Brea-Olinda Unified School District

Four candidates are vying for three seats on the Brea-Olinda Unified School District Board of Education in the Nov. 3 election. The deadline to register to vote is Monday. To register, pick up a form at any post office, library or city hall. For more information, call the county registrar of voters at (714) 567-7600.

Brian R. Burt

Age: 51

Occupation: Account representative

Background: Incumbent; three-term board member first elected in 1979.

Priorities: Favors year-round schools to solve overcrowding; concerned about maintenance cost of school facilities; favors the plan to switch junior high to a middle school after thorough study.

Bernie P. Kilcoyne

Age: 42

Occupation: Auto insurance manager

Background: Board member first appointed in 1987 and elected in 1988; active in community volunteer work, Boys and Girls scouting and parent/teacher organizations; board member of Brea Chamber of Commerce and Brea Lions Scout Foundation; former board member of the Regional Occupational Program for North Orange County; member of the advisory board for the Portola district of the Boy Scouts of America.

Priorities: Advocates more vocational programs at the high school level; proposes extending the district’s computer capabilities to the elementary level; would increase the district’s lobbying effort.

Susie D. Sokol

Age: 47

Occupation: Pharmacist

Background: Incumbent, elected to school board in 1989; board president in 1991; active in Boy Scouts and Cub Scouts; chairwoman of the Brea & Hanno Student Exchange Program; bachelor’s degree in pharmacy from the University of Cincinnati.

Priorities: Concerned about overcrowding but wants more input from parents on plan for year-round schools and the shift from junior high to a middle school; to remain conservative with school finances.

Todd Spitzer

Age: 31

Occupation: Deputy district attorney, Orange County

Background: Taught English at Roosevelt High School; reserve police officer; member of the Brea Rotary Club; bachelor’s degree from UCLA; masters in public policy, UC Berkeley; law degree from Hastings Law School in San Francisco; former Senate fellow.

Priorities: Wants emphasis on English, math, science, reading and self-expression; proposes giving students more access to computers and video equipment; advocates a limit on class size; advocates increased lobbying effort in Sacramento.