FOUNTAIN VALLEY : 3 School Board Incumbents Ousted

Apparently upset over the school board’s handling of a school closure and the controversy surrounding electromagnetic fields near schools, voters ousted all three incumbent school board members up for reelection Tuesday.

Two of the challengers, Barbara Vogel and Robert J. Sedlak, were supported by the Future Education Protection Committee, which unsuccessfully sued the district over its decision last year to close Fountain Valley Elementary School. The third winner was Larry R. Crandall.

Committee members have also raised the issue of potential health hazards from electromagnetic fields generated by high-tension power lines near schools, bringing national attention to the district.

“They were angry that we closed their school, and they said they would get even,” said Mary Lou Crossett, who lost her seat on the Fountain Valley School District board. “They have run a very negative campaign.”

Crossett and Roger Belgen, unseated after nearly 18 years on the board, said an anti-incumbent sentiment contributed to the challengers’ victory. The third ousted incumbent was Stephen J. Einstein.

“I think they were successful, by and large, because they convinced the community that they ought to throw the rascals out. And obviously as incumbents, we were the rascals,” Belgen said. “That could cause a problem, though, because once you’ve sown distrust, that distrust doesn’t go away.”

Vogel and Sedlak ran as part of a slate with Felix Rocha Jr., but Crandall won the third seat. Crandall billed himself as an alternative to the three incumbents or the slate of challengers.

“I know that it’s going to be a slow process and a learning process for all the new members, but I’m hoping to see communication open up between the board members and the community,” Vogel said.