West Valley Race : 4 Candidates for School Board Hit $10,000 Mark

Four of the seven candidates for the West San Fernando Valley seat on the Los Angeles Board of Education have raised more than $10,000, according to contribution statements for January and February filed with the Los Angeles city clerk’s office.

Having so many candidates able to raise large amounts of money in the early stages of the campaign is an indication that there is no obvious front-runner, according to a political strategist who asked not to be named because he is connected to the race. “The contributions also show that people are paying attention to the race,” he said.

The seven candidates are running to fill the final two years of a term begun by David Armor, who resigned last year to take a job in Washington with the Department of Defense. After Armor’s departure, board members appointed Tom Bartman to represent the district until this year’s municipal elections.

Bartman, who was the West Valley representative from 1980 to 1985 when he decided not to seek reelection, has pledged not to run for the post this year.

$26,000 Leads List

The current fund-raising leader is Bunny Field with about $26,000. Field, who has worked as a professional fund-raiser for East Valley school board representative Roberta Weintraub, raised $12,695 in contributions and $13,000 in loans, campaign statements show.

Among her contributors are Calabasas businesswoman Judy Packer, who loaned $3,500 to Field’s campaign, and Stephen Pomerance, a Malibu pharmacist who loaned $5,000. Field also received a $500 gift from Dr. Lewis Weintraub, husband of the school board member.

George St. Johns, a former aide to state Sen. Ed Davis (R-Valencia), has raised $16,875. According to reports, St. Johns received a $10,000 contribution from Harry Evans Sloan, co-chairman of New World Pictures.

Julie Korenstein, coordinator of a student volunteer program at Chatsworth High School, has raised $13,600, which includes a $5,000 contribution from herself. The preliminary contribution statements did not reflect two fund-raising events Korenstein held last weekend.

Barbara Romey, who worked on Armor’s campaign, has raised about $12,700. Contributions include $500 from Margaret Brock, the influential Republican fund-raiser who co-chaired the California Finance Committee for Reagan-Bush in 1984. Another $500 contribution came from Los Angeles City Councilman Hal Bernson’s political action committee. Bernson represents the West Valley on the City Council. Romey loaned her campaign $5,000.

Mark Isler, a former public-school teacher who currently runs a snack-food distribution company, has raised a little more than $2,000. Isler has loaned his campaign $1,813.

Marilyn Mayer Neville, a private-school teacher, reported contributions and loans totaling $286. Attorney Douglas Wolf listed no contributions or loans for January and February.

If no candidate receives more than 50% of the vote in the April 14 election, a runoff will be held in June.