ELECTIONS / EDUCATION : Hirschberg, Jacobs Lead in College Board Race

In the race for the Ventura County Community College District board, incumbent Timothy D. Hirschberg and candidate Allan W. Jacobs were leading in early returns Tuesday, while school board candidates battled for positions in seven other races.

Two seats were available on the college district board, including that of Simi Valley Trustee James T. (Tom) Ely, who was convicted this year of embezzling $15,000 from the district. The bailiff in Ely’s trial was one of nine candidates who sought college trustee positions.

Seizing on the Ely conviction and other financial problems in the college district as the major issues in the campaign, candidates stressed a need for new leadership, stricter budgeting and higher ethical standards for board members.

Hirschberg, who defended the board’s reaction to allegations of Ely’s wrongdoing, was challenged by four candidates, including the bailiff, for his seat representing Ojai, Camarillo, Santa Paula and eastern Ventura.

“I’m gratified,” Hirschberg said after learning of the early returns. “I’ve been optimistic and hopeful that the voters would pass favorably on my record as a trustee. I look forward to working with the board in focusing the district on its educational mission.”

Four candidates, including Jacobs, sought Ely’s seat to represent Simi Valley, Moorpark and Fillmore.

“I’ll be pleased to represent this area,” said Jacobs, who was celebrating with 50 supporters at his home Tuesday night. “I’ll hit the ground running.”

In the Ventura Unified School District race for two seats, Diane Harriman took a strong lead over 14 other candidates in early returns. Jim Wells and Judy Alexandre were in second and third place.

“I’ve never run for office before, so the fact that so many people have come forth to support me makes me feel awed,” Harriman said. “This is a victory for kids and a victory for parents.”

The two newly elected members will vote early next year on a proposal to redraw boundaries in the district of 15,000 students. Incumbents Vincent Ruiz and Barbara Myers did not seek reelection.

The boundary issue, as well as low teacher morale, budget cutbacks and dissatisfaction with management of the district, drew 15 contenders to the Ventura school race, more candidates than have run in one race in 20 years.

A 63-member committee of parents, teachers and Ventura residents is studying the district’s boundary proposal and will recommend changes by the end of the year.

For the first time in several years, the teachers union, the 670-member Ventura Unified Education Assn., made endorsements and campaigned for Harriman and Wells.

In the Fillmore Unified School District, parent and homemaker Nancy Marshall and write-in candidate Grace Donahue challenged incumbents F.W. (Dick) Richardson and Thomas Spitler.

Fillmore parents have complained about a bilingual education program that some say has caused a shortage of English-only classes and shortchanged English-speaking children.

However, Fillmore district officials have maintained that, because 43% of its 3,350 students have limited English skills, they must place Spanish- and English-speakers in many of the same classes. A district committee, including parents and administrators, is looking for ways to resolve the issue.

Planning for growth was a major issue in the 1,350-student Oak Park Unified School District, where officials are debating whether the district should build a new elementary school from portable buildings. With all precincts reporting, incumbent James Kalember and parent Jan Iceland beat two other candidates.

In the Moorpark Unified School District, incumbents Tom Baldwin and Cynthia Hubbard faced four challengers, including former Moorpark City Councilman Clint Harper.

In the race for two seats on Oxnard’s Rio Elementary School District, which has about 2,600 students, challenger Art Hernandez appeared to have a strong lead, with 18 out of 19 precincts counted. Incumbent Ernest J. Almanza was in second place and Terry Rothrock trailed.

In Thousand Oaks’ Conejo Valley Unified School District, challengers Dirk DeKreek, Therese Hughes and MaryAnn Kenyon emerged to face incumbents Dolores Didio and Dorothy Beaubien.

And in perhaps the most low-key race in the county, six contenders sought seats on the county Board of Education. The two new board members will replace longtime incumbents Helen Kranz Merriam and Theodora M. Shoesmith, who announced that they would retire from the board this year.

Times staff writer Santiago O’Donnell contributed to this story.