world and people who tend to cuss have been scientifically proven to be more honest in all aspects of their lives. These are private messages and she was blowing off steam. Appropriate? Not for public consumption but that is not how they were intended. Apparently she pissed off her partner in crime and was outed, but has the courtesy to not return the favor. John Zaring, the receiver of undoubtedly some of the worst she dished out, finds no fault (from a previous comment here) with her personal outburst and neither should we. Those who live in glass houses should not throw stones.
Chris McCrory looks like he’s about 18, which is prob why KHTS assigned this high school level drama story to his unsuspecting derear.
This story has now been posted on your website for over 10 days and it is really starting to smell like the rotting garbage that Chris McCrory must have dug through as his source. This is not journalism unless the writer (McCrory) can answer these basic inquiries:
-Who is/are the source(s) of these texts?
-Is there a reason why the names of the source(s) for the texts are not mentioned in the article that you published?
-When you presented these texts to the people you interviewed for their reaction, did you reveal the source for them?
-Who were the “several Saugus Union School District Board members who expressed their concern upon hearing about the text messages”?
Looks like the good ol’ boy nerwork in the SCV is trying to crucify a female school board member for using “bad” words to describe her opponents in PRIVATE text messages. The biggest shock is that a reputable news source would print this garbage which is clearly politically motivated. The double standard is alive and well. We have a Hart School board member who regularly embarrasses himself on the air and in public posts with his rants. When are we going to get a peek at his text messages KHTS?
Dear, KHTS,
I’m disgusted that you found this story “News”.You’re unnecessarily endangering the career of an amazing person who’s trying to make a difference for our children. You have a voice – why don’t you use it to educate and better people’s lives rather than publishing gossipy garbage.
I’m posting this for context in response to a number of comments.
“As many of you have heard, some of my past private messages with a former friend were released publicly without my consent or validation. Some of these old messages contained ugly words, uttered in frustration prior to and during the 2016 election cycle. In them, I said some things that I deeply regret and I am sorry for,” Olsen said in a statement to the board during a Nov. 21 meeting. “Those who know me well know my true character and my heart and those who don’t, I hope will come to understand that this situation does not define who I am. However, I have learned some painful lessons and have prayed about what’s next. I hope we can now return our focus to what is truly important – our families and the work.”
https://signalscv.com/2017/12/olsen-apologizes-release-private-text-messages