7 Seek LA School Board Seat
A total of seven people pulled nominating petitions to run for the LA school board seat (Distrcit 2) left vacant when Jose Huizar was elected to the City Council. The seven have until have until Jan. 3 to file nominating petitions. To qualify for the ballot, candidates must collect 500 signatures from registered voters in the district and pay a $300 fee. Potential candidates can avoid the fee if they collect 1,000 valid signatures.Potentical candidates who pulled papers by the Friday deadline are:
-- Monica Garcia, who was Huizar's chief of staff during his tenure on the Los Angeles Unified School District board
-- Enrique Gasca, vice chair of Region 3 of the Los Angeles County Democratic Central Committee
-- Ana Teresa Fernandez, manager of school development for the California Charter Schools Association
-- William Michael Morrison, a community political consultant
-- Maria Lou Calanche, an instructor at East Los Angeles Community College
-- Christopher Arellano, a representative for the United Teachers Los Angeles union
-- Steven Song, a health care advocate
The Election is slated for March 7. If no candidate receives more than 50 percent of the vote, a runoff election will be held June 6.
Posted by Anonymous @ 12/20/2005 07:40:00 AM
46 Comments:
Jose's endorsement in this district means nothing. People still don't know who he is and he did nothing on the Board to distinguish himself. Wait for the people/organizaitons that count to weigh in: the Mayor, UTLA, County Fed, Eli Broad, Richard Riordan etc.
As other posters have adequately noted, Monica cannot win because, like Jose, she's afraid of her shadow and is not capable of making this district better. She also has no vested interest in seeing this District improve.
The other somewhat serious candidate is Ms. Calanche. Like Monica, she's a political hack and twice failed candidate for elected office.
The battle between these two big ladies ought to be interesting.
Bottom Line: This District needs something more than political hacks and people with undistinguished careers. We need a reform candidate.....someone who will take on the District largess and the unions and someone who has a vested interest in seeing this District improve. I'd love to see someone with kids in the District run.
Perhaps Ms. Fernandez is the ticket. She's young, enthusiastic, and works on educational policy.
And, why didn't Ana Cubas run? She would have made this race more interesting.
Christopher Arellano is running for the 45th Assembly district, right?
Then why's he also running for the school board?
Eli Broad for school board.
I think Chis and Enrique were both running for AD 45 until they realized that they had absolutely no chance. Now they are both running for school board and again neither has a chance.
Let's increase the salary of school board members so we can get better candidates as opposed to political hacks who have had uninspiring careers.
From yesterday's Martini Republic:
The Chris Arellano camp announces what many had suspected:
LOS ANGELES - - Christopher Arellano, former candidate for the California State Assembly, announces his candidacy for the Los Angeles Unified School District Board of Education, District 2.
As a representative for the teacher’s union (UTLA) and a former counselor for at-risk youth, Arellano knows the drop-out rate is the biggest challenge we face. “As a former drop-out, I know what it’s like to try your best and feel like you’re getting nowhere,” Arellano says. “I will use my experience to inspire students to stay in school. I believe that providing more counseling and encouraging community involvement is key to solving this problem.”
Arellano had been gearing up for a run at the State Assembly in the 45th District. But when this School Board seat was vacated due to Jose Huizar’s recent election to City Council, Arellano saw an opportunity to have a direct impact on the education of our youth. “Because of my background and my convictions,” Arellano says, “serving on the Board of Education feels like the most important thing I could do to make a difference.”
District 2 is Jose Huizar’s old district. Huizar has already endorsed a longtime aide of his, Monica Garcia, in the race. Arellano, a strong union candidate, however, could prevent Antonio from following suit.
AV won't ensorse Monica because she doesn't have the impressive creditials or compelling story that Jose had.
I agree with the first poster that Jose's endorsement means little.
What? No Big O? What a shame I say?
There are lot of very big people in this race, but no Big O.
I agree - Ms. Fernandez is the ticket in this election. She has extensive experience in education, she is a product of L.A. schools, a very successful one I might add. Her enthusiasm is unsurpassed and she knows firsthand the state of L.A. schools.
I wonder who's going to get the UTLA's edorsement?
IF the only criteria for being considered a serious candidate in this race is the endorsement of Jose Huizar then our school district has really gone down the tubes!
Whatever happened to considering candidates on their commitment to the community and education of our students?
None of the "serious candidates" have demonstrated what really counts...a spine for children and their student achievement!
I am not sure who the right candidate for the job is yet but I think we should base their viability on their work and what they stand for rather than the political machine behind them!
Yes, previous poster and let us know when you want to return to Planent Earth.
They only people that have a shot are people that have some sort of machine behind them.
Monica's and Lou's credentials are not impressive. But, you throw into the mix some elected official support, some exageration (I was an educator whatever that means), a few sounds bites and you have a serious candidate.
In the end we get we deserve which is more incompetence on the Board, lower test scores, and developers and consultants who get rich.
What heppened to Big "O"?
If Gasca runs, he will have the support of the Calderon machine. The problem here is that not all of the district is Calderon territory.
If the water's flowed there in the past, it will likely return again.
Arellano's UTLA work makes him a worthwhile candidate.
The problem with Gasca is that none of the political insiders or outsiders know who he is. Plus, the Calderon's may be a force in the little suburb of Montbello, but in LA they are meaningless.
