Galatolo trial nears end


The trial began Oct. 29, and each side has argued their own distinctive version of Galatolo and the rationale for his decision-making. The jury must ultimately decide if the friendships and connections Galatolo maintained are genuine or strategically influenced for his personal gain. 

Galatolo defense attorney Charles Smith began his closing arguments, with a blanketed refutation of all charges against him, assuring that the defendant was only ever acting in the best interest of the San Mateo County Community College District and its students. 

The defense chalked up the allegations against Galatolo as mere mistakes or at most violations of the school district’s policy. Alternatively, prosecutor and Deputy District Attorney Joe Cannon said Galatolo made efforts in both his personal and professional life to conceal and take advantage of the system. 

“These crimes are not accidents, they are repeated patterns of fraud,” Cannon said. 

In Cannon’s closing statement, he emphasized Galatolo’s character, as described by his ex-wife Lore Lehr, as a defining trait by which Galatolo lived his life.

Galatolo often said “It’s good to be king,” when he was questioned about how things were paid for and where money was coming by Lehr, according to her testimony. 

The prosecution described Galatolo as a public officer who was misguided and driven by invitations to a luxurious lifestyle, to which he grew accustomed. 

During his chancellorship, Galatolo accepted luxury gifts like tickets to the Super Bowl and the NBA Finals, tickets for his daughter to see Kanye West in concert and first-class plane tickets to Dubai from the same contracting principals whose firms he had allegedly prioritized for building contracts, Cannon said.

Nine of the charges against Galatolo are for perjury for allegedly failing to disclose gifts he received, bestowed upon him by the construction company Allana Buick & Bers and its CEO, Karim Allana — who obtained six contracts worth $7 million total with the district from 2014 to 2019. 

The trial largely concerned two specific contracts granted for Cañada College’s solar panel project and Building 23, respectively, both of which are now finished. The solar contract was eventually awarded to Allana Buick & Bers, and the Building 23 contract was awarded to another firm the prosecutors are tying to the former chancellor, McCarthy Building Companies. 

Smith said there’s no law against having friends with whom you may conduct business. 

The prosecution's effort to paint Galatolo as “rich party guy” was unfair and false, Smith argued. 

During Galatolo's 18-year tenure, he led the district through major facility upgrades at each of the three campuses, Smith said, pivoting the portrayal of the former chancellor in a far more positive light.  

The state-of-the-art facilities across campuses were the result of an effort by Galatolo to make Cañada College, the College of San Mateo and Skyline College “just as good” as any other university, Smith said. 

“What more could demonstrate the irrefutable truth that Ronald Galatolo acted in the public good,” Smith said. 

The end result of completed capital improvement projects, including Cañada College’s solar panel project and Building 23 — and the subsequent benefit to community college students across the district — is ultimately irrelevant, Cannon said. 

The defense has argued at times that certain fiscal disclosures were unnecessary and any money saved as a result of the alleged conduct is minimal. Cannon said it’s not about the dollar amount, this case is about a public official abusing the trust of his staff and constituents. 

“The issue is transparency because the public has a right to know if public officials are free from outside influence,” Cannon said.  

Closing arguments will continue 8:30 a.m. Wednesday, Jan. 7.

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