Morgan Hill schools trustee David Gerard says he feels “profound sorrow and embarrassment” over a series of jaw-dropping emails he sent ridiculing and insulting school officials.

The vulgar parodies disparaging fellow school board members, Superintendent Steve Betando, other administrators and even an ally provided fresh shock and titillation for followers of the fractious board.

The messages were part of a trove of correspondence the district released to Morgan Hill Life and the Morgan Hill Times — now posted on the paper’s website — in response to a public-records request for emails between board members and proponents of a recall.

It turns out that Gerard used his district email account to send crass commentaries ridiculing one woman’s “slut shoes,” a trustee’s “fingernails-scraping-the-chalkboard-voice,” another’s “elephantine lumbering” and some unprintable insults.

He sent a fake news story alleging “massive systemwide corruption” in the district and that his rivals engaged in money-laundering and cavorting with a drug smuggler and prostitute.

Another Gerard email compared Morgan Hill to the Deep South of the ’50s and ’60s, and recall proponents to civil rights workers (including Rosa Parks and Martin Luther King).

He cast Betando as George Wallace, board President Bob Benevento as Sheriff “Bull” Connor, and trustees Ron Woolf and Donna Ruebusch to deputies holding vicious dogs and fire hoses.

Betando sent a districtwide letter calling the messages intolerable.

Of the emails, Gerard wrote to IA, “It was a terrible mistake to send them.”

“I’ve already started on counseling and coaching for myself to ensure this never happens again,” Gerard wrote.

“I’m seeking guidance from my faith community on what deeper steps I must take.” And he’s seeking forgiveness for his “lapse in judgment.”

The recall campaign, by the way, aims not at Gerard but at one of his targets, Benevento.

Pot collectives not stoked with city’s marijuana czar

Medical pot peddlers have accused the city’s marijuana czar in the city manager’s office of lying and making threats.

Angelique Gaeta is under fire after an “internal meeting” with 15 weed collectives on Dec. 1. Gaeta, who’s in charge of regulating the marijuana shops, allegedly pressured them not to support a 2016 ballot measure to replace the city’s strict pot rules with something more like the free-for-all they’ve enjoyed for years.

“She even went so far as to threaten that if support were given to the initiative, she would immediately end all city cooperation with the collectives,” said a letter signed by 10 of the groups.

“We are disheartened that the very regulator from which we expect a sense of truth and fair dealing is found to be lacking these very basic precepts.”

Benson Hausman, the executive director of Elemental Wellness Center, said Gaeta called the meeting to discuss collectives’ concerns before the Dec. 18 deadline to comply with the rules. But, he said, the meeting took an unexpected turn when she “out of the blue” started asking about the initiative and who would support it.

Gaeta later wrote in a memo to the City Council that 13 weed shops were “unaware” of the ballot measure, which they called a lie. Then, they say Gaeta told them she’d stop working with those who supported it.

Gaeta hung up when asked for comment and didn’t return calls for comment.

City Manager Norberto Duenas, Gaeta’s boss, says he was “disappointed” by the letter but quickly dismissed the claims.

“I’ve known Angelique to work on this issue for years, and I’m not buying that she would threaten folks,” Duenas said. “I have to use my judgment on how much time I want to spend reacting to something like this.”

Third Carrasco staffer leaves to accept tailor-made job

Victor Gomez, chief of staff to San Jose Councilwoman Magdalena Carrasco, is leaving City Hall and has accepted a job at the San Jose Silicon Valley Chamber of Commerce as the director of public policy and advocacy. He begins Jan. 4.

The role is tailor-made for Gomez, a Republican with deep roots in the business community. As a Hollister councilman, Gomez favors business-friendly policies and served as chairman of the county’s chamber of commerce.

And he’s a businessman himself, having owned several pizza franchises.

“I’ve been pretty outspoken when it comes to business interests,” Gomez told IA. “This new position definitely aligns with my core beliefs.”

But Gomez, who’s been with San Jose three years, is the third staffer to leave Carrasco’s team recently. One moved down the hall to Councilman Johnny Khamis’ office while another left City Hall altogether.

City Hall insiders say Carrasco’s management style may be a factor in recent departures, saying she was once heard yelling inside a closed-door meeting, they said, gaining attention from others on the same floor, and using profanity. Carrasco did not return calls for comment.

Carrasco was endorsed by the chamber of commerce, which also donated to her campaign. But since her election, her voting record has leaned toward labor interests.

Chamber President and CEO Matthew Mahood said the organization won’t agree “100 percent of the time” with candidates it endorses. He said Gomez is a “perfect fit” for the job, which opened after Derrick Seaver got promoted. The role was once held by Mayor Sam Liccardo’s chief of staff, Jim Reed.

“I think Victor’s resume and bio speak for itself,” Mahood said.

Massage parlors feel the heat in San Jose

Massage parlors in San Jose will soon have to be licensed by the Police Department in a crackdown city leaders approved Tuesday aimed at phony businesses that are fronts for prostitution.

The issue was raised by Councilman Pierluigi Oliverio in June but has taken new life ahead of Super Bowl 50 at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara since the big game is sometimes seen as a draw for prostitution.

There are about 315 massage parlors in San Jose — way too many, Oliverio said — some with suspiciously dark windows, scantily clad women and nighttime hours.

“The reality is a lot of these places are fronts for other illegal activities,” Oliverio said.

Massage parlors will now be required to obtain permits from the San Jose Police Department and show proof that they’ve been certified by the California Massage Therapy Council. The businesses will need approval from the police to change their name or location and must report arrests of employees.

Vice Mayor Rose Herrera also wants the city to deal with other businesses with dark windows — even restaurants or bars. “What I heard is there are topless, scantily clad, waitresses,” Herrera said. “Anytime I see black windows like that, I start to question what’s going on in there.”

Internal Affairs is an offbeat look at state and local politics. This week’s items were written by Sharon Noguchi, Ramona Giwargis and John Woolfolk. Send tips to internalaffairs@mercurynews.com, or call 408-920-5782.