Los Alamitos : School Board Member Won’t Seek Reelection

School board member Mary Holzgang has announced that she will not seek reelection when her term expires in November.

Holzgang has served on the Los Alamitos Unified School District Board of Education since its formation five years ago. Before that she was a member of the Los Alamitos Elementary School District board.

In announcing her decision at the close of a recent board meeting, Holzgang obviously surprised some of her colleagues. She said her decision is based on a desire to spend more time with her family.

“I’ll still be active with the schools. I’m not withdrawing completely,” she said.

Holzgang, a former teacher, served as board president last year.

For more than a year, the board has been convulsed by controversy surrounding its decision to close several schools, consolidating some and selling or leasing surplus property. During Holzgang’s presidency, a recall effort against three of five board members was narrowly thwarted when petitioners failed to gather enough signatures to force a special election.

Holzgang, who has been less controversial than some board members, said the turmoil over school closings had nothing to do with her decision. Her early announcement will help others reach decisions on whether they should run for the board, Holzgang said.