I'm hoping that Fernandez and Arellano make this interesting because God knows we don't need political hacks and re-treads like Calanche (3 X Failure) and Monica Garcia ("Educator" ....pluuuhheese).
2:31: agreed. if there is one thing the LAUSD needs, it's change. Monica represents more of the same-- drop outs and riots on campus.
Who is Enrique and who is Gasca?
If this race goes till June, there is no way in the world Monica will win. People will get to know her and see her.
this race will definitely go into a run off...
That's what the people in the know said about the Huizar race. Unfortunately for Monica, she's no Huizar and there is no Nick Pacheco in this race.
The true leaders are can't live on $24K, particularly if they have kids.
Who was the CD1 attorney someone here was posting about that was going to run???
With 1,000's of people in this district this are horrible choices we have to pick from. Where's the true leaders?
Fernandez has Lansing, Young and Barr with her. She's also the only native of the district.
Steve Young endorsed Fernandez. That's odd. I thought he lived in Utah.
I really do hope she wins. The other women aren't as passionate as she is.
Ana Fernandez: you're not going to win if you spend all your time on here blogging.
Come on Ana, passionate? At 23, everyone is passionate.
Yikes: I didn't know she was that young. Still, Padilla was young as well as others. So, it's not a deal breaker.
Monica has no idea what the needs of the district are and as for Ana having extensive experience in education...just because you attended schools in LAUSD does not make you an expert in education. Her credentials? She's only 23. She may have worked for a board member for a while but I think she lacks the experience necessary for the job.
3:51 PM Robert Nakahiro USC ALUMNI
Ana lacks experience- A NO vote for her!
I used to work with both Monica Garcia and Ana Fernandez at LAUSD. Of the two, Fernandez is the more impressive.
However, she is young and doesn't have enough experience under her belt to be able to handle the job. A former student leader who protested at the Board for Belmont, then worked for Mike Lansing, and now works for the California Charter Schools Association is definitely building her credentials. She's just not ready yet. Disclaimer, I am a friend of Ana's.
As for Monica Garcia, she isn't Board Member material either. I'm not going to sit here and trash her, but I worked with her enough to know that she is not what the LAUSD Board needs.
I'm no longer in L.A. and don't have a stake in the election, but I hope someone qualified who has the best interest of the kids in mind will run for the job.
The only reason for this many people entering a race for a partial-term, part time position on the LAUSD board has to be that Huizar's sudden movement to City Council after only one term has now made LAUSD the launching pad to people wanting a city council or citywide position. The rate at which people will jump in and out of positions like this is bound to increase, and their effectiveness and attention to the school board job will decrease, and they slip through, one after the other for one term of less.
12:54
Thank term limits for this unending game of musical chairs.
So Ken who do you think is the best candidate?
Idealism is not to be tainted with age- although the systematic challenges jade an individual- I think its the way in which people can maneuver the system- and some one with extensive experience in government will do the best job in LAUSD. LAUSD has so many issues that do not end in the class room or with its parents- its about the socio-economics of the community and the best candidate does not qualify only as one who has lived it- but one who can take a step back and knows how to solve it.
How many of the candidates are from the district?
look at Romer- it took a former gov to handle (or try to) the MAMMOTH that is LAUSD- it takes much more than idealism- it takes know how and much more than wishful thinking.
Do you mean District 2? I would assume all of them claim to have residency in the District prior to November 12, 2005. If not, they cannot run.
That should probably worry some of the candidates. Let's which of them get a call from the DA's office.
actually- growing up or stronger roots to the community other than their political musical chairs?
To 9:34 am, I don't know who the best candidate in the field is. I personally only know two of the candidates. The others I know nothing about. But, what LAUSD needs, and has needed since I was there, are people on the Board whose only interest is what is in the best interest of the children. Too often the adult issues take over and the Board loses sight of what its paramount duties are.
the influences to a child's education are found in ones community- you cannot extrapolate it from their experience. I would not say its losing sight- more like taking a holistic approach. A child learns when they receive a proper nutrition, text, their parents heard, etc. Yes children are the priority but it takes alot more than short sighted perspectives.
The Calderons are not meaningless outside of Montebello. Haven't you heard of the Calderon-Cedillo connection. They all got big plans for Gil Jr as do many others. He's got the looks, brains, and insight to make anything happen. If Gasca was a Cedillo he'd be in like Flynn
If Cedillo Jr. looks anything like papa (the malpache), then what you say is laughable.
Well I guess you can say Gil Jr is handsome. I've heard women talk about him before in a favourable light. He looks nothing like his dad. On another note Im curious to know what this Cediilo/Calderon connection is all about?????
Former School Board President Jose Huizar is an idiot! Why would anyone vote for a candidate that Jose endorses. His motive in the District was never to help his community or the children of Los Angeles, but rather use LAUSD as a stepping stone for his political career. What is reprehensible is that he has a great educational pedigree, but unfortunately lacks both common sense and integrity. Joes took on a job and he never delivered on his promise! I doubt that Monica Garcia can deliver…the East Los Angeles community is continuing to wait for high schools to be built in order to alleviate over-crowding at Garfield and Roosevelt High School. I am more partial to vote for Ana Fernandez than a heavy weight like Monica!
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