SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO : Union Endorses 4 in School Board Races

The Capistrano Unified Education Assn., which represents 1,300 teachers, counselors and psychologists, has endorsed one incumbent and three challengers in the race for four Board of Trustee seats in the Nov. 3 election.

After interviewing about half of the 10 candidates, the union executive board voted to endorse Trustee Marlene Draper in District 2, and challengers Pete Espinosa in District 1, Sheila Benecke in District 5 and Mildred Pagelow in District 3.

“They are interested in providing the best education possible for our students,” association president Lois Anderson said. “We were also impressed with each candidate’s open mind to the concerns of students, teachers, parents and community members.”

Longtime Trustees A. Edward Westberg, who was first elected in 1972, and E.G. (Ted) Kopp, who was first elected in 1975, declined to be interviewed by the association, Anderson said.

She added that as the district moves forward with its long-range Capistrano 2000 strategic plan, members of the union also believe that it would be “healthy to have some new input on the board.”

The other candidates are Dustin Etheredge, Steve Caulkins, J. Michael Sedillo and Don Richardson.

Anderson said that teachers were worried that several of the remaining candidates, most of whom also declined to be interviewed, are apparently supported by a national organization backing the voucher initiative.

“We believe that a trustee of a public board of education should be committed to upholding and improving our public schools, not working for a cause which would undermine the public school system,” she said.