Santa Ana Unified School District

There are two incumbents, an appointed incumbent and two challengers running for three at-large seats on the Santa Ana Unified School District Board of Trustees in the Nov. 5 election.

Rosemarie (Rosie) Avila

Age: 43

Occupation: Teacher/ administrator.

Background: Has served on the parent advisory committee for the Santa Ana district; oversees curriculum selection as an administrator; involvement in PTA and other community organizations.

Issues: Wants board to be responsive to parents; believes that solid foundation of reading, writing, math, thinking skills and American identity is essential; supports drug- and gang-free environment.

Sal Mendoza

Age: 45

Occupation: Vice president of insurance brokerage; incumbent board member.

Background: School board president, member of school board for four years.

Issues: Wants to reduce classroom overcrowding, gang infestation and crime and provide accelerated transition to English-fluency programs; seeks more effective and efficient use of taxpayer funds.

Ted R. Moreno

Age: 24

Occupation: Budget analyst aide for Southern California Edison.

Background: Attended Santa Ana Unified School District schools; bachelor’s degree in business administration from Cal State Fullerton.

Issues: Wants to reduce teacher-to-student classroom ratio, ensure the safety of children from drugs and violence, continue hiring qualified and caring instructors to meet students’ needs, guarantee that resources will be well used.

Gerardo Mouet

Age: 35

Occupation: Employment outreach coordinator, appointed incumbent.

Background: Graduate of UC San Diego; served as YMCA camp counselor; on board of directors of the Orange County School Boards Assn.

Issues: Wants to increase parent participation in schools, educate students on importance of community involvement, increase efforts to counter gang membership and drug use, plan educational facilities to meet growing needs of community.

Audrey Yamagata Noji

Age: 39

Occupation: Administrator at Rancho Santiago College; incumbent school board member.

Background: Doctorate in education; former president and current vice president of the Santa Ana school board; licensed marriage, family and child counselor.

Issues: Vows to work to ensure that all students improve English and critical-thinking skills; wants to increase parent and community involvement and see that students are better prepared for college and the work world; supports an aggressive approach to build new schools and reduce class size.