TUESDAY ELECTION PREVIEW : SCHOOL BOARD : Strike Fallout May Affect Two Races

The Los Angeles teachers strike created plenty of publicity for the two incumbents seeking reelection Tuesday to the Board of Education.

Now voters will decide whether the nine-day walkout worked in favor or against Westside board member Alan Gershman and West San Fernando Valley member Julie Korenstein. Both are seeking reelection to the school board and both stood on opposite sides in the contract dispute.

United Teachers-Los Angeles, the union that represents most of the district’s teachers, is seeking to reelect Korenstein and defeat Gershman, thereby securing a sympathetic majority on the seven-member board that decides educational and fiscal policies for the Los Angeles Unified School District. Board members are paid annual salaries of $24,000.

Low Turnout Expected

UTLA has played a big role in what is expected to be a low turnout election by providing its two candidates with lots of cash and plenty of volunteers.

Korenstein, who faces a challenge from junior high school Principal Gerald E. Horowitz, received most of her money and volunteer help from UTLA. She was one of three board members who during the strike supported UTLA demands for the three-year, 24% pay increase that the union eventually won.

Gershman, who is seeking election to a third term against UTLA-backed challenger Mark Slavkin, opposed the union’s salary demands. He and board members Rita Walters and Leticia Quezada argued loudly before the strike that the salary demands would come at the expense of at least $100 million in program cuts over the next two years.

Those board members and other UTLA critics have said the sizable salary raises won by teachers will not improve education for the district’s 600,000 students but will make it more difficult because cuts in such areas as maintenance and supplies will be needed to pay for the new contract.

Gershman has since toned down his public opposition to the contract. Still, he says privately that he will vote against approval of the contract unless the district receives guarantees of new state money. A much larger than expected state tax surplus has raised hopes that the district could receive between $40 million and $50 million in new money next year.

‘No’ Would Be Symbolic

His no vote would be only symbolic. Board members Korenstein, Warren Furutani, Jackie Goldberg and board President Roberta Weintraub have already agreed to provide the votes needed to ratify the contract when it comes before the board for final approval later this month.

Under the new contract, beginning teachers next year will earn $29,525. Maximum salaries will be $51,500 for regular teachers and more for those with advanced degrees or who teach bilingual classes. Teachers will also be given a greater say in school decisions.

Korenstein’s critics say her close ties to the teachers union make it difficult to properly represent parents and students, especially during contract talks.

“Imagine you’re with your wife in a sales office negotiating a price on a new car,” said former school board member Tom Bartman. “The salesman goes out to ask the sales manager about it and the next thing you know your wife is phoning the sales manager and telling him, ‘Don’t worry, he’ll pay more.’ ”

“She’s been bought and paid for by the union,” her opponent Horowitz says at nearly every campaign appearance. Korenstein denies those charges and says her decisions are independent of UTLA wishes. She said her informal negotiations with UTLA representatives during the strike helped bring a quicker end to the dispute.

Gershman Criticized

Gershman, 49, has been accused by Slavkin of showing a lack of leadership during his eight years on the board and especially during the strike.

“It seemed like every board member during the strike was engaged in the process of negotiations but Alan Gershman,” said Slavkin, a 27-year-old aide to Los Angeles County Supervisor Ed Edelman. Slavkin supported the teachers’ demands for higher salaries and has promised in his campaign to pay more attention to school safety and crime than his opponent.

Horowitz, 56, principal at Byrd Junior High School in Sun Valley, said the board should not have given in to union salary demands. He has campaigned on promises to reduce school crime and to seek an end to the district’s counseling program for gay and lesbian students.

The union has through its network of teachers poured money and volunteers into both the Slavkin and Korenstein campaigns, operating telephone banks and organizing precinct walks. Korenstein has so far raised more than $160,000 for the campaign this year, most of that coming from UTLA and affiliated group members. Slavkin has raised about $115,000 in the same way.

Horowitz said Korenstein’s large war chest is evidence that the union seeks too much influence over the school board. Horowitz has raised and spent about $60,000 this year, in large part through the efforts of Los Angeles City Councilman Hal Bernson, who has provided Horowitz with contacts and campaign help.

Nonpartisan Races

Although school board races are nonpartisan, local Republican and Democratic clubs generally contribute money and volunteers. In the West Valley race, for example, Korenstein, a liberal Democrat, has received the lion’s share of her party’s help even though her opponent, Horowitz, was also a longtime Democrat. Horowitz re-registered last week as a Republican.

“I’ve always voted Republican. Why not register as one?” Horowitz said. “I don’t think it will help me in the election.”

Gershman, who is supported by a large number of district administrators, contends that the union efforts will backfire. He has raised and spent about $160,000 on the campaign so far this year.

“People are beginning to look at Mark Slavkin and say that they don’t want someone who is controlled by the union,” Gershman said. “He would have no campaign if it were not for the union.”

Gershman said he has cut through district red tape to bring special programs to the Westside, such as the creation of Venice High School’s language magnet and a music academy at Hamilton High School.

Backed Programs

Korenstein said she has been an innovator who pushed for creation of districtwide recycling and food giveaway programs, as well as a task force on school crime.

Slavkin forced Gershman into a runoff by receiving 36% of the votes cast in the April 11 board election. Gershman, who received about 48% of the ballots cast, fell short of the 50% plus one vote needed to win.

Gershman’s Westside district stretches from Los Angeles International Airport in the south to the Santa Monica Mountains in the north and as far east as Hollywood.

Korenstein, in the April 11 election, fell 57 votes short of the 50% plus one vote majority. Horowitz finished second among four other challengers, winning about 22% of the nearly 70,000 votes cast in that race.

Korenstein, 45, is a former high school program director who was elected in 1987 to serve the two years remaining in former board member David Armor’s term. She represents the San Fernando Valley west of the San Diego Freeway.

(San Fernando Valley Edition) GOP TO SEEK PROBE OF AD: The Republican Party plans to file a complaint with the state over a mailer suggesting that liberal Democrat Julie Korenstein is the reelection choice of Reagan Republicans. Page 4, Part II