Candidate blames woes on his aide

An education ally of Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa said Tuesday that he failed to qualify for the March 3 school board election because his campaign consultant gathered voter signatures in the wrong school board district.

Parent advocate Ben Austin, who had billed himself as Villaraigosa’s pick in the race to replace Marlene Canter in her largely Westside district, was still trying to determine whether he should challenge the findings of city election officials.

Austin, 39, said his campaign consultant, Sue Burnside, collected at least 345 voter signatures that apparently came from the adjacent South Los Angeles and Mid-City school board district represented by Marguerite Poindexter LaMotte. Austin, who is currently 107 signatures shy of the 500 needed to qualify, is considering legal action against Burnside.

“It’s just really sad,” said Austin, who serves as special assistant city attorney, a part-time job with City Atty. Rocky Delgadillo.

Burnside, Austin’s consultant, did not return two calls seeking comment.

Austin had been hoping to become the latest mayoral ally on the seven-member school board, where Villaraigosa secured a majority two years ago. That majority, along with Canter, voted Tuesday to buy out the contract of Supt. David L. Brewer.

As he prepared for the election, Austin had boasted of endorsements by former Mayor Richard Riordan and billionaire philanthropist Eli Broad. He was also planning to raise money through Green Dot Charter Schools, where he works as a part-time parent organizer.

Villaraigosa spokesman Matt Szabo said the mayor had not yet endorsed Austin and would not speculate about whether the mayor had planned to do so. But Green Dot founder Steve Barr said he too had expected Villaraigosa to endorse Austin. “He runs in the same circles,” Barr said.

Austin’s woes leave two teachers, Hollywood resident Steve Zimmer and Pacific Palisades resident Mike Stryer, as confirmed candidates in the race to represent District 4, which stretches from Hollywood to the Westside and north to the southwest San Fernando Valley. Election officials are still checking the petitions of another potential candidate.

Austin handles health insurance litigation in the city attorney’s office. Despite the setback, Austin said he would continue to work as the paid executive director of the Los Angeles Parents Union, the organizing arm of Green Dot.

“Whether I’m on the school board or the L.A. Parents Union, I’m going to fight for the education of my daughter, as well as the education of every kid in Los Angeles,” he said.

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david.zahniser@latimes.com