LAUSD Election: President Steve Zimmer Appears Headed for Runoff; Monica Garcia Leads Challengers In Early Returns

LOS ANGELES, CA —Incumbent Los Angeles Unified School District board member Monica Garcia led a pair of challengers Tuesday evening in her bid for re- election, while board President Steve Zimmer -- who was the target of a well- financed opposition campaign funded largely by charter-school backers -- appeared heading for a May runoff.

With about 6 percent of precincts reporting, Zimmer had about 47 percent of the vote in a four-candidate field in the District 4 race. Nick Melvoin, a teacher/attorney, was running second with about 25 percent. Allison Polhill, a former president of the Palisades Charter High School board, and public relations executive Gregory Martayan were trailing the leaders.

Backers of charter schools, hoping to gain a majority of supporters on the seven-member LAUSD board, threw their financial might behind Melvoin and Polhill in hopes of unseating Zimmer.

Garcia, a supporter of charter schools, had about 56 percent of the vote in early tallies, giving her a chance at being re-elected outright. She is being challenged in the District 2 race by teacher Lisa Alva and businessman Carl Petersen.

The District 6 seat is vacant thanks to the departure of Monica Ratliff, who is seeking a seat on the Los Angeles City Council. That race appeared destined for a runoff thanks to the six-candidate field, with charter-school backed teacher Kelly Fitzpatrick-Gonez leading the field, followed by activist Imelda Padilla, who was supported by United Teachers Los Angeles, the union representing LAUSD teachers. Rounding out the field are former Assemblywoman Patty Lopez, parents/activists Gwendolyn Posey and Araz Parseghian, and animal- rights activist Jose Sandoval.

If charter-backed candidates prevail in all three races, the trio would team with board member Ref Rodriguez to create a majority on the seven-member board.

Charter supporters -- including former Los Angeles Mayor Richard Riordan and philanthropist Eli Broad -- contend that charters tend to have better results for students and provide more choices for parents, but opponents point to sometimes-questionable management practices, alleging that some of the schools hand-pick higher-performing students to the detriment of others.

Critics also contend a proliferation of charters -- which are publicly funded but often operate free of unions and some regulations that govern traditional public schools -- would be a financial hit to the LAUSD, which receives state funding based on enrollment.

City News Service