ORANGE COUNTY PERSPECTIVE : Three Trustees for Education

John F. Dean’s election two years ago as Orange County superintendent of schools brought a welcome new vitality to the county Department of Education. Now, with three of five seats up in the June election, it’s time to ensure there will be a productive team on the Board of Education. Voters can do that by electing two sitting trustees, Roger W. Belgen and Dean McCormick, and one challenger, Arlene Z. Sontag.

Belgen, an appointed member from Area 1 (which includes Santa Ana and Fountain Valley), was selected unanimously by trustees last November to fill a vacancy. He has taken a professional approach to board business and brings extensive experience from his 18 years on the school board in Fountain Valley. He deserves election.

McCormick, who has represented Area 4 (covering central and southeastern Orange County) for the last 12 years, is the board’s current president. At a time when incumbency can be a political liability, McCormick is the kind of incumbent who should be retained. After 12 years, he remains active, enthusiastic and involved. He visits schools, works with principals and school districts and boards throughout the county and state and provides respected leadership and experience. We therefore strongly urge his reelection.

We also recommend Sontag, an Anaheim resident, to replace incumbent Francis X. Hoffman in Area 3.

Sontag, who has impressive management and community experience, would bring badly needed new energy, ideas and action to the board. She has an excellent grasp of its work and needs and is a hard-working, proven leader who gets things done in Orange County.

She has an extensive background in intergovernmental relations and working with private industry and community groups. On the other hand, Hoffman has been ineffective in his eight years on the board; ousting this incumbent is in order.

With the mounting financial problems facing education, it is more important than ever to have trustees in place who are capable of meeting the challenges. Accordingly, voters on June 2 should elect Roger W. Belgen (Area 1), Arlene Z. Sontag (Area 3) and Dean McCormick (Area 4).