Korenstein to Challenge Bernson in City Primary : Politics: The L.A. school board member says she plans to run for the council to solve problems caused by excessive Valley development.

Los Angeles school board member Julie Korenstein said Friday that she will challenge incumbent City Councilman Hal Bernson for his 12th District seat in the April 12 primary.

Despite mounting troubles in the Los Angeles Unified School District, Korenstein, 47, said traffic congestion and other problems caused by overdevelopment in the north San Fernando Valley are prompting her bid.

“I feel a great responsibility to our school district and our children, but my feeling is there is another responsibility to make an aggressive attempt to save the northwest Valley,” Korenstein said.

Korenstein, who won a four-year term to the school board 18 months ago, would have to give up her school board position only if she wins the council seat. Her election to the council would force a special school board election to fill the vacancy.

The former volunteer coordinator at Chatsworth High School was first elected to the board in June, 1987, to fill the unexpired term of former board member David Armor. She is credited with initiating a districtwide recycling program.

Korenstein’s election to the school board was financed largely by contributions from United Teachers-Los Angeles, the union representing city school teachers, individual teachers and UTLA affiliates. Although Korenstein strategists expect help from teachers, contributions are not expected to reach the approximately $200,000 she raised in her last election.

Korenstein joins five other challengers to Bernson, who is seeking a fourth term. They are Walter N. Prince, Robert A. Birch, Allen Robert Hecht, Arthur (Larry) Kagele and Leonard Shapiro.

Korenstein strategists said she will campaign strongly among women, environmentalists and homeowner groups because of her opposition to the $2-billion Porter Ranch development. That project, which has already received City Council approval, includes nearly 4,000 houses and townhouses and 7.5 million square feet of commercial development on 1,300 acres north of the Simi Valley Freeway in Chatsworth.

Korenstein said her opposition to such development will win votes in the overwhelmingly conservative area despite the fact that she is a liberal Democrat.

“Certain things cut across party lines, especially overdevelopment and the environment,” Korenstein said. “The area is being choked. There is no breathing space left.”

Korenstein’s decision to run for council adds to the uncertainty of who will be serving on the seven-member Los Angeles school board, which has four seats up for election this spring. Board members Warren Furutani and Leticia Quezada have said they will seek reelection, but board President Jackie Goldberg has announced that she will not.

Earlier this week, South Los Angeles board representative Rita Walters said she will seek the 9th District City Council seat left vacant by the death of Gilbert Lindsay instead of running for reelection to the school board.

Changes on the school board come as the district faces deep cuts in state subsidies and grapples with continuing declines in student performance.

Gov. Pete Wilson’s plan to eliminate cost-of-living increases for education in the next fiscal year could cost the Los Angeles district $100 million, school budget officials said. That follows $250 million in cuts approved by the board for the current school year.