ELECTIONS ’88 : Aubry Wins School Board Seat in Inglewood Special Election

The battle for an Inglewood school board seat that became vacant last September ended this week with the election of Larry Aubry, a county human relations consultant and unsuccessful candidate for the board in 1983.

Aubry scored 53% of the vote in Tuesday’s special election, leading a four-man field. Political newcomer Terry Coleman scored a surprisingly strong 24% of the vote. Former board member William (Tony) Draper, who campaigned and spent far less than Aubry and Coleman, received 18%. Former candidate William (Bill) Gill got 5%.

The race fills one of two interim vacancies on the board, with the second vacancy to be filled by a special election in November. Full terms for both positions will be contested next April.

Coleman said he would not run again in November, but may consider a bid in April. Draper, who lost to current board President Lois Hill-Hale last June, said he would not run for the board.

Former Police Chief Joseph Rouzan, whose appointment to the board was terminated by a citizens petition drive last year, said he is considering a run in November as did Claude Lataillade, a engineer and former City Council candidate. Gill could not be reached for comment.

Aubry attributed his decisive victory to a hard-fought and well-organized campaign that spent about $12,000. He repeated his pledge to provide a unifying, independent force to the board as it confronts a projected $3-million deficit and begins searching for a new superintendent and business manager to run the 15,000-student district.

“I’m not going in as a savior,” Aubry said Wednesday. “But that board has got to pull together in order to meet the immediate pressing problems of the budget deficit and superintendent.”

Aubry, 54, will take office when the election results are certified by the county registrar/recorder and forwarded to the County Board of Education. Mark Forgy, a County Board of Education spokesman, said certification would probably occur by June 28.

Tuesday’s special election was a product of the turmoil that critics say has brought the district to the brink of crisis. After board member Ernest Shaw died last September, board members appointed Rouzan to replace him from among 20 applicants, who included Aubry, Draper and Gill.

But the board angered residents by withholding the candidate applications from the public and holding closed meetings during the selection process in apparent violation of state law. Coleman, Draper and Gill participated in a petition drive that annulled Rouzan’s appointment and forced Tuesday’s election.

Support From Mayor

Aubry had the support of Mayor Edward Vincent, the Inglewood Teachers Organization and several other area politicians and groups. Coleman, 45, a community activist, had the backing of board member Zyra McCloud and Garland Hardeman, a mayoral opponent and City Council candidate.

Coleman, a former Los Angeles Airport police officer on disability leave, said his first political effort had established him as a force in city politics. He spent about $4,311.

“I’m super happy with the results,” he said.

Coleman said he will continue his presence at school board and City Council meetings. Of Aubry, he said: “I hope he is not another political pawn of Ed Vincent.”

Draper said he thought Aubry’s background would “bring some sanity to the board. For the most part, he might do a good job down there.” But he said he believed Aubry would not be immune to the mayor’s influence.

Opponents had said Aubry would give Mayor Vincent, who has been accused of trying to control the district, a second board ally, along with board member Caroline Coleman (no relation to Terry Coleman). Vincent said Tuesday he has not and will not interfere with school district affairs.

Aubry invited critics to scrutinize his behavior on the board to determine whether he will be politically influenced rather than assuming how he will act because he was endorsed by the mayor.

“The proof is in the pudding,” Aubry said. “Association per se is not enough. It’s a question of how I vote over time. I am an independent thinker.”

Aubry has a bachelor’s degree in psychology from UCLA and has pursued graduate work in public administration. For 10 years, his specialty as a consultant for the County Human Relations Commission has been mediating racial and ethnic strife in schools. He is also a columnist for the Los Angeles Sentinel and a jazz enthusiast and musician.