2 Keep School Board Seats; 2 Face Runoff

Incumbents George Padilla and Anne Pursel easily retained their seats on the Board of Education in Tuesday’s election, but incumbent Wilbert Smith faces a tough runoff battle April 20 against challenger Lisa Fowler, who gathered more votes.

In the race for Seat 3, Fowler did not get more than 50% of the vote and thus could not avoid a runoff. Fowler, the former mayor of Sierra Madre, garnered 46.2% of the vote (5,753) compared to 34.9% (4,356) for Smith and 18.9% (2,361) for Geoffrey Commons.

“I am pleased by the numbers,” Fowler said. “I think people are saying the district wants some change and needs someone whose views are in line with their own.”

Fowler was referring to Smith’s on-and-off support of a 1994 state ballot initiative to establish a voucher system that would give parents money toward private school tuition. Fowler opposes the measure.

Smith, one of two black school board members, warned that things could get rough in the runoff.

“We will just have to take a different approach to the campaign. We’re going to run hard, and we’re going to win.”

The incumbent, who is seeking a second four-year term, complained about flyers Fowler sent out and said she “portrayed me as a demon against public schools.”

In the contest for Seat 1, Padilla overwhelmed challenger Tim Price, collecting 61.6% of the vote (7,423) compared to 38.4% (4,632).

“I am just real pleased with the result. We worked really hard, and as an incumbent, I never let up,” Padilla said after winning a second term. “There’s a lot of work to be done. I believe that things will improve in this district.”

Pursel, in gaining a third term, crushed her opponents for Seat 5 with 61% of the vote (7,519) to 28.6% (3,536) for Andrew Paterson and 10.4% (1,283) for Kevork Keushkerian.

The election was dominated by calls for new leadership in the 22,500-student district, which has a history of low test scores and a high dropout rate, and the backing by Paterson, Price and Smith of the 1994 ballot initiative. During the campaign, Smith flip-flopped on the issue and ultimately sought to dismiss its importance.

“I am delighted not to be in a runoff,” Pursel said. “I hope this means this community is not supportive of the vouching initiative, as Andy Paterson is one of its strongest backers.”

However, she added, she was saddened that the nonpartisan race turned into a partisan race when Republican groups issued flyers endorsing Paterson, Price and Smith, and Commons portrayed himself as being backed by the Democrats.

The election turnout was 12.8%.