The Race for Three Capo Unified Trustee Seats Is On

By Penny Arévalo

Patch Senior Editor

The race for three seats on the Capistrano Unified School District is already shaping up.

Candidates have until Aug. 8 to pull and file nominating papers. That may be extended to Aug. 13 if an incumbent decides not to run for re-election.

Of the three incumbents whose seats are up for grabs, only Ellen Addonizio has declared her candidacy so far.

The other incumbents who have not yet made a move publicly include Trustee Anna Bryson, who experienced a crushing defeat in her bid for state Assembly in June, and Trustee Lynn Hatton-Hodson.

Capistrano Unified trustees are elected by area. In Bryson’s district, which covers Laguna Niguel and parts of Dana Point, two others have indicated their interest: Attorney Craig Alexander, who declared his candidacy July 21, and Martha McNicholas, president of the Capistrano Unified Council PTSA, who declared her candidacy July 23.

Addonizio is the only one who has declared interest in Trustee Area No. 6, which includes parts of Mission Viejo, Laguna Niguel and San Juan Capistrano.

In Trustee Area No. 7 – currently represented by Hatton-Hodson and encompassing Rancho Santa Margarita, parts of Mission Viejo and Coto de Caza – only Julie Collier has declared her candidacy. Collier heads Parents Advocate League, a group seeking to reform education.