Profiles of school board candidates

Ten candidates are running for four seats on the Los Angeles Board of Education. Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa is supporting several candidates in hopes of influencing the direction of the Los Angeles Unified School District.

DISTRICT 1

Johnathan Williams

40

Co-founder/co-director of Accelerated charter school in South Los Angeles; an appointee to the state Board of Education; former Los Angeles Unified teacher

Supporters: State Sen. Gloria Romero (D-Los Angeles); Los Angeles County Young Democrats and former Mayor Richard Riordan

www.williamsforkids.com/

Marguerite Poindexter LaMotte

73

One-term incumbent, formerly principal at Washington Prep High School

Supporters: United Teachers Los Angeles; U.S. Rep. Maxine Waters (D-Los Angeles); Bishop L. Daniel Williams, president of Baptist Ministers Conference

www.lausd.k12.ca.us/lausd/board/secretary/

DISTRICT 3

Tamar Galatzan

37

Neighborhood prosecutor in Van Nuys working for city attorney’s office. Former staff counsel for Anti-Defamation League

Supporters: Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa; former Mayor Richard Riordan; Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce

www.TamarForSchoolBoard.com

Jon M. Lauritzen

68

One-term incumbent; a retired teacher long active in teachers union

Supporters: United Teachers Los Angeles; Los Angeles County Federation of Labor; Associated Administrators of Los Angeles

www.lausd.k12.ca.us/lausd/board/secretary/

Louis Pugliese

56

Lecturer in Cal State Northridge’s teaching credential program; also an L.A. Unified teacher and board member of a charter school

Supporters: Actor Ed Begley Jr.; charter school Principal Chris Ferris; George Mason University prof. Jack Naglieri

https://smartenupla.com/

DISTRICT 5

Yolie Flores Aguilar

44

Chief executive officer, L.A. County Children’s Planning Council, a public/private advocacy and analysis group; previously an appointee to county school board and the city’s director of child care

Supporters: Villaraigosa; county Supervisor Don Knabe; county Federation of Labor

www.yolie4schoolboard.com

Bennett S. Kayser

60

Middle-school teacher; elected to commission that rewrote L.A. city charter; vice president of Greater Echo Park Elysian Neighborhood Council

Supporters: Duke University prof. Erwin Chemerinsky; Sierra Club; Stonewall Democratic Club

www.kayserforschoolboard.org/

DISTRICT 7

Jesus Escandon

39

Former district teacher, current district parent, organizer for California Teachers Assn.

Supporters: UTLA officer Ana Valencia; activist Carlos Prinzon; former Inglewood school board member Larry Aubry

https://www.jesus4kids.org/

Neal B. Kleiner

60

Retired as principal of John Muir Middle School in South Los Angeles after long LAUSD career as teacher and administrator

Supporters: Gardena Valley Democratic Club; South Bay Progressive Democrats; San Pedro Democratic Club

https://kleinerforschoolboard.org/

Richard A. Vladovic

62

Former senior L.A. Unified administrator who served 2 1/2 years as superintendent in West Covina Unified before retiring

Supporters: Villaraigosa; county Federation of Labor; City Councilwoman Janice Hahn

www.vladovic4kids.com/