Bartman Endorses Korenstein for His Seat

Tom Bartman, the former anti-busing attorney who is giving up the west San Fernando Valley seat on the Los Angeles Board of Education, broke ranks with other anti-busing veterans Wednesday and endorsed Julie Korenstein for the post.

Bartman’s endorsement of Korenstein comes less than a week after several prominent former colleagues in the Bustop organization endorsed Barbara Romey.

So far Romey has picked up the backing--and in some cases financial support--of former U.S. Rep. Bobbi Fiedler (R-Northridge), school board member Roberta Weintraub, state Sen. Alan Robbins (D-Van Nuys), and Los Angeles City Councilman Hal Bernson. The tightly knit group of Valley officials all have used opposition to busing as a political springboard.

Explains Decision

But Bartman, who in 1980 rode the anti-busing movement into office, said he was breaking with his conservative colleagues because of the importance of the June 2 election between Korenstein and Romey.

The election will fill the final two years of an unexpired term that Bartman was appointed to last year. Bartman, who did not seek reelection in 1985, was named to the seat last year after he promised not to run in the upcoming election.

“What does friendship have to do with public policy?” Bartman asked rhetorically at a press conference at Lanai Road School in Encino. “It would have been easier to do nothing, but when there is a clear difference between two candidates, one who will be good for public education and one who would not be good for public education, it was morally difficult to stay neutral.”

Backed Another Candidate

The endorsement of Korenstein represents a major turnaround for Bartman. During the primary, he characterized both Romey and Korenstein as “extremists” on several issues and endorsed Bunny Field, who did not make the runoff.

On Wednesday, Bartman said his earlier endorsement and his characterization of Korenstein were “a mistake.”

“When I endorsed another candidate, I didn’t know Julie,” Bartman said. He added that, at the time, he believed United Teachers, Los Angeles had hand-picked Korenstein to run for the board.

“My perception was that Julie would be unduly influenced by UTLA,” he continued. “But now I know that is not true. I’ve gotten a chance to talk to Julie, and I know that she will be the kind of independent board member that the western San Fernando Valley needs.”

Bartman has not changed his mind about Romey. He charged that Romey “lacks the background and knowledge to be independent.” Bartman quoted a published interview in which Romey said she was “nothing” without the politicians who were advising her campaign.

“The Valley does not need a board member who has to pick up the phone and call her political backers every time she has to make a decision,” Bartman said.

He also chastised Romey for what he characterized as a flip-flop on the board’s decision this week to alter ethnic ratios at 48 schools--32 in the Valley--to allow up to 70% of a school’s enrollment to be minorities. Bartman voted against the plan and Korenstein called the board’s approval an “unfortunate decision.”

On Monday, Romey testified against the proposal. But, according to Bartman, during the battle several years ago over the closure of Prairie Street Elementary School, Romey and other parents asked that more minority students be bused to the Northridge campus as a way to increase enrollment and keep Prairie open.

Disagrees With Recollection

Romey disagreed with Bartman’s recollection. Prior to appearing before the Northridge Republican Women’s Club Wednesday, she said the district intentionally lowered Prairie’s enrollment by redirecting youngsters who attended the school through the voluntary busing program to other campuses.

“We said we would have been happy to take more kids, but the district was setting us up for the kill,” Romey said. “Comparing what happened at Prairie with the 70%-30% plan is comparing apples and oranges.”

Romey also had some harsh words about Bartman. “This is a man who said he would do nothing to stop year-round schools. This is a man who voted to close schools. I wouldn’t take his endorsement if he offered it to me.”