Gershman Opens Fire as Runoff Race Begins

Los Angeles school board member Alan Gershman fired the first shots in his June runoff race with Mark Slavkin, painting his political opponent as a tool of the teachers’ union.

Gershman, an eight-year incumbent who was forced into a runoff after failing to get more than 50% of the vote in last Tuesday’s election, was on the attack Thursday, baiting his opponent. He challenged Slavkin to denounce the tactics of the 22,000-member United Teachers-Los Angeles in its bitter labor dispute with the district.

“Mr. Slavkin has bragged about his UTLA support,” Gershman said at a press conference. “He has refused to say whether he is proud of the acts of political terrorism against our students conducted by UTLA in a deliberate attempt to gain control of our public schools.”

The Los Angeles teachers union, which has poured money and volunteers into Slavkin’s campaign, has threatened to strike late next month if a contract agreement is not reached with the district. A strike authorization vote is scheduled this week.

As part of a union plan to turn up the heat on the district, teachers have withheld student grades from administrators and have refused to hold parent conferences. A strike just before the close of school would disrupt graduations, promotions and other year-end activities.

Slavkin agreed that students have been hurt by the labor dispute, but he refused to place the blame solely on the teachers.

“I think its unfortunate that both the school board and the union have allowed the situation to deteriorate to the point the students have been hurt,” he said. “Kids have been hurt (by the teacher’s actions), but I understand the frustrations they feel with the district. The real issue is who is best able to bring the district back together. I believe I am the best one suited for the job.”

Slavkin said he supports the union’s position that the district’s offer of a 20% increase over the next three years is too low. He has urged both sides to continue negotiations to determine the exact amount of the increase.

Gershman said he would vote against the district’s 20% offer, arguing that it is too high and would lead to unacceptable cuts in educational programs. He said he would support an increase of about 17% over three years.

Support for Slavkin

Because of Gershman’s opposition to teacher demands, the union has thrown its weight behind Slavkin to try to gain a sympathetic fourth vote on the seven-member board.

Gershman lashed out at his opponent in an aggressive style that has not been the trademark of his low-key campaign, which avoided the use of lawn signs, phone banks and other routine get-out-the-vote devices.

The plan for the runoff, Gershman said, is to conduct a more aggressive campaign by taking his message to the voters and forcing his opponent to talk about educational issues.

“I didn’t do that before and that was a mistaken assumption,” he said. “I was out talking to voters and most were not aware that we have a significant salary offer on the table.” He said teachers should get a salary increase but not as much as the union is demanding.

Slavkin said Gershman’s attacks were a sign that the incumbent was becoming more desperate